‘Irvine 11’ trial delayed because attorneys not ready

SANTA ANA — The jury trial of the college students accused of disrupting a public speech at UC Irvine has been continued to Aug. 29.

Their trial for the misdemeanor charges was set to start Monday, but both the Orange County district attorney’s office and defense attorneys said they were not ready.

The so-called “Irvine 11” disrupted Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren’s speech about American-Israeli relations in February 2010.

The students — three from UC Riverside and eight from UCI — were members of Muslim student groups from both campuses.

UCI administration investigated the UCI Muslim Student Union, which led to the group’s suspension for an academic quarter because of lying about planning the disruptions — an accusation the students disputed.

Many, including those who criticized the Irvine 11 for disrupting Oren, said reprimanding the group should have stopped at the school level.

Only 10 of the students are expected to go to trial. The district attorney agreed in July to drop all charges against one student when he completes 40 hours of community service in Costa Mesa.

— Mona Shadia