A man who is so bound and determined to take President Obama to court that he once made his way into a closed grand jury session failed to appear in Monroe County Criminal Court Friday morning.

Walt Fitzpatrick of Sweetwater was scheduled to appear before Judge Jon Blackwood after his attorney gave notice he was withdrawing from his representation of Fitzpatrick.

Steve Pidgeon of Washington has sent notice he wanted to withdraw from the case, but Judge Blackwood did not remove him as Tennessee law states a motion must be made for withdrawal, then granted by the judge.

Blackwood did grant a motion by attorney Randy Rogers to be removed from the case. Rogers, a Tennessee lawyer, had been working with Pidgeon as the law says an out of state attorney must have a local one to work with.

Circuit Court Clerk Marty Cook said Fitzpatrick was sent notice that he was supposed to be in court Friday, but he did not show by the 10 a.m. start time. Blackwood issued a capias for Fitzpatrick's arrest and ordered him to be held on no bond when he is picked up.

This means if and when Fitzpatrick is picked up, he will not be released from jail until after his trial, which is set to start Dec. 1.

Fitzpatrick was arrested in April after he interrupted a closed door grand jury hearing in an attempt to make a citizens arrest of jury foreman Gary Pettway. Fitzpatrick felt Pettway and the jury was illegally blocking his attempts to indict President Obama.

Fitzpatrick has said he believes Obama is not an American citizen and is serving illegally as president.

michael.thomason@advocateanddemocrat.com | 442-4575