A Calgary trucker arrested as co-organizer of the Freedom Convoy sought to move his trial out of Ottawa, where he is worried potential jurors are more likely to have a bias against him. Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland has ruled against James Bauder’s bid.
Ottawa residents are mainly “federal employees, federal contractors, lobbyists and lawmakers,” Bauder said at a hearing on Feb. 3, according to Blacklocks Reporter. “The character and personality types in Ottawa are government workers and the convoy was a protest against government overreach,” he said.
It would thus be difficult, he said, to find suitable jurors for his June 5 trial. He is charged with mischief to obstruct property, disobeying a lawful court order, and obstructing a peace officer. Bauder asked that his trial be moved to North Bay or Brockville, Ont….