Chicago Sun-Times reports:

With an unusually loud bang of his gavel Wednesday morning, a federal magistrate judge agreed to dismiss charges against a Chicago couple found lawfully carrying loaded pistols last month outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview.

A grand jury on Tuesday returned a “no bill” in the case of Ray Collins and Jocelyne Robledo, a prosecutor explained. In doing so, the grand jurors refused to hand up an indictment in the high-profile case resulting from the Trump administration’s so-called “Operation Midway Blitz” and protests in Broadview.

“Case dismissed,” U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel Fuentes said before promptly leaving the bench.

The ruling is without prejudice, meaning prosecutors could still bring new charges before the end of the month. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Havey told the judge that a decision had been made only to dismiss the complaint.

Richard Kling, a longtime Chicago defense attorney who represents Collins, told Fuentes he was “gratified” that the grand jury “stood up for the rights of people to protest and the First Amendment.” Later, he told reporters he’s also had no experience with grand jury “no bills” in Chicago’s federal court, despite decades of experience practicing law in town.

Kling cited the old expression that a good prosecutor could convince a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich, quipping that “apparently they had less evidence than a ham sandwich.” [Continue reading…]