On Monday morning, Eli Werdesheim had an unexpected day in District Court.
There, the State’s Attorney’s office requested that the Judge require Mr. Werdesheim, 23, to forfeit both his U.S. and Israeli passports over to the court.
The asst. city state’s attorney argued that since Mr. Werdesheim’s arrest, circumstances had changed. The office had learned that Mr. Werdesheim, engaged to be married, had purchased an airline ticket to Israel. The date of purchase was November 9 for January 3 flight.
The alleged assault he is being charged for happened on November 19.
So the judge ruled that Mr. Werdesheim wasn’t a flight risk, and should be permitted to travel with his fiancé to Israel for their two-week planned vacation. Another rumor out there was that he had purchased a one-way ticket. No, it is a round-trip ticket.
The judge, after listening to Mr. Werdesheim’s attorney Andrew I. Alperstein and the asst. state’s attorney Kevin Wiggins, ruled in favor of Mr. Werdesheim. He can go to Israel, and when he returns, he will surrender his passports to his attorney. Mr. Werdesheim can also travel to D.C. and Virginia without permission from the court. Outside of those designated areas, he’ll need permission.
Also, and equally as important, there didn’t seem to be the same air of tension in the court common areas like there was on December 28 when Mr. Werdesheim appeared for the formality of having his pre-trial hearing postponed until January 20.
Indeed, Mr. Alperstein said that an NAACP board member made it a point to come over to Mr. Werdesheim and his family and wish everyone well.
On Monday morning, there was a little more media there, rabbinic support and friends and relatives of Mr. Werdesheim.
Nobody seemed “out for blood.” Instead, I think it set up any future hearing(s) or possible trial(s) in a spirit of due process and justice-like discussion.
All the officers of the court were professional and made the room a place of integrity.
I’m glad for everyone’s sake. It wasn’t about emotion, necessarily, it was more about facts and due process.

always glad to hear good news!