Lucy Billings out; new judge reviewing whether Occupy Wall Street can return
Update 2:12 p.m.: The new judge said he will make a decision on Occupy Wall Street at 3 p.m. this afternoon.
A new judge has been assigned to review a decision made by Justice Lucy Billings this morning that says Occupy Wall Street protesters can return to Zuccotti Park with their tents and tarps.
Metro reporter Alison Bowen is in the courtroom now awaiting the hearing to start.
Billings signed a temporary restraining order this morning that says protesters can go back in the park, but Bloomberg is keeping the park closed until her court order is reviewed.
A new judge has been assigned to review the case.
“It’s really upsetting for this city … To have a mayor who is now ignoring the rule of law,” Wylie Stecklow, an attorney affiliated with the National Lawyer’s Guild who is representing OWS, told Metro.
He criticized the NYPD’s use of force for the stated reason of cleaning
“They felt they needed to use heavy hands to empty the park to clean it,” Stecklow said.
He also warned that the situation could worsen.
“The police are creating probably a much more dangerous situation down right now by not allowing the occupiers back in,” he said.
The full court order is below:
