Judge postpones hearings for RNC 8

A Ramsey County judge has agreed to postpone hearings related to the so-called RNC Eight.

Authorities arrested the eight people during raids in Minneapolis and St. Paul the weekend prior to the Republican National Convention.

Criminal complaints allege the eight are members of an anarchist group that was attempting to disrupt the convention and assault police.

Defense attorneys for six of the defendants asked the judge to delay probable cause hearings because they were still waiting for reports from law enforcement.

A probable cause hearing determines whether the state has enough evidence to go forward with the case. Defense attorneys may also bring in evidence to contradict the state's case.

Larry Leventhal said he and other defense attorneys working on the case can't mount good defenses until they see reports from various law enforcement agencies that provided security during the RNC.

"It's important to know what the charges are based on so we can prepare a proper defense," said Leventhal. "There are reports from the FBI -- we have nothing, and they were all over the place. These are reports from other jurisdictions -- we have nothing. All we have are materials from Ramsey County."

The judge in the case agreed to delay the next hearing until Nov. 10. The eight are charged with the felony of conspiring to riot in furtherance of terrorism.

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