Scientology stuns Jane Doe attorneys, bounces judge before ruling can be made

[Judge Broadbelt, sent packing by C.O.B.]

Our courtroom observer just described what happened this morning in Jane Doe’s forced-marriage case, and we said we could hardly believe what we were hearing. They said that Jane Doe’s attorneys appeared to feel the same way as well.

This morning, we reported that Judge Robert Broadbelt had filed a tentative ruling last night that would have denied Scientology’s motion to force Jane Doe’s lawsuit into “religious arbitration.” That proposed ruling was based on a reading of a new federal law that prevents forcing cases with sexual allegations into arbitration, as well as a conclusion that Scientology’s arbitration is so one-sided it is “unconscionable.”

However, before any of that could be argued today, it was announced in court that David Miscavige had made his first general appearance in the case, and as a defendant he was filing a peremptory challenge to have Judge Broadbelt removed from the case — yes, after the judge had posted his tentative ruling, but before he could make it final.

Our observer said that Jane Doe’s attorney Carmen Scott raised an objection, questioning whether Miscavige’s filing was timely and saying that it seemed suspicious, but Judge Broadbelt said it was timely, and indicated that he was leaving the case.

As for the tentative ruling? It’s apparently swept away and the motion will have to be considered from scratch by whatever new judge is appointed to the case.

Our observer said that the court clerk had indicated that Miscavige’s personal attorney, Jeffrey Riffer, had been at the court before the 10 am hearing, but he did not appear at the hearing itself.

“There was no discussion of the motion. It all got swept away. And nobody wanted to say anything on the record,” our observer said. “Everything starts over.”

So, Miscavige has his personal attorney, Jeffrey Riffer, go down to the court before the hearing, tells the judge he has to leave, and the judge does so before he can make his tentative ruling final?

Is this actually happening?

We don’t know what to say.

Jane Doe, you have been robbed. We can only hope a new judge sees this motion the same way Judge Broadbelt did. But with this courthouse? Who knows.

---

Want to help?

Please consider joining the Underground Bunker as a paid subscriber. Your $7 a month will go a long way to helping this news project stay independent, and you’ll get access to our special material for subscribers. Or, you can support the Underground Bunker with a Paypal contribution to bunkerfund@tonyortega.org, an account administered by the Bunker’s attorney, Scott Pilutik. And by request, this is our Venmo link, and for Zelle, please use (tonyo94 AT gmail). E-mail tips to tonyo94@gmail.com.

---

Thank you for reading today’s story here at Substack. For the full picture of what’s happening today in the world of Scientology, please join the conversation at tonyortega.org, where we’ve been reporting daily on David Miscavige’s cabal since 2012. There you’ll find additional stories, and our popular regular daily features:

Source Code: Actual things founder L. Ron Hubbard said on this date in history

Avast, Ye Mateys: Snapshots from Scientology’s years at sea

Overheard in the Freezone: Indie Hubbardism, one thought at a time

Past is Prologue: From this week in history at alt.religion.scientology

Random Howdy: Your daily dose of the Captain

Here’s the link for today’s post at tonyortega.org

And whatever you do, subscribe to this Substack so you get our breaking stories and daily features right to your email inbox every morning.

Paid subscribers get access to two special podcast series…

Up the Bridge: A journey through Scientology’s actual “technology”

Group Therapy: Our round table of rowdy regulars on the week’s news