Judge finds Michael Schmidt guilty of contempt. Prosecutor seeks $5K fine + 50K costs. Judge defers sentencing.

It was standing room only as 30-some reporters and supporters crowded into room 403 at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice courthouse in Newmarket this morning to hear Justice Boswell read his 10 page verdict in Michael Schmidt’s contempt of court case over raw milk that was heard last month.

The prosecutor and judge were willing to schedule a further hearing to discuss penalties, but Mr. Schmidt encouraged them to proceed with the discussion rather than postpone til later . And while the judge did find Michael Schmidt guilty of contempt, and while he did listen to oral submissions from both Michael Schmidt and York Region on the subject of appropriate sanctions, he reserved final judgment on penalties until a later date.

Reporters from Canadian Press, CBC-TV, Toronto Sun, The National Post and other media were watching, with cameras rolling, as Mr. Schmidt and his supporters toasted the York Region prosecutor, as he emerged from the courthouse, with what looked to be glasses of raw milk. “You guys are nothing if not media-savvy”, remarked one press photographer, in response to the milk toast.

Raw milkman deals with the Police

This story is excerpted from a comment by “Miguel none” on this post of the Complete Patient blog. The post is about recent currency-collapse-induced food shortages in Iceland. But this comment is not really directly related to that topic.

“…Law, I mean common law, is a simple and a beautiful thing. It’s purpose is to enable us to live together in peace.It is all about our responsibilities to each other. In every interaction with another we must take responsibility for our actions and sometimes gently remind others of their responsibility to us. This is especially true when interacting with people who think they are in a position of authority. Sometimes they forget that they are public servants. In a traffic stop or in a court room there are rules that each party must follow in order to settle differences without violence.

When the red and blue lights started flashing,my responsibility was to pull over at the first spot that I judged to be safe.Safe, to me, is not on the side of the expressway with cars and semis a few feet away flying past at 70 mph.I took the next exit and stopped 50 yards short of the stop sign where the little traffic there was moved at 20 mph.I might have gone 3/4 of a mile with him glued to my bumper.

Michael Pollan on NPR today, 3:30 pm

This came to us via Judith, who circulated it to cowshare members and cow lovers:

“Dear Food Quality People:

Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and probably in most insightful commentator on the state of food in this country, talks about our nation’s food system as a critical issue of national
security, on NPR’s Fresh Air today (Monday, October 20) at 3pm on WAMU 88.5. (Check you local NPR listings for times and for repeats. This program will also be available as a podcast from the Fresh Air
site at http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_detail.php?siteId=7060034

This talk draws about his suggested food and farming agenda for next President that he outlined in the New York Times Times Magazine earlier this month. That article is at

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/magazine/12policy-t.html?scp=1&sq=Farmer%20in%20Chief&st=cse

Michael Schmidt verdict expected today

Later today we’ll be reporting the results of Justice Boswell’s decision in the case of raw milk farmer Michael Schmidt’s contempt of court trial held last month. The verdict will be announced today in Newmarket at the court house at 50 Eagle Street at 9:30 pm. Cow-share members are planning to be in attendance for the occasion.

Best case outcome would be a not-guilty decision in favour of farmer Michael Schmidt. Worst case outcome would be that farmer Michael Schmidt might be jailed for contempt of court. Check back for the latest news, which we plan to have posted here by early afternoon, Toronto time.

Of course this is not the main trial, on charges based on the Health Protection and Promotion Act. That will come in January of 2009.

Raw milk raid leads to cowshare holders helping run farm and distribution

The raid on Michael Schmidt’s Glencolton Farms nearly two years ago was part of a massive crackdown on raw milk suppliers across North America. In the story excerpted here from Business Week, David E. Gumpert tells about a farm, a farmer and a community of cowshare members in Ohio, where the experience of being “busted” by police resulted, for the farmer, in soaring blood pressure and a trip to the hospital by ambulance. And while he was laid up with a severe case of post-traumatic stress, his loyal cow-share members picked up the slack, milking the cows and keeping the farm running. Really a fascinating story.

Read the whole article titled “A Raw milk raid leads to a special Thanksgiving” here on Business Week.

Here are a few excerpts:

“On Thanksgiving, Kimberly Gelhaus, a 39-year-old mom and student at the University of Cincinnati, will drive over an hour to the Double O Farms in Verona, Ky. Once at the tiny farm, she, her husband, and three children (ages 6, 8, and 18) will spend several hours dispensing milk from a holding tank into dozens of glass bottles, and then affixing lids.

“The Bovine”: 42 days — 5,000 hits

According to the wordpress stat counter, we clocked a total of 5003 visits to “the Bovine” as of 9:36 pm Toronto time, Sunday October 19, 2008. In Canada — where we are based — if a book sells 5,000 copies in hardcover, it’s considered “a bestseller”.

So what are they saying about us on other blogs and websites? Well, over there on “Love Apples — a close reading of food by an exhibitionist introvert”, they talk about us in the same breath as Michael Pollan’s article in the Sunday New York Times. To wit:

Cover of NY Times Magazine

“I’ve meant to mention two worthwhile things on the politics of food.

First: Last Sunday’s issue of The New York Times Magazine is dedicated to food. Most specifically Michael Pollan is, as ever, compelling in his letter to the president-elect on crucial changes needed to American food policy.

Second: I’ve been following with fascination The Bovine, following Michael Schmidt in his brave and legally fraught crusade to be allowed to sell raw milk through his cow share programme. I’ve followed this case on its own merits, and also as a microcosmic test of how Canadian governments respond when their policies are challenged with overwhelming good sense and good will.”

Nice, eh?