VICTORVILLE • The Victorville courthouse was locked down for about half an hour Friday morning after a judge ordered a group of protesters to leave his courtroom.

More than 30 De Jure California Republic members from San Bernardino County, who say their mission is to restore the power of the American people, showed up to support Gilbert Hernandez Scott and Yvette Barragan, a Victorville couple charged with abusing their children.

When called to appear for their case, Scott and Barragan refused to step across the bar, which separates the gallary from the area where court proceedings are held. They also demanded that Judge John Tomberlin relieve their attorneys so they could represent themselves.

The judge advised the defendants on the pitfalls of self-representation in court.

But when Tomberlin told them to cross the bar, some of the protesters in the gallery stood up and began shouting at the bench, said Carlos Rodriguez, who was waiting in the gallery for a different case.

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