Month: January 2013

Academia, Bizarre, Society

South Carolina School Expels Six-Year-Old For Bringing Toy Gun To School

130130054219_Naomi McKinneyBoozer PhotoWhile they are arresting seven-year-olds in New York, South Carolina schools are expelling a six-year-old girl for bringing her brother’s toy gun into school. We have been discussing the steady stream of absurd actions taken by school officials under “zero tolerance” policies. For a prior column, click here. This is yet another example. This little girl picked up her brother’s toy gun. Rather than call the parents into the school and reprimand the girl, these school officials chose to expel her from Alice Drive Elementary in Sumter, South Carolina. It is bizarre that Principal Sheree T. Boozer (right) could not simply see a child’s mistake for what it is.

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Academia, Bizarre, Criminal law

New York Sued Over Arrest And Interrogation Of Seven-Year-Old Boy Over Missing $5 Bill At School

800px-New_five_dollar_billWilson Reyes is one of those hardened criminals who are hard to break. Police handcuffed Reyes, threw him in a cruiser, and interrogated him for a reported ten hours. Yet, Reyes insisted he was innocent and had to be released . . . to his mother. The seven-year-old boy was accused of stealing $5 on a playground at his school.

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Environment, International, Science

Green Navy: U.S. To Cut Up $277 Million Minesweeper Rather Than Further Damage Reef

220px-USS_Guardian_aground_in_January_2013While we often criticize our government on this blog, it is important to remember that there remains great differences between this government and those around the world in areas like the environment. In an extraordinary decision, the United States Navy has decided to disassemble the $277 million USS Guardian, an important minesweeper, rather than further damage a coral reef by pulling it off the reef. This follows an equally impressive approach to drilling in the Antarctic by U.S. explorers.

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Animals, Environment, Society

Wilman’s Whale: English Man Hit Jackpot With Hardened Whale Vomit

220px-Sperm_whale_podOk, this has nothing to do with the law or politics, but I cannot resist. Brit Ken Wilman, 50, is a wealthy man after his dog Madge starting playing with a smelly rock on the beach. It turned out to be a rare piece of whale vomit. However, that is not the interesting thing about the story. What is interesting is that the whale vomit is worth more than £100,000.

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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Politics, Society

Cornerback or Throwback? 49ers Player Culliver Strikes Out Against Gays

460px-49ers_Logo.svgI would expect that of all of the NFL teams to espouse homophobic views, the San Francisco 49ers would probably be the least receptive forum. That did not appear to deter 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver who raged against gays in the locker room just days before Super Bowl XLVII. In contrast, Ravens player Brendon Ayanbadejo has used the Superbowl to advocate the rights of same-sex couples. (Conversely, Ravens center Matt Birk came out opposing equal rights for gays in marriages). Suddenly, the Superbowl has become a debate on gay and lesbian rights.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Uncategorized

Loaded Diaper: Two New York Women Arrested At JFK Airport With Cocaine Diapers

diaper3After a DEA dog alerted agents at an airport, they found a diaper filled with powder. The problem is that it was being worn by an adult woman, Priscilla Pena, and the powder was cocaine. They then found a similar diaper on her friend Michelle Blassingale on the same flight from the Dominican Republic.

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Courts, Criminal law, Politics, Society

The Obama Administration’s Inspector Javert: Federal Court Rejects Forfeiture Effort By The Office Of Carmen Ortiz In Stinging Rebuke

Carmen-Ortiz-144x150We previously discussed the ignoble role played by U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz in the prosecution of Aaron Swartz, who committed suicide after being relentlessly pursued by her office in a questionable prosecution. As critics around the world questioned her methods and judgment, Ortiz issued a less than credible defense of the case. Now her office is again the subject of allegations of excessive prosecution of a small motel owner where her staff sought to seize his property.

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Bizarre, Courts, Criminal law

Ohio Woman Attacked By Ex-Boyfriend After Judge Leaves Them Alone In Court To Look Into Her Requested Protective Order

rashadgreenecourtroom-assultThere was a highly disturbing scene in a Domestic Relations courtroom this month after a judge left a woman with her ex-boyfriend in a room despite her saying that she was fearful of him and seeking protection. In the video below, Rashad Greene, 30, proceeded to attack Dominique Morrow, 28, in the courtroom.

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Bizarre, International

Zimbabwe Down To $217 In Bank Accounts

200px-mugabecloseup2008280px-Sparschwein_Haspa02We have previously discussed the corrupt regime of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and his globe-trotting wife. So Mugabe and his friends and family have reportedly stolen hundreds of millions (particularly from diamond mining), but they decided to leave $217 in the bank for the rest of the country — that is far more restraint than they have been known for in the past. Now In the meantime, many are celebrating the world’s first female billionaire. She is Isobel Dos Santos. A considerable achievement to be sure until you learn that she is the daughter of Angolan president José Eduardo dos Santos, the second longest-serving leader on the continent and like Mugabe has been openly draining the country of wealth for decades for his family and friends.

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Criminal law, Society, Torts

Sailors: Georgia Man Charged In Killing Of Driver Who Pulled Into Driveway Due To Faulty GPS Directions

Sailorsarticle-2270105-173BCBED000005DC-566_306x423Phillip Walker Sailors, 69, has been charged with malice murder in the killing of Rodrigo Abad Diaz, a 22-year-old Cuban immigrant who mistakenly pulled into his driveway due to faulty GPS directions.

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Bizarre, International, Society

Indian Caste Leaders Praise Parents Who Kill Children For Honor

India flagWe have continued to follow the abuse and killing of women in countries like India, including so-called “honor killings” where parents murder their children to maintain their honor. Now Indian caste leaders have given a glimpse into the perverse perspective in such cultures with a submission to their Supreme Court.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Lawyering, Politics, Society

Dead Men Don’t Blow Whistles: Russians Prosecute Dead Lawyer

220px-Sergei_Magnitsky225px-Vladimir_Putin_official_portraitVladimir Putin has worked hard to maintain his carefully constructed image of a macho authoritarian figure, including sending away the members of Pussy Riot for speaking out against him and his alliance with the Russian Orthodox Church. However, he continues to distinguish himself among budding dictators. For example, anyone can prosecute whistle-blowing lawyers. China continually does it. Iran does it. However, Russia is prosecuting a whistle-blowing lawyer after he died. Now that is a tough guy.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Free Speech, Society

Washington Father Investigated After Posting Facebook Comment Calling For Someone To Massacre Opposing School After Close Basketball Game

The-Facebook-message-from-a-Skyline-father-that-started-a-police-investigation-Facebook-via-KATUWe have previously seen parents who appear less mature than their children in responding to sporting events. We would have to add a father of a student with Vancouver (Wash.) Skyview High basketball team who responded to a contentious game with a call for someone to massacre students at Camas (Wash.) High. There are calls for criminal charges and the father, who has not yet been identified, is barred from the school grounds.

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Courts, Criminal law, Lawyering, Torts

Anatomy of a DUI: Witness Takes Fifth In Bizarre Trial Of “Bubba the Love Sponge”

200px-Anatomymurder_trailer_2Who said law was boring? In the trial of shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge Clem in Tampa, an attorney has alleged that he was set up by the opposing law firm in a DUI arrest in the midst of the high-profile trial. The story has everything: an obnoxious defendant, a castrated pig, an attractive young female legal assistant, a missing briefcase filled with trial papers, and a double set-up plot. It is a DUI version of Anatomy of a Murder except the James Stewart never finishes the trial because he is found in a car inebriated with Lee Remick.

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