David Wynn Miller

David Wynn Miller (September 17,[1][2] 1949 – 2018[3][4]), also styled :David-Wynn: Miller or David-Wynn: Miller,[5] was an American tool and die welder,[6] proponent of conspiracy theories, and leader of a far-right tax protester group within the sovereign citizen movement.[7] He was a proponent of the use of certain syntax he created to be used by people involved in legal proceedings. He referred to his syntax as QUANTUM-LANGUAGE-PARSE-SYNTAX-GRAMMAR which he asserts constitutes "correct sentence structure communication syntax."[8] This is a variation of the tax protester "capital letters" argument, a form of strawman theory. People seeking remedy with Miller's syntax in court have not met with success.[2][9]

Miller's description of his work and views

Miller lived in Ohio before moving to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In his Messianic origin story, he said that he died for half an hour at the age of 25 when an inept surgeon removed both his kidneys and adrenal glands. His heart restarted spontaneously while outside his body during autopsy. Following this, he said his IQ became 200, his endorphin levels were six times normal, and he stopped aging.[10][11] According to his website, he appeared pro se 67 times in child custody hearings, losing every time, and was inspired to develop his own theory of language. Among the bizarre rules of his language, sentences start with prepositional phrases, only nouns have legal meaning,[10] and a word that starts with a vowel followed by two consonants voids a contract.[12] He began styling his name as "David-Wynn: Miller", claiming that the punctuation marks are hieroglyphics that make him "life" and that without them his name is two adjectives and a pronoun.[10] He "turned Hawaii into a verb" to become "King of Hawaii".[13]

Miller has used and may have originated a scheme found in Organised Pseudolegal Commercial Arguments that cites the Universal Postal Union as authority. The argument is that affixing a stamp to a piece of paper changes the authority under which it is governed.[14] He assumed the title "postmaster" and called his followers the adherents of the "Universal Postal System".[10] On December 21, 2012 (the failed Mayan Doomsday), he claimed to restart the "US :FEDERAL-POSTALCOURT" and made himself judge.[14] He also described himself as a "Plenipotentiary-Judge" of the "Unity States of the World".[15]

Miller said that in 1988 he created what he has called "QUANTUM-MATH-COMMUNICATIONS", "PARSE-SYNTAX-GRAMMAR", or "CORRECT-LANGUAGE".[4][16][17] According to Miller, the language he pioneered could end war. Miller's design involves some sentences that begin with prepositional phrases, using the word For. His sentences have many more nouns than verbs. According to Miller, only nouns have legal authority. The language also has an abundance of punctuation. For example:

FOR THE FORMS OF OUR PUNCTUATIONS ARE WITH THE CLAIM OF THE USE: FULL-COLON=POSITION-LODIO-FACTS, HYPHEN=COMPOUND-FACTS =KNOWN, PERIOD=END-THOUGHT, COMMA-PAUSE, AND LOCATION-TILDES WITH THE MEANINGS AND USES OF THE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE FULL-COLON OF THE POSITION-LODIAL-FACT-PHRASE WITH THE FACT/KNOWN-TERM OF THE POSITIONAL-LODIO-FACT-PHRASE AND WITH THE VOID OF THE NOM-DE-GUERRE = DEAD-PERSON.[16]

According to Miller, the addition of hyphens and colons identifies a person as a matter of fact, existing in the "now-time-dimension". The names as written in this way are distinguished from the names listed at birth and in "all-caps" (as on a birth certificate), which identify the legal estate and not the living being in fact. Signing up to get a "birth certificate" allegedly creates a taxable Person (Corporation) (e.g., DAVID WYNN MILLER as opposed to :David-Wynn: Miller.). No judge has ever accepted this argument, and in fact many of those who have tried to make the argument have ended up in jail.[18] David J. Peterson, a language creator, observed that his ideas on language, both English and in general, make no sense.[4] He has also been described as leading a linguistic cult.[12]

