Court Watching: Hearing set Feb. 28 in VBT vs. Delaney on disrupting meeting charge

By Diane Madigan
Independent Court Reporter
On Thursday Jan. 17, John Delaney returned to 34th District Court with his attorney James Fifelski to request a motion hearing.
The hearing will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 28 in Judge Brian Oakley’s courtroom. Then a trial date will be set.
Former Van Buren Township Supervisor Paul White had Delaney arrested on Sept. 18, 2012 for disrupting a VBT board meeting, a misdemeanor.
In Judge Oakley’s courtroom Thursday were White, VBT Clerk Leon Wright, VBT Director of Public Safety Carl McClanahan, VBT Director of Planning and Economic Development Terry Carroll, and vice chairman of the VBT Planning Commission Donald Boynton.
Delaney is demanding a jury trial. After a discussion with VBT prosecutor Carol Murray, Delaney’s attorney requested a discovery order and believes there may be some 404(b) issues that should be dealt with prior to the trial to better understand how to defend his client.
According to the Legal Information Institute, 404(b) adds “a pretrial notice requirement in criminal cases and is intended to reduce surprise and promote early resolution on the issue of admissibility.”
Both sides say they have plenty of video evidence for review.