A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge on March 11 vacated his November 2008 ruling that found anti–animal research extremist Pamelyn Ferdin in contempt of court for violating a preliminary injunction barring the distributing of fliers with home addresses and phone numbers of UCLA researchers.

 

The decision was unrelated to the merits of the case and, as the judge noted, was based on the fact that there was no initial procedure called an arraignment in which Ms. Ferdin was formally advised of her rights in a criminal proceeding.

 

The technicality in no way undermines the serious nature of Ms. Ferdin's conduct or the fact that the judge found in November that she blatantly disregarded an order prohibiting actions that incite illegal harassment and violence directed at UCLA personnel.

 

The university is committed to retrying Ms. Ferdin at the earliest possible convenience and is confident of prevailing. The preliminary injunction remains in place. We take violations of the injunction very seriously and will act aggressively to hold violators accountable.