This is what Texas Gov. Rick Perry seems to view a close call. He has said that he is still mulling over whether the stay an execution of Charles Dean Hood for 30 days after it was disclosed the his judge, former District Judge Verla Sue Holland, and his prosecutor, former Collin County District Attorney Tom O’Connell, at trial had an affair — and a hearing on the issue is currently scheduled for after his execution. Despite the compelling evidence of ménage à trial, the issue appears to still be undecided despite requests from twenty-two former federal and state judges and prosecutors calling for the stay.
Archive for September, 2008
Death Becomes Her: Texas Judge Accused of Affair with Prosecutor in Capital Punishinment Case
Published 1, September 5, 2008 Bizarre , Courts , Criminal law , Society 8 CommentsGetting Fatwa at Parties: Birthday Parties Declared as UnIslamic by Leading Saudi Cleric
Published 1, September 5, 2008 Bizarre , Religion , Society 11 Comments
Leading Saudi cleric, Sheik Abdul-Aziz Al Sheik has denounced birthday parties as unIslamic and an invasion from the West. People who hold such practices now risk being accusing of doing something Haram, or forbidden. Fatwas have been issued denouncing everything from birthdays to Mother’s Day.
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No Leg to Stand On: Prosecutors Refuse to Give Back Prosthetic Leg of Shooting Victim
Published 1, September 5, 2008 Bizarre , Criminal law , Justice , Society 7 Comments
There is a showdown brewing in Box Butte County, Nebraska. On one side are prosecutors has a standing case against a defendant and on the other is Val McCabe who just wants to stand. Val, and his brilliantly named wife Muffy Buckles, are suing the county for his leg back despite the prosecutors insistence that it is evidence being held by the Alliance Police Department.
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Kwame Kilpatrick Pleads Guilty and Agrees to Jail Time for Obstruction
Published 1, September 4, 2008 Bizarre , Criminal law , Politics , Society 16 Comments
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has agreed to plead guilty to two obstruction of justice counts tied to his perjury as a witness on an affair with a former aide. He will also give up his law license, resign as mayor, and turn over his pension to the city.
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A Learning Experience Like None Other: Los Angeles Opens its $350 Million High School
Published 1, September 4, 2008 Academics , Bizarre , Society 9 Comments
Los Angeles has now officially opened its $350 million downtown high school the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center. It is only a decade over due and more than the operating budgets of some small nations. It appears that economics and good government will be elective courses at Roybal.
‘. . . Until the GOP Lady Sings”: Noonan Heard Off-Mike Declaring “It’s Over” And Saying Sarah Palin Not Most Qualified
Published 1, September 4, 2008 Bizarre , Media , Politics , Society 28 Comments
I have long said that, when I die, I want to come back as a political rather than a legal commentator. Political commentators seem to be able to say the most predictable facts so long as they follow a scripted Democratic versus Republican persona. However, this week Mike Murphy, an former McCain aide, and Peggy Noonan, a former Reagan speechwriter, were caught speaking off script about Gov. Sarah Palin: it wasn’t pretty, in fact (according to Noonan) “it’s over.”
Florida Cop and Sexual Predator Chases Two Teen Boys at Over 100 Miles An Hour, Allegedly Rams Car and Causes Crash That Kills One Boy — Colleagues Clear Him in Accident and Charge the Other Teen
Published 1, September 4, 2008 Bizarre , Criminal law , Justice , Society , Torts 6 Comments
This is an extraordinary and deeply disturbing story. In Polk County, a sexual predator of young men named Sgt. Scott Lawson was allowed to carry out a personal fantasy as an officer with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in pursuing and abusing young men during his 11-year career. In 2002, Lawson chased two young men in his unmarked police car (without activating his lights) and allegedly forced them into an accident — killing Miles White and seriously injuring Adam Jacoby. There is evidence that Lawson rammed their car — forcing it into a tree — but the police investigators allowed Lawson’s car to be removed from the scene and did not interview Lawson. He was heralded by police as a hero until he was later found to be a sexual predator of young boys.
Shock Video: Police Beat Soccer Fan; Soccer Fans Then Beat Police
Published 1, September 4, 2008 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society 6 Comments
An extraordinary video has surfaced of a fan running on the field of a soccer game, only to be chased down by security officers. The crowd watches as the guards appear to beat the man and then rush the field and beat the security guards.
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Belt or Bust: Florida Police Arrest Man for Wearing Baggy Pants
Published 1, September 3, 2008 Bizarre , Constitutional Law , Criminal law , Politics , Society 17 Comments
Kenneth Smith will think twice when he next dresses to go out in Riviera Beach, Florida. The twenty-nine-year-old was arrested for the unspeakable offense of wearing baggy pants, the most recent example of the over-criminalization of life in America.
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Two Israeli Policemen Convicted in Death of Palistinian Teenager
Published 1, September 3, 2008 Bizarre , Criminal law , Justice , Society 4 Comments
Two Israeli border policemen have been convicted of manslaughter after they kidnapped a Palestinian teenager, 17-year-old Amran Abu Hamadiya, and threw him from a moving jeep. The death came during a day in which Shachar Botbeka, Denis Alhazov, and two other officers terrorized Palestinians in Hebron with tear gas, stun grenades, beatings and abductions.
