Hamilton County District Attorney General Neal Pinkston speaks to the press in this file photo.Hamilton County District Attorney Neal Pinkston asked a judge Wednesday to approve a “temporary” injunction that prohibits 31 men accused of being gang members from associating with each other in East Lake Courts.
But the request blindsided the small group of defense attorneys who weren’t expecting it at the end of a check-up hearing.
“Pinkston didn’t put it in his petition, he didn’t ask for it at the first hearing, and he didn’t notify anyone that he was going to ask today,” said attorney Chrissy Mincy, who represents a few of the men. “And since those things weren’t done, we were thrown off. But we’d like the opportunity to present more argument, now that we’ve been notified.”
None of the defense attorneys should be surprised by Wednesday’s development, Pinkston’s spokeswoman, Melydia Clewell, wrote in an email afterward.
“There is no requirement that a hearing must be held before a judge can issue a temporary injunction. In fact, in most public nuisance cases, temporary injunctions are put into effect before defendants are even notified of the state’s request.”