Pre-Trial Hearing Begins For Farmer Targeted by Raw Milk Police; Legal Concerns Begin to Mountselfnews Post However, inside the courtroom, Gumpert describes the situation as a legal pretzel that should have everyone who cares about the First Amendment, as well as the right to consume healthy products, more than a little worried: Ultimately, this case could come down to The Bible vs. The Bureaucracy. Mr. Hershberger is part of the Amish community and his faith generally prevents him from taking legal action, which early on in this saga may have had wide-ranging ramifications. For background information about the complexities of this case, please see the various updates below and see David Gumperts must-read full update HERE. Update (2/22/13): Wewould like to encourage readers to take 1 day out of their busy schedules to show your support for Vernon Hershberger by attending a pre-trial hearing that is now set for March 18, 2013 at 1 PM at Sauk County Courthouse, 515 Oak Street Baraboo, Wisconsin. Update: We have just learned through Right to Choose Healthy Food that the Vernon Hershbergers trial has been postponed yet again, this time until May 20, 2013. The full press release from the News Republic staff can be read below. A map and directions for the rally can be found here. A little more than a week ago we covered the ongoing battle of Vernon Hershberger with the Wisconsin legal system. Hershberger was raided by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, citing a failure to have proper retail licensing for distribution. He subsequently had his raw milk stocks destroyed by injecting blue dye, had his farm shut down, and was arrested. While in jail, he signed an agreement to comply with a ban on distribution and posted a $500 bond to gain his release. However, after further thought, Vernon considered the spurious accusations and decided to declare his own food independence; he cut the tape and resumed his farming and distribution. He has been looking at potentially 3 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for his resistance. In March, people flew in from all over the country to attend a support rally prior to Hershbergers first court appearance. A full-length documentary, Let Them Eat Grass (trailer below) will soon be released that will give full documentation to Hershbergers plight, as well as highlighting the activism which has perhaps aided in his trial being repeatedly postponed. We are happy to report a new development in this case. A rally had been announced ahead of Vernons latest trial date of the week of January 7, 2013. However, it looks the momentum a vigorous defense issued by his attorney, Elizabeth Rich has pressured yet another postponement, this time for several months or longer. According to a letter sent by the Hershbergers: David Gumpert, writing for The Complete Patient adds that the complexities on both sides were raised on issues such as jury nullification, legal intent, attempts to block witnesses from testifying, differences in how to define consumers, the extent of DATCPs authority, and any number of other issues and this all before the trial began. The latest hearing, as alluded to in Vernons note above, was one surrounding the foundational First Amendment right to freedom of religious belief and exercise thereof. Gumpert provides additional context: We will continue to keep you posted about new developments in the Vernon Hershberger case, as well as the wider fight for food freedom. As we head through the holiday season, let us not forget to share the good news of the many victories, even amid the vigorous move by state bureaucracy to shut down natural health and consumer choice. Here are 7 Victories for Raw Milk Freedom Advocates. And here is a link that was added to David Gumperts piece above that cites a recentvictory in Michigan for Shady Grove Farm; the judge ruled that they were in fact protected by the Right to Farm Act. Please add your own links of victory in the comment section below that we can share with others and help maintain momentum in the food freedom revolution. Let Them Eat Grass: The Food Freedom Revolution Read other articles by selfnews Post Here 