Other ideas

Wynn Miller was a proponent of the 2012 phenomenon.[19] He said that Mastercard gained control of the US economy on September 17, 1999. This was a prelude to his 9/11 conspiracy theory in which the steel beams and all the plastic items in the World Trade Center buildings were plastic explosives which created an electromagnetic pulse as a coverup for a $12 trillion electronic heist.[13]

Notoriety

The Los Angeles Times characterized Miller's political views as "far-right".[20] The Anti-Defamation League described Miller in an article on the Redemption movement: "This Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based sovereign citizen is one of the most unusual of the 'common law gurus' who travel the country holding seminars and offering legal advice. Miller has created his own unique version of English grammar, one that even many sovereign citizens find hard to understand or accept." [21] Miller claimed that Bill Clinton and the entire Supreme Court of the United States were his students. The Southern Poverty Law Center listed a wide variety of conspiracy theories associated with Miller.[13][22]

In 2001 he was banned from entry into Canada for 2 years after a number of judges had jailed people for contempt of court after they had attempted to use his truth language to defend tax evasion charges. An Australian barrister has described Miller's teachings as "the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life."[12]

A "federal postal court", operated by Miller and unrelated to the civil court operated by the United States Postal Service issued a $11.5 million dollar judgement against a mortgage service company because "a sophisticated mathematical understanding of language that proves that certain mortgage documents are fraudulent". The federal judge who struck down the filing, one of dozens from Miller's court, as "a sham and no more than a product of fertile imagination".[23]

Selected cases

Defendants have attempted to use Miller's language or ideas in courts of the United States and Canada. These attempts have been uniformly unsuccessful.

In 1998 Miller assisted Ingleside, Illinois resident George Johnson in his legal defense against child molestation charges.[24] Johnson was convicted and returned to prison in 1999.[25]

In June 1998 Prescott, Arizona resident James McCreary filed a federal lawsuit after being arrested in February for aggravated assault and possession of drug paraphernalia. In his filing, "McCreary mentions the name of his apparent mentor. David Wynn Miller of Ohio is an advocate of the restoration of Constitutional rights through 'correct' language and procedure."[26] McCreary's actions in court got his conviction reduced by the judge to three misdemeanors, and he was sentenced to three concurrent 60-day sentences in jail.[9]

In August 2001, Paul and Myrna Schuck unsuccessfully used Miller's language during a tax-evasion trial in Calgary, Alberta. They wrote their names on postage stamps affixed to laminated identification badges, which they claimed gave them authority equal to the Queen of England's. Online posts during the procedings show they were using Miller's methods. They served 19 days of a 30-day sentence.[2][18][14]

In October 2001, Andrew William Sereda, a naturopath, went to jail in Calgary, Alberta for contempt of court when he addressed a judge in Miller's language during his tax evasion trial.[2]

In September 2002, Miller was profiled when Milwaukee-based accountant Steven Allen Magritz was jailed after engaging in what authorities called "paper terrorism", or filing large numbers of legal claims against perceived enemies, as part of the sovereign citizen anti-government movement. The article calls Miller "the movement's linguist" and outlines his belief that people don't need to pay taxes if they can "prove that money is a verb".[27] Magritz was convicted in 2003 on seven counts of criminal slander of title and sentenced to five years in prison.[28]

In December 2002, Wisconsin juries convicted Oconomowoc, Wisconsin residents Janice K. Logan and Jason Zellmer (Miller's cousin)[27] of "simulating legal process" by filing documents that purported to be legal documents from the jurisdiction of the "Unity States of the World," a concept originated by Miller.[29][30] Zellmer had been previously convicted of resisting an officer.[27] Miller testified at the trial. The defendants were found guilty. Miller remarked that the genesis of Truth-language was when he "turned Hawaii into a verb" and showed "how a preposition is needed to certify a noun."[31][32]

In 2005, Montclair, New Jersey resident Brenda Rickard was arrested and charged with orchestrating a $30 million mortgage scam: "Rickard, who claimed her name is :Brenda :Rickard, is a follower of :Judge: David-Wynn: Miller, who gives seminars around the country and advocates speaking in the 'true language,' which features odd punctuation and syntax. 'I have no problem with the complaint against me as long as it’s in the truthful language,' Rickard told the judge." Her lawyer requested a psychological evaluation following Rickard's behavior in court.[33] Rickard and co-defendant Jamila Davis were convicted of conspiracy and six counts of bank fraud in 2008.[34]

