Res ipsa loquitur (”The thing itself speaks”)
Below is part of the on-going coverage in the case of Dr. Ali Al-Timimi.
We do not know when to the conference planned by Judge Brinkema and the security officer on the ex parte communications. She indicated that she wanted the conference to occur soon.
There will be a delay on Sunday in new postings due to a camping trip with two of the rugrats.
For those who feel empty and lost in the morning, take heart: imagine going camping with a dozen second and third grade cub scouts. Feel better?
Continue reading ‘Goin’ Campin’ on Sunday’
For many, the conversion of virulent anti-Catholic Rev. John Hagee to a new pro-Catholic lover of mankind was a bit forced and opportunistic, here. Nevertheless, the sudden reformation of the bigoted preacher de-fused a controversy for John McCain, who sought Hagee’s endorsement. Now, however, there is questions raised about another spiritual adviser and supporter to the campaign: Rev. Rod Parsley. Continue reading ‘Now That Hagee is Reformed, How About Rev. Rod Parsley?’
In another serious move against first speech, the Dutch have arrested a cartoonist for insulting before on the basis of their race and religion. It is a core free speech issue and, while the cartoonist known as Gregorius Nekschot may be obnoxious, it should be a matter of concern for those who believe in an open and robust environment for speech. As noted below, cartoonists appear a new obsession with governments. Continue reading ‘No Laughing Matter: Dutch Arrest Cartoonist for Insulting People’
Gerard Skills was upset that he was not view stable or skilled enough to drive a taxi, so he should his employer that he was wrong to fire him by slitting a rabbit’s throat and leaving it to die on his doorstep.
Continue reading ‘N.Y. Taxi Driver Slits Rabbit’s Throat and Leaves it on Ex-Boss’s Doorstep’
As prosecutors seek to prove a difficult criminal theory in the Lori Drew MySpace case, here, MySpace won a critical case against it in New Orleans. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that MySpace could not be sued by a Texas girl and her family over a sexual assault by a man she met on the site. The ruling upheld the dismissal of the $30 million lawsuit by the trial judge in 2007. Continue reading ‘MySpace Sexual Assault Case Thrown Out by Fifth Circuit’
This week, another major body part case was announced. Henry Reid, the former head of the UCLA cadaver program was indicted with Ernest Nelson in a scheme for sell body parts that netted $1 million dollars. Continue reading ‘Ex-UCLA Cadaver Program Head Indicted in Body Part Scheme’
Due to the classified status of the case, I have been limited in what I can report about the progress in the case of Dr. Ali Al-Timimi. However, today’s hearing was public and thus some additional information can be disclosed.
Continue reading ‘Court Rules with Defense on Access to Classified Material in the Case of Dr. Ali Al-Timimi’
Andrew Glover, 60, of New Britain, Connecticut is a bit unhappy with the local police. He alleges that he was sitting at home when the police broke into his apartment illegally, ripped out his catheter, tosses the apartment, and generally assaulted him. They had the wrong apartment in a search of child pornography. Continue reading ‘Police Allegedly Raid Wrong Home, Tore Apart Apartment, Ripped Out Man’s Catheter, and Assault Innocent Man’
Willie Campbell, 42, is a homeless man who is HIV-positive. In May 2006, he spit in the face of three Dallas police men who arrested him. He was sentenced to 35 years for harassing a public servant with a deadly weapon: his saliva. It is a very disturbing sentence given the lack of a credible threat to passing AIDS by saliva.
Continue reading ‘HIV-Positive Man Gets 35 Years for Spitting on Officer’
The Lori Drew indictment in the Megan Meier case is finally out and it makes for interesting reading. However, as indicated earlier, I remain a bit skeptical that the prosecutors can make this one stick.
Eder Rojas, 19, was in court this week after being accused of starting a fire in an airplane bathroom during a flight. That is weird enough. What makes it weirder still is he was the flight attendant on Compass Airlines (a subsidiary of Northwest Airlines). Continue reading ‘Please Use Only Your Designated, Non-Flaming Toilet: Flight Attendent Arrested After Starting Fire in Airplane Bathroom’
A surprising development in the tragedy of Megan Meier, the 13-year-old girl who committed suicide in a MySpace hoax. Lori Drew, the woman who pretended to be a 16-year-old boy named Josh Evans, was indicted by a federal grand jury in California. Continue reading ‘Lori Drew Indicted in MySpace Suicide Case of Megan Meier’
The California Supreme Court has overturned a law banning same-sex marriages. It is a seismic decision that is likely to add the issue to the presidential campaigns and trigger additional state constitutional amendments — and perhaps a federal constitutional amendment. The opinion is below. Continue reading ‘California Supreme Court Overturns Gay Marriage Ban’
With the networks canceling shows this week, the Maryland courts have decided to take off the bench one of the most colorful and quotable jurists. The Maryland Supreme Court has suspended Baltimore County District Judge Bruce S. Lamdin for his use of profanity and wise cracks from the bench. Continue reading ‘Show Suspended: Baltimore Judge Punished for Jokes from Bench’
Jorge Espinal believes that guns are not just for hunting and self-defense, but personal grooming and scratching. When he decided to use his revolver to scratch his back during a late night poker game, he learned why back scratchers don’t kill people, people kill people.” Continue reading ‘This is My Back Scratcher, This is my Gun . . .: Man Shoots Himself in Effort to Stop an Itch’
While Osama bin Laden remains at large, the Administration was able recently to catch infamous international criminal suspect Domenico Salerno. Salerno, an Italian lawyer, thought that he could confuse our security by trying to visit his Virginia fiance and having no record or known criminal connections. He even thought that having the correct travel documents would help him. Fortunately, Customs has seen all of the tricks. They refused to let him into the country, and held him for 10 days without charges or counsel. Continue reading ‘Buona Giornata: United States Jails a Man Without a Record or a Crime Who Merely Sought to Visit his Future Wife and In-Laws in Virginia’
From Bill O’Reilly to Sue Simmons, on-air meltdowns by television personalities is now the rage on the Internet, so Gawker put together the collection below.
Continue reading ‘Top Ten Television Meltdowns — An Early Holiday Collection Package’
Japanese police appear helpful to a fault. Hifumi Kubota, 45, was arrested after he doused himself with kerosene. He refused to change his clothes and the Japanese police did not insist on the change. Instead, when he asked at the station, they gave him his only request: a lighter. Continue reading ‘Serve and Protect: Police Give Lighter to Man Who Doused Himself in Kerosene’
The trial of controversial lawyer Geoffrey Fieger for illegal campaign contributions to John Edwards 2004 campaign is in full swing with the testimony of his paralegal and trainer. Despite his all-star defense team, Feiger’s defense seems pretty lame: he admits that he reimbursed employees for contributions but did not realize that it was illegal. Continue reading ‘Lawyers, Paralegal and Trainer Testify Against Geoffrey Fieger’
Rudy Villanueva, 31, known as Bird Road Rudy, had a brief but illustrious career as a filmmaker. The gang leader made a clip for YouTube where he taunted the Miami Police while holding guns, inviting them to “come and get some.” They did and not Bird Road Rudy is going to jail for six years. Continue reading ‘Video Taunt Leads to Arrest: End of the Road for “Bird Road Rudy”’
The EPA has spent roughly $15 million to measure the pollution caused largely by cow farts and burps. I truly want to meet the researchers who got this assignment. Nevertheless, it turns out that California and Wisconsin are massive contributors to cow-based emissions. While Ronald Reagan may have identified trees as a major source of pollution, the report below reveals the dark untold story of those cute dairy cows that you see on the cartons of Ben and Jerry Ice Cream. Continue reading ‘EPA Issues “Fart Chart”: Bovine Flatulence Measured State-by-State’
Many entries on this site have focused on the treatment of women in Muslim countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq, and Iran. Michael Slackman received an insight in how both women and rape is viewed by some Saudi men on a recent trip.
Continue reading ‘Rape in Saudi Arabia: Reporter Has Eye-Opening Conversation with Young Saudi Males’
The horror of the war became apparent this week when President Bush announced that he had given up golf out of solidarity with the families of dead soldiers. It is truly Apocalypse Now meets Caddyshack.
You’ve got to love the power of redemption. Virulent anti-Catholic and John McCain supporter John Hagee has decided after months of criticism that he actually doesn’t think Catholics are anti-semitic and their church is the “great whore.” He further called the Crusades anti-Semitic and blamed the Church for Hitler’s hatred of the Jews. It turns out that those attacks were only caused by his love for Jews not his hatred of Catholics. I do not know which I disliked more: the hate-filled Anti-Catholic ravings or the opportunistic implausible apology. Continue reading ‘My Bad: Hagee Apologizes for Anti-Catholic Statements and Is Instantly Forgiven’
In San Francisco, the government has unveiled a new superseding 15-count indictment to replace the prior five-count indictment. The indictment covers basically the same ground and corrects a badly drafted original indictment criticized by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston. Continue reading ‘Barry Bonds Hit with 15-Count Superceding Indictment’
New York WNBC anchor Sue Simmons shocked many when she screamed the “F” word during a live teaser in the video below. While radio uses a delay, television remains truly live — preventing quick action to block such transmissions. This is not unique as these other videos indicate.
Continue reading ‘Video: Anchor Sue Simmons Drops “F Bomb” on Air’
Known on the Internet only as “Soulja Girl” after she appeared in the video below on a train attacking an elderly lady, the police have now arrested Nafiza Ziyad, 25. She is facing charges of simple assault and two counts of disorderly conduct. Continue reading ‘Shock Video: “Soulja Girl” Attacks Elderly Woman; Later Arrested’
Derrick Basle simply wanted his day in court before the city was allowed to tear down his home filled with antiques and family items. He was given a court date, but when he showed up, the learned that someone had canceled the hearing. He then discovered that the city was tearing down his house anyway in Watervliet, New York. Continue reading ‘We’re The Government, We’re Here to Help You: City Tears Down Home While Man is in Court Contesting Demolition’
Gokhan Mutlu of New York is suing after JetBlue Airways forced him to sit in an airplane toilet for a flight from California to New York. He was asked by the pilot to assume the throne after a flight attendant asked for her seat back — because the jump seat was uncomfortable. Continue reading ‘Please Return Your Toilet Seat to the Upright Position: Man Sues After Being Forced to Sit in the Airplane Bathroom During Cross Country Flight’
A friend of mine on one of the Democratic campaigns sent this video to me. With West Virginia today, it is advice from a Red State to Democratic voters to make up their mind. It is pretty funny. Continue reading ‘Red State Update: Advice on Democratic Primary’
There will be no expelliarmus orders in English prisons. English inmates have won the right to keep twigs in their cells to use as wands. This is still better than the American prisoner’s demanding to have Thor’s hammer and sword available to them. Continue reading ‘“Casting a Spell, Boss:” Inmates Win Right to Keep “Magic Wands” in Cells’
Kelly DeBrocky, of Mahopac, N.Y., appears to have a curious way of teaching her children by example. The New York mother is suing the Maritime Aquarium for $100 to replace shoes of her 1-year-old after he stepped in dog feces on an outing. She has also charged for her parking and admission to the facility. Continue reading ‘New York Mother Sues City of Norwalk After Son Steps in Dog Feces’
In a moment that seems out of a Fellini film, Saudi Arabia held a major conference on women in the workplace. The conference attended by religious, government, and business leaders would have been viewed as something of a breakthrough on the issue except for the one group excluded: women. Women were forced to sit in a separate room where they could not be seen out of respect for Wahhabi rule. Continue reading ‘Saudis Hold Conference on Women in the Workplace But Bar Women from Appearing’
A 13 year old Ralph Hardy from Texas knows how to have a good time. He stole his Dad’s credit card, took his friends on a $30,000 spree and then hired two hookers to play Halo in a hotel room. It appears that there are just some things that a good old-fashioned Texas hooker will not do. Continue reading ‘Hardy Lad: 13-Year-Old Steals Dad’s Credit Card to Hire Hookers — To Play Halo’
Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Greg Damm is the focus of a blistering condemnation by the trial and appellate courts of his alleged prosecutorial misconduct in a Las Vegas case. The case against five individuals, attorneys Daniel Chapman and Sean Flanagan, involved alleged securities trading violations. Damm is accused for failing to turn over 650 pages of critical evidence after telling the court that all evidence had been produced for the defense. Continue reading ‘Dammed if You Don’t: Ninth Circuit Dismisses Criminal Case Due to Flagrant Prosecutorial Abuse’
Abdel-Qader Ali killed his daughter after he learned that she had fallen in love with a British solider, even though she was still a virgin and did little more than admit infatuation. Her brothers helped him kill her. According to father, police congratulated and released him. His only regret? That he did not kill Rand Abdel-Qader, 17, as a baby. Continue reading ‘Father Kills Daughter for Falling in Love with British Soldier; Police Congratulate and Release Him’
Butler County Juvenile Court Judge David Niehaus is clearly someone who values education — to a fault. Niehaus sent Brian Gegner to jail for 180-days in the Butler County after his adult child Brittany Gegner failed to earn General Equivalency Diploma (GED). Continue reading ‘Learn or Your Father’s Jailbait: Judge Sends Father to Jail After Daughter Fails to Earn GED’
Rear Adm. John “Boomer” Stufflebeem was recently demoted and fired from his post as director of the Navy staff. It was revealed this week, however, that Stufflebeem had a curious pick-up line: he falsely told a woman that he was a widower and slept with her at the White House — later lying about the liaison. The report shows that Stufflebeem seemed to morph into Bill Clinton when confronted with the affair. Continue reading ‘Boomer Scores at the White House: Admiral Stufflebeem Committed Adultery at White House’
In Minnesota, three eighth graders have been suspended for sitting during the pledge of allegiance. The principal of Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Junior High School states that, while they are not constitutionally required to recite the pledge, they must still stand for the pledge. It is difficult to see how students are protected from pledging but must give the outward appearance of approving or respecting the pledge and flag. Continue reading ‘Pledge or Perish: Eighth Graders Suspended for Lack of Patriotic Respect’
Police in Madison Wisconsin have arrested a religious leader and a mother after discovering a corpse on their toilet. Tammy Lewis was responding to instructions from “Bishop” Alan Bushey, who insisted that 90-year-old Magdeline Alvina Middlesworth would come back to life — after two months. The two adults are facing child abuse and endangerment counts while the two children are now in foster care and protected from further “religious instruction.” Continue reading ‘“Bishop” and Mother Arrested After Making Kids Live with Corpse’
An interesting story is emerging over possible false light and defamation violations involving Mischa Barton’s thighs. The starlet is objecting that a widely distributed picture of her backside and thighs covered in cellulite is doctored. If the culprit is found, it would make for an interesting tort case since she could bring charges of misappropriation of likeness or image, false light, and defamation. Britain’s Daily Mail first published the pictures. Australian photographer Jamie Fawcett has also been named in the controversy as a possible culprit, though there is no direct proof of doctoring of the photographs. Continue reading ‘Getting to the Bottom of Mischa Barton: Star Claims Cellulite Doctoring’
Even though in a city that prides itself on “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” Elizabeth Halverson has achieved national infamy for conduct as a judge that allegedly ranges from having a bailiff rub her back to sleeping in the courthouse to making her husband swear under oath that he has done the chores at home. Now the Nevada Judicial Discipline Commission is starting a week of hearings to remove her from the bench. Continue reading ‘Nevada Judge Halverson Faces Possible Removal Over Bizarre Conduct’
Al Sharpton is once again in the legal news with the disclosure that he and his various enterprises owe $1.5 million in back taxes. Currently under criminaL investigation, the question is why Sharpton appears to get a free pass with politicians like the Clintons and Obamas despite a history of overt race baiting and alleged corruption. Continue reading ‘Sharpton and His Businesses Own Almost $1.5 Million in Back Taxes’
In Duluth, Minnesota, the Munthe family thought that it was bad enough that their miniature pinscher, Fester, was hit by Jeffrey Ely’s Honda Civic. That was before he served them with papers for the damage to his car, court costs, and even lost wages. The family has now countersued for the value of Fester (replacement costs) and their own costs. OF course, Ely got of light, as the video below shows, another guy in California last week found a pit bull stuck in his truck engine, chewing his wiring. Continue reading ‘Festering Lawsuit: Driver Runs Over Dog and Then Sues Owners’
Israeli is facing yet another high-ranking official accused of bribery. This time it is Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has admitted to taking cash from New York financier Morris Talansky. Any indictment would likely be set back for peace efforts given Olmert’s support for negotiations with Palestinians. Continue reading ‘Olmert Accused of Bribery; Refuses to Resign Unless Indicted’
Bernie Ward, San Francisco’s leading liberal radio host, has admitted to distribution of child pornography by e-mail. He will now face at least five years in prison and as much as ten years. Continue reading ‘Liberal Talk Show Host Bernie Ward Admits to Distribution of Child Pornography’
Georgia legislators have been busy. With an economy tanking and foreclosures rising, politicians in Georgia have taken action to ban candy that is favored to taste like pot like Kronic Kandy and Pot Suckers. The effort is led by a real stoner, Rep. Doug Stoner to be specific. (Sure, I posted this primarily for the pun, but there is a slim legal issue discovered below) Continue reading ‘Stoner Bans Pot Candy in Georgia’
British judge Robert Atherton is under attack for a ruling that released pedophile Jon Dixon, 20, after finding that an 11-year-old girl that he met on a chat room “welcomed” his advances and had a high level of “sexual awareness.” Continue reading ‘Judge Releases Pedophile; Says 11-Year-Old “Welcomed” Abuse’
For many years, civil libertarians have complained about the increase in “no knock”warrants, particularly after the decision in 2006 by the Supreme Court in Hudson v. Michigan. Now, it appears that no knocks have collided with another trend: castle doctrines or “make my day” laws allowing homeowners to defend their homes with lethal force. When Tracy Ingle in North Little Rock heard someone coming through his window, that is precisely what he did. He grabbed his legal handgun and pointed it at the window. A shot immediately ran out, severing most of one leg. After he fell from the bed, he was hit by four more shots from police — who later charged Ingle with assaulting them, even though he had not fired a single shot. Continue reading ‘No Knock Meets the Castle Doctrine: Man Shot Five Times by Police, No Drugs Found, Arkansas Man Charged with Assaulting Officers’
Professor Michael Todd has been fired by the Maricopa County Community College. This was probably not too surprising. Professors are sometime fired for failing to attend classes, plagiarism, or chronically poor classroom performance. In Todd’s case, it was the dead student found in his home. Continue reading ‘Professor Fired After Dead Student Found In Townhouse’
A twelve-year-old Muslim girl and her parents have been told by a German court that she must attend co-ed swimming lessons despite her religious objections to wearing formfitting clothing. The court in North Rhine-Westphalia said that the school’s interest in teaching swimming outweighs the bona fide religious objections of the parents. It appears that free style outweighs free exercise in Germany. Continue reading ‘Sin-chronized Swimming: German Court Holds that Muslim Girl Must Swim Despite Religious Prohibitions’