Sovereign citizens Joe Guidice and George Genitsaris refuse to engage with court despite criminal charges

Two sovereign citizens facing criminal charges have refused to co-operate with a court in Melbourne’s southeast, saying they “did not consent” to the proceedings.

Two self-proclaimed sovereign citizens put on a show in court when they refused to recognise the law and spoke over the magistrate.

Joe Guidice and George Genitsaris appeared in the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, both facing criminal charges.

Both men appeared to be nothing out of the ordinary, as they sat in courtroom three, waiting for their matters to be heard.

Any shadow of a doubt was extinguished however, once their names were called.

Joe Guidice fronted Moorabbin Magistrates' Court but refused to engage with the magistrate, telling the court he didn't "consent" to the proceedings. Picture: Facebook.

First up was Mr Guidice, who spoke so loudly over the magistrate that the charges weren’t able to be read out.

Mr Guidice told the court he “did not consent to the proceedings,” and that the “offer was not accepted” when Magistrate Jan McLean offered him an adjournment date.

Ms McLean booked the matter in for a hearing on April 29, giving both Mr Guidice and the prosecutors time to discuss the matter.

He will return to court in April.

Sovereign citizen George Genitsaris fronted Moorabbin Magistrates' Court but refused to identify himself or co-operate with the magistrate. He was found guilty of speeding in a 40 km/h zone. Picture: Facebook.

Second on the chopping block was Genitsaris, who faced a speeding charge after travelling at 59km/h in a 40km/h zone on December 31 in 2022.

Not one to be outdone, Genitsaris began his own rant, while also refusing to sit at the bar table or identify himself.

When asked if he was George Genitsaris, he simply said “I’m appearing to represent the person who is of that name”.

Genitsaris told the court “fines, search warrants and any associated demerit point losses are obligations of the state to forward to the court to make a decision on the matters.”

In a near incoherent rant, Genitsaris repeated himself multiple times as Ms McLean waited patiently.

When he had concluded his speech from the back row of the courtroom, Ms McLean had made her decision.

Genitsaris was fined $500 with conviction.