In 2006, Hemet, California physician Jerome Mueller was jailed for tax evasion: "Part of a loose-knit group calling themselves 'freemen' and 'patriots,' Mueller is an adherent of 'truth language.' Developed by self-professed genius David Wynn Miller, of Milwaukee, truth language is based on mathematics and purports to be the only correct way of interpreting English. A major tenet, according to interviews with Miller published on the Internet, is that maritime law is the only worldwide governing authority because the Earth is a vessel in a sea of space. The U.S. government, however, contends in everyday English that Mueller owes income taxes back to 1993."[35]

In 2008, Wai'anae, Hawaii resident Rita Makekau was convicted of eight counts of assault and one count of domestic abuse for injuring five children in her care with hammers and knives.[36] In 2009, Makekau challenged her child abuse conviction by claiming her sovereignty group, Hawaiian Kingdom Government, declared her innocent. Miller said he is the group's spokesperson and is a "plenipotentiary judge, ambassador and postmaster".[37] Makekau was ordered to prison in 2009.[38]

Jared Lee Loughner

Some reports published after the 2011 Tucson shooting included references to purported similarities between the writing of convicted gunman Jared Lee Loughner and Miller's writing method.[39] Miller has stated that although he did not know Loughner, he agreed with Loughner's video postings on government mind control and grammar,[40] but was appalled by Loughner's actions.[6] Miller has stated that the idea that his work could have inspired the mass shooting was "ridiculous",[41] and "I expect he’s been on my website... He’s just repeating things I’ve had up on my site the past 11 years."[42]

Malcolm Roberts

Malcolm Roberts is an Australian Senator for the Pauline Hanson One Nation party who was first elected in the 2016 Australian election. In August 2016, a number of media outlets identified documents that had earlier been written by Malcolm Roberts that uses Miller's syntax. These documents included syntax such as "Malcolm-Ieuan: Roberts., the living soul" for himself,[43] and "The Woman, Julia-Eileen: Gillard., acting as The Honourable JULIA EILEEN GILLARD" for the former Prime Minister of Australia Julia Gillard.[44]

gollark: Should I record instead? I probably maybe possibly can eventually.
gollark: Oh memetic apiobeeoforms!
gollark: Ü, dramatic müsic.
gollark: Ħ deployed.
gollark: ++delete <@319753218592866315>

