Res ipsa loquitur ("The thing itself speaks")
The White House has reportedly blocked Hillary Clinton’s effort to bring controversial columnist Sidney Blumenthal into the State Department to advise her. Blumenthal has been long seen as a polarizing and, according to some, a vicious partisan — including allegations that he spread malicious rumors about Obama during the campaign.
Continue reading ‘Obama White House Blocks Sidney Blumenthal’s Appointment at the State Department’
Rev. Edward Pinkney is a minister who relishes the wrath of God — particularly as an extension of his own criminal case. Pinkney recently ordered down fire and damnation upon the head of Judge Alfred Butzbaugh. Judge Butzbaugh took the extraordinary (and unlawful) step of ordering that Pinkney refrain from “defamatory and demeaning” communications as part of his probation. The court revoked his probation after Pinkney wrote the article below calling Judge Butzbaugh a “racist,” “dumb,” and “corrupt,” and predicting his demise at the hands of the Almighty. The Michigan Court of Appeals wisely found the order and revocation to be obvious violations of his first amendment rights.
Continue reading ‘Michigan Appellate Court Overrules Minister’s Probation Revocation for Unleashing “Demons” on His Trial Judge’
Many of us have expressed concern about the pork-laden appropriation bills and stimulus package this year. Just as Republicans showed little restraint in spending in the war bills, Democrats have treated the economic recovery bills as a license for unlimited spending. Now, massive taxes and sur-taxes are being proposed. New York officials are complaining that, if passed, the rate for some of its citizens could reach almost 60 percent. Some Democrats are now seeking to reduce a proposed 5.4% sur-tax to 1 %.
If this week’s hearings seem devoid of serious content, it is due to the little known Ginsburg Rule. Today’s column discusses how we can restore some serious content to confirmation hearings.
Hamas has accused Israeli intelligence of another fiendish plot to undermine the Palestinian cause. The weapon of mass cultural destruction? Gum. Hamas accuses Israel of sneaking in chewing gum that increases the sex drive of Palestinian kids in order to “corrupt the young.”
Arizonans are now allowed to carry concealed weapons into bars. Gov. Jan Brewer signed the law on Monday to guarantee the right to be fully loaded in bars.
Continue reading ‘Loaded in Arizona: New Law Allows Guns in Bars’
While going to law school in Chicago, many of us were envious of kids that graduated from Wisconsin law schools who were not required to take a state bar. It now turns out that we may have been victims of an unconstitutional discrimination against outside law schools. In an interesting opinion written by Judge Richard Posner of the United States Supreme Court, the Wisconsin rule was found to be a violation of the commerce clause.
A London doctor is telling a horrific story of how she was tricked by her family to return to Bangladesh, drugged, put into a psychiatric hospital, and then married to a stranger. The Muslim family felt that Dr. Humayra Abedin was too independent and living a non-traditional life as a physician.
Continue reading ‘English Doctor Allegedly Drugged, Kidnapped, and Forced to Marry Stranger’
Newsweek is reporting that Attorney General Eric Holder is leaning toward the appointment of a special prosecutor on the issue of torture. Much, however, was not stated and there remains a question of whether Holder will appoint a special prosecutor with the full authority to pursue any and all crimes related to the torture policy. There are rumors that, if an investigation occurs, it may be sharply curtailed.
Continue reading ‘Holder Reportedly Considering Special Prosecutor — But Serious Questions Remain’
Sonia Sotomayor has been heralded as a judge with a life story that should inspire all Americans and, even though she has a fairly conservative voting record in some areas, liberal activists have rallied around her nomination. A new poll, however, suggests that most Americans are neither inspired nor supportive. Only forty-seven percent of people polled by CNN and the Opinion Research Corporation support Sotomayor and, more importantly, forty percent outright oppose her confirmation.
With the Senate hearings about to begin on the Sotomayor nomination, this morning’s column below addresses what we ideally should be looking for in a nominee.
Continue reading ‘The Sotomayor Nomination and the Search for Judicial Greatness’
In light of this week’s latest disclosures of secret and allegedly unlawful programs by the Bush Administration, this picture seems apropos.
It goes without saying that, where there is a story of constitutional or human rights abuse, Dick Cheney cannot be far behind. It is therefore little surprise to learn this week that, according to sources in the recent disclosure of a hidden counterterrorism program, the prior concealment from Congress was allegedly ordered by Cheney.
Continue reading ‘Report: Cheney Ordered Concealment of Secret Program From Congress’
Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo is joining other zoos which are considering closing or killing (or transferring) animals due to budget shortfalls — as we continue to spend billions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even if the zoo does not closed, one thousand animals may be euthanized or transferred from the zoo.
Continue reading ‘Boston Considers Closing Franklin Park Zoo and Killing Animals Due to Budget Shortfall’
The Bush Administration was accused this week of helping cover-up the massacre of possibly thousands of Taliban prisoners by an American-backed warlord, Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum. Dostrum is widely viewed as a butcher and war criminal. He was also on the payroll of the CIA.
Continue reading ‘Bush Administration Accused of Cover-Up of Massacre of Taliban Prisoners’
We have been reading of the struggle of media and civil libertarians in England where the government continues to pass and enforce laws prohibiting things like photography of police and other sites. Now, we have a report of Alexander Turner who was given a citation for taking a picture of a fish and chips shop under the English anti-terrorism laws. The incriminating picture is below.
Continue reading ‘Man Caught Photographing Fish and Chips Shop in England’
A new government report has disclosed that President Bush authorized secret surveillance activities that went beyond the previously disclosed NSA program – raising the prospect of additional unlawful conduct by the Bush Administration. At the same time, a House member has revealed that CIA Director Leon Panetta has shutdown a program that was never revealed to Congress in direct violation of federal law. I discussed these stories on this segment of MSNBC Countdown.
Continue reading ‘Reports Shows Additional Undisclosed Surveillance Programs — And Likely Unlawful Conduct by Bush Administration’
Gay Rights activists are protesting the handling of a dispute at a Chico’s Tacos restaurant in El Paso, Texas. When two gay men kissed, the group of five gay men were reportedly told by guards to leave because the restaurant did not approve of “the faggot stuff.” An El Paso police officer later allegedly told the men that they could be arrested for kissing another man in public.
Last year, many of us denounced the police checkpoints in the Trinidad area of Northeast Washington as grossly unconstitutional despite the insistence of D.C. Attorney General Peter J. Nickles that he had ample law on his side. Now, a conservative panel of the D.C. Circuit has ruled as expected that the checkpoints presumptively violate the fourth amendment and granted a preliminary injunction.
Continue reading ‘D.C. Circuit Rules Police Checkpoints Unconstitutional’
William Junge of Las Vegas has triumphed in an historic battle for both grammar and garden implements. The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles denied the use of his “HOE” license plate, but a court ruled that Junge should be allowed to drive with a Hoes on his trunk and hood.
Sen. John Ensign’s affair is moving from the politically damaging to the downright pathetic. Ensign’s lawyer has released a statement confirming that the $96,000 given to former aide and close family friend Cindy Hampton came from his parents.
Continue reading ‘Family Affair: Sen. Ensign’s Parents Wrote $96,000 Check to Lover’
Yemen displayed its version of justice with the execution of confessed child rapist Yahia al-Raghwa, 22, in a public event. Due to the graphic nature of the pictures, I have supplied a link below for those who want to see them.
Despite the outrage expressed by certain members and former Bush officials over allegations that the CIA may have lied about prior briefings with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, members revealed this week that the CIA has admitted to members that it did indeed repeatedly mislead members in reports since 2001. However, CIA Director Leon Panetta stands by the earlier denial of misrepresentations linked to Pelosi.
Continue reading ‘House Members: CIA Repeatedly Misled Congress’
Israel has blocked another humanitarian team from reaching Gaza. This time, however, the team of doctors were organized by the French government to give medical aid and surgical help to the residents.
Continue reading ‘Israel Blocks Team of Humanitarian Doctors From Entering Gaza to Treat Patients’
The Obama Administration continues its retention and expansion of abusive Bush policies — now clearly Obama policies on indefinite detention and blocking the investigation of war crimes. Jeh Johnson, the Defense Department’s chief lawyer, has stated that it is a “policy question” whether acquitted individuals will be released or held indefinitely.
Continue reading ‘Obama Administration Reserves Right to Indefinitely Hold Detainees Acquitted of Charges’
Judge Larry J. Naves has denied former University of Colorado Professor Ward Churchill reinstatement despite a ruling from a jury that his termination for plagiarism was politically motivated. The jury awarded Churchill $1 in damages.
Continue reading ‘Court Denies Ward Churchill Reinstatement on Colorado Faculty’
The Montgomery County police conducted a raid on a home roughly a quarter of a mile in the territory of Washington, D.C. It appears that the Montgomery County police rented themselves and their vehicles to a television production company for a show called “Prison Wives” and proceeded to conduct the raid without notifying the District of Columbia.
There is a reason why many of us never tire of watching Sarah Palin. It may be the same sensation that draws people to car races to see the crashes or watch the Weather Channel for the tornado footage, but there is something enthralling the study of Palin, or Palinotology as I prefer to call it. In her latest statement, Palin helpfully explained that being president would be easier than being the Governor of Alaska because “the department of law” would protect her from lawsuits.
Katherine Varjian, 65, was been captured! The feline felon has long been in the sights of the Beverly Hills cops as a recidivist feeder of stray cats. Her twelve-year reign of terror was brought to an end with misdemeanor charges for feeding as many as 30- cats a day in her back alley.
Continue reading ‘Caging the Catwoman: Woman Charged Criminally for Feeding Stray Cats’
Arizona State Senator Sylvia Allen sits on the state’s Education Accountability and Reform Committee as well as the Natural Resources Committee. So, it was a bit scary to hear Allen display her knowledge of science and geology recently during her call for uranium mining. In the clip below, Allen casually explains that the Earth is 6000 years old and that it has done just fine without environmental laws of any kind for most of that time. She represents Snowflake, Arizona.
Continue reading ‘Creationism Goes Nuclear: Arizona State Senator Proclaims That Earth is 6000 Years Old’
Brian Lee Reed, 30, and Marilyn Renee Lee, 36, have been arrested for having consensual sex. The problem is not the sex but the fact that Marilyn is the half-sister of Brian. The case could raise some interesting legal questions.
Continue reading ‘Idaho Couple Faces Life in Prison for Incest’
The Iranian government appears to be laying the groundwork to arrest Mir Hossein Mousavi, who this week released proof of extensive fraud and government interference with the June 12th elections. Hossein Shariatmadari, a special adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accused Mousavi of being a “foreign agent” working for the United States and a member of a “fifth column” determined to topple Iran’s Islamic system of governance. The Iranian government has also announced a crackdown on satellite providers in an effort to block citizens from hearing any news other than what the government approves. It appears that in the paradise of Islamic rule the government cannot risk people hearing about their government and its actions.
Continue reading ‘High-Ranking Iranian Official Accuses Mousavi With Treason and Being “Foreign Agent”’
D.C. City Council Member and former Washington Mayor Marion Barry, 73, is continuing to rake up new criminal charges. This week’s crime du jour is stalking. Barry is charged with stalking his ex-girlfriend and political consultant Donna Watts-Brighthaupt after she flagged down an officer and complained about Barry. He was given a misdemeanor citation.
Continue reading ‘Marion Barry Charged With Stalking’
Sarah Palin may have been unclear as to why she decided to quit early as governor, but her lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, is insisting that it is not because of an investigation of wrongdoing involving her house on Lake Lucille or the Wasilla Sports complex. The link was published in pieces by Alaska blogger Shannyn Moore, Huffpo, Washington Post, the NY Times and MSNBC.
Continue reading ‘Palin Threatens Washington Post, NY Times, MSNBC, and Other Publications With Defamation Lawsuit’
Happy Independence Day!
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has announced that she will resign from office on July 26th. The news has led bloggers and comedians to breath into paper bags and use emergency dial-ins for their analysts across the country. Palin has been God’s gift to bloggers, including this blog. But fear not, this announcement may actually promise more not less Palin!
Continue reading ‘Sarah Palin Resigns As Alaskan Governor Effective July 26th’
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has come up with a sure-fire way to improving the performance of students in the low-ranked state: lower the academic standards so more students can pass.
Continue reading ‘The New Math: Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal Solves Low School Passage Rates By Lowering School Standards’
Pennsylvania State Sen. John Eichelberger (R) has refused to apologize after a statement that the public has allowed gays to exist. Eichelberger is pushing a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and made the statement after being asked by Sen. Daylin Leach (D) who gays should be treated.
Continue reading ‘Republican State Senator: We Allow Gays To Exist’
In the ultimate proof that law is not a popularity contest, U.S. District Judge George H. Wu has tossed out the conviction of the much-despised Lori Drew — the woman behind the cyber-bully case that led to the suicide of 13-year-old Megan Meier.
The Washington Post is accused of arranging for meetings between power brokers, lobbyists, and politicians, including Post reporters and