Go here;
The Official John Ford Initiative, Free John Ford Now There are plenty of PDFs to download, as well as, background materials. If you listen to the audio programs, your questions should be answered.
I have been working on it. But it is frustrating. There is some interesting material on the web site but it is scattered. At least one article is misdated. Other articles are simply linked without context or explanation. There are PDFs of some case materials relating to Fords mental status, but without context or follow up - and material that I might expect to find is not posted. It would be helpful to have a clear case chronology with links to supporting facts. Don't tell me that he is a political prisoner who has been illegally confined - demonstrate it and provide supporting documentation.
The initial audio that I have started to listen to has some contradictions and statements that make me want to interrupt.
From what is presented, though, it appears to have been a weak case against him. It's hard to believe that a discussion about putting radium into toothpaste was a serious conspiracy. And the audio I listened to raised concerns about the plea. I found a reference to codefendants in one article - a comment embedded there wondered what happened to them. Information I found elsewhere indicates they pled guilty. I wonder if there has been any attempt to contact these people since then.
I still wonder if an Article 440 motion (equivalent to a habeas proceeding in my state) was brought to challenge the plea on IAC grounds or his ability to understand while medicated - both issues raised in the audio. At this point that is probably neither here nor there in terms of Ford's continuing confinement but it would be important to address in light of the claim that he suffers illegal imprisonment and the amount of attention given that in the audio.
The 2012 transcripts were interesting. Ford seems to be caught in a catch 22. Everyone agrees he has been nonviolent and that he has had no problems since being committed. Everyone also agrees that Ford believes the CIA-KGB-Mossad narrative. The state's position was that Ford remains delusional and they do not know what would happen if Ford was released - particularly if he did not take his meds. As I interpret the court, it was not willing to take a chance given the factors that were cited.
A 2013 letter talks about a hearing to present a defense expert and a possible writ. There was a 2014 request for a jury trial. No follow up is provided. There might be information about that in the audio, but it will take awhile to get through it.
I have a client who is subject to a forced medication order after injuring himself trying to remove what he believes to be a CIA implant. I represent him on other matters but attended the last hearing. In some respect it seems to be a similar kind of situation to Ford. He was no longer trying to hurt himself, but that was attributed to the medication. In the end, the hearing officer did not want to take the chance and left the order in place. It's a tough situation, the better he gets, the more it demonstrates why the medication order is necessary.
Ford seems to be caught in that kind of box. That he is a model patient is used to demonstrate why he needs to be retained. My client was lucky in getting a new treating psychiatrist who got him off the meds. In 2012, the court urged the state to find a way to treat Ford so he is not indefinitely retained. That does not appear to have happened.
I don't have to believe that the CIA-KGB-Mossad story is real - or to think that there were UFO crashes or even to question his plea - to wonder why Ford remains a danger and needs to be confined to a treatment facility. So I'll continue listening. I just wish there was an easier way to find out more and look at documentation.