See also

References
  1. Miller, David Wynn (2011). Quantum Language on YouTube, birth date stated at 15:50
  2. Hagan, Susan (October 14, 2001). "Canadian tax dodgers confuse courts". The Canadian Press. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
  3. DKD (Re), 2019 ABQB 26, at 11
  4. Hay, Mark (July 29, 2020), "American Fringes: The Bizarro English Used by Sovereign Citizens", OZY, retrieved 2020-07-28
  5. "dwmlc".
  6. Jones, Meg (January 9, 2011). Milwaukee man's website mirrors suspect's conspiracy statements. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
  7. Kevin Murphy, "La Crosse dentist goes on trial for tax fraud". La Crosse Tribune (La Crosse, Wisconsin), August 14, 2007.
  8. QUANTUM-LANGUAGE by :David-Wynn: Miller video
  9. Duncan, Mark (November 3, 1998). Judge gives McCreary 60 days. Prescott Daily Courier
  10. Stollznow, Karen (February 2, 2011), "Syntax Error", Skeptical Inquirer, retrieved June 19, 2020
  11. Plastow, Killian (December 19, 2018), "Are taxes illegal? A look at the anti-tax sovereign citizen movement", The New Daily, retrieved June 19, 2020
  12. Wallace, Natasha (January 15, 2011), "'Messiah-like figure' is doing own harvesting", Syndney Morning Herald, retrieved 2020-06-21
  13. Potok, Mark (Spring 2003), "'Full Colon Miller'", Intelligence Report, Southern Poverty Law Center, retrieved December 1, 2009
  14. Donald J. Netolitzky (July 16, 2018), "Organised Pseudolegal Commecial Arguments as magic and ceremony", Alberta Law Review, 55 (4): 1045–1088, retrieved 2020-06-21
  15. "The Sovereigns: Leaders of the Movement", Intelligence Report, Southern Poverty Law Center, August 1, 2010, retrieved 2020-06-21
  16. Miller, David Wynn. :Communication-Methods via dwmlc.com
  17. Miller, David Wynn. Oath In the Truth via dwmlc.com
  18. "Screw the Taxman: The Weird Ideas of Tax Cheaters". DigitalJournal.com. April 24, 2006. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
  19. Weigel, David (January 9, 2011), "David-Wynn: Miller", Slate, retrieved 2020-06-21
  20. Quinones, Sam and Scott Kraft (January 10, 2011). Jared Loughner charged in Tucson shooting rampage. Los Angeles Times
  21. Anti-Defamation League (2005). Sovereign Citizen Movement. Archived January 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine via adl.com
  22. Allen, Nick (January 10, 2011). Gabrielle Giffords shooting: Jared Loughner may have been influenced by occult. The Telegraph
  23. Debra Cassens Weiss (March 22, 2016), "Judge of bogus 'postal court' files judgments, claims only nouns have legal meaning", ABA Journal, retrieved June 19, 2020
  24. Staff report (August 14, 1998). Ally of molestation suspect a 'huckster,' historian says. Right-winger: militia watchdog web site mentions Milwaukeean. Waukegan News-Sun
  25. Staff report (June 11, 1999). Ingleside man deemed sexually dangerous. To prison: will be held until safe for release. Waukegan News-Sun
  26. Duncan, Mark (June 23, 1998). McCreary files federal lawsuit. Prescott Daily Courier
  27. Maller, Peter; Lynch-German, Lauria (September 3, 2002). 'Paper terrorism' gaining adherents. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
  28. Cole, Jeff (January 28, 2003). "Paper terrorist" gets five years in prison. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
  29. State of Wisconsin vs. Janice K Logan (Dane County Case Number 2002CF001110)
  30. State of Wisconsin vs. Jason Zellmer (Dane County Case Number 2002CF001112)
  31. Miller, Mike (March 5, 2004). "Parents want to take jailed, 'brainwashed' son home". The Capital Times. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
  32. Shepherd, Chuck (January 9, 2003). "News of the Weird: The Truth won't set you free". Orlando Weekly. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
  33. Klein, Amy (June 30, 2005). New Jersey Woman Held in $30M Mortgage Scheme. The Record (Bergen County)
  34. Whelan, Jeff S. (July 16, 2008). Two women sentenced for defrauding banks of $14M. New Jersey On-Line
  35. Fetbrandt, Steve (August 9, 2006). Jailed surgeon stands ground. The Press-Enterprise (California)
  36. Sugimoto, Minna (November 21, 2008). Woman who tortured, starved children gets 5-year prison term. KGMB
  37. Dooley, Jim (January 22, 2009) Child abuser sent to prison to await Hawaii sovereignty appeal. Honolulu Advertiser
  38. "Child abuser sent to prison", Hawaii News Now, January 21, 2009, retrieved 2020-06-22
  39. Johnson, Kirk; Kovaleski, Serge F.; Frosch, Dan; Lipton, Eric (January 9, 2011). Suspect’s Odd Behavior Caused Growing Alarm. The New York Times
  40. Brown, Carrie Budoff (January 9, 2011). Jared Lee Loughner's statements tied to conspiracy theory. Politico.com
  41. Walker, Peter (January 10, 2010). Gabrielle Giffords shooting: Gunman linked to grammar 'judge.' The Guardian
  42. Jared Lee Loughner's Mental State Newsweek, January 10, 2011
  43. Koziol, Michael (August 5, 2016). "One Nation senator-elect Malcolm Roberts wrote bizarre 'sovereign citizen' letter to Julia Gillard". Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  44. Roberts, Malcolm. "Affidavit Gillard" (PDF). Galileo Movement. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
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