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Hospital Worker Arrested for Stealing From Patients
Published 1, September 3, 2008 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society , Torts 2 Comments
A new former hospital worker has been arrested for a third time for stealing from patients, including the rent money of own elderly victim. Tacoma Jawara worked at the Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Palestinian Father Buries Divorced Daughter Alive in Honor Killing
Published 1, September 3, 2008 Bizarre , Criminal law , Religion , Society 5 Comments
A Palestinian father has been arrested for the murder of this 24-year-old daughter after he buried her alive in an honor killing. Police are investigating whether her four brothers assisted the over seventy-year-old father in the crime. It is only the latest of such honor killings in the Middle East, though (unlike Pakistan) authorities appear to have reacted quickly to the crime.
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The media is quickly moving to learn more about Gov. Sarah Palin. Now, the video below has emerged that gives a glimpse into her belief in the convergence of politics and divine prophesy. In a speech only a couple of months ago, Palin speaks at the Wasilla Assembly of God where she refers the Iraq war as part of God’s plan. For his part, Pastor Ed Kalnins is a controversial figure who has referred to political adversaries as presumptively damned and claims political allies as divinely blessed. Various policies on drilling etc are not just a plan from the GOP but GOD.
Chinese Train Company Destroys Ancient Site
Published 1, September 2, 2008 Bizarre , Environment , Society 2 Comments
Nanjing holds some of China’s oldest and most valuable relics dating back from the 11th to the 2nd century BC. Well, it used to. Despite demands for the Beijing-Shanghai Express Railway company to redirect its construction route for a new high-speed train or take steps to protect the site, the company went ahead and destroyed much of the site.
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Russian Police Accused of Killing Blogger and Website Owner
Published 1, September 2, 2008 Criminal law , Justice , Politics , Society 3 Comments
Russian police are accused of pulling a dissident website owner, Magomed Yevloyev of Ingushetiya.ru, off a plane near Chechnya, shooting him in the head, and dumping his body along a road.
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For Whom The Bells Toll: St. Stephens Deafens Woman in Italy
Published 1, September 2, 2008 Bizarre , Religion , Society , Torts 2 Comments
Usually, saints are known to heal such conditions as deafness, but a woman in Genoa has successfully sued the Santo Stefano for hearing loss due to the ringing of its church bells. The church will have to pay 60,000 euros for its ringing nuisance. It is actually a type of tort action that is routinely seen in the United States and, more often than not, rejected.
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Untouchable and Unrescueable: India’s Untouchables Left to Be Rescued Last in Deadly Floods
Published 1, September 2, 2008 Bizarre , Religion , Society 4 Comments
The recent deadly flooding has brought new evidence of caste discrimination in India. Journalists have reported that Indian officials have been rescuing “untouchables” last — bypassing tens of thousands to rescue higher caste members. The Dalits — the lowest people on the Hinda caste ladder — have been left to struggle to survive as dozens have drown and 1.2 million have been forced from their homes.
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The Methodist Menace: Fiji Human Rights Commission Finds Planned Conversions of Non-Christians to be Violation of Freedom of Religion
Published 1, September 1, 2008 Bizarre , Constitutional Law , Religion , Society 11 Comments
In a very curious ruling, the Fiji Human Rights Commission has found that the proposed campaign by the Methodist Church Conference to convert non-Christians in Fiji would violate the freedom of religion under the country’s constitution and international law. It is difficult to see how prostylizing for voluntary conversions would violate the freedom of religion under any definition.
Palin v. Putin: Is the United States Falling Behind in a Hunting Arms Race?
Published 1, September 1, 2008 Bizarre , Environment , Politics , Society 29 Comments
Vladimir Putin seems ready to meet the challenge of Sarah Palin. Supporters of the Vice Presidential hopeful have released pictures and videos of her shooting high-powered rifles, skinned bears, and posing with dead animals that she has shot. Putin, technically the second in command of Russia, has released a series of macho pictures, including his shooting of a Siberian tiger with a tranquilizer gun. Next, Palin will have to actually eat the heart of a polar bear to meet the Putin challenge.
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UCLA Faces New Controversy Over Use of Race in Admissions
Published 1, September 1, 2008 Academics , Constitutional Law , Politics , Society 2 Comments
UCLA is facing a renewed controversy over the use of race in its admissions policies after Political science professor Tim Groseclose resigned in protest from the Admissions committee. He has charged that the school is covering up illegal use of race as a selection criteria — a long simmering controversy at the school.
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Seattle Kills 78-Year-Old San Francisco Fan
Published 1, September 1, 2008 Bizarre , Society , Torts Leave a Comment
A likely tort case has emerged from a bizarre accident outside of a San Francisco 49ers pre-season game. A police horse named Seattle was on patrol when he was spooked by a plastic bag and broke free. He collided with 78-year-old Eugene Caldwell, who fell and hit his head. He later died from the injury. It is a very tragic accident that may raise a difficult question of animal liability for the city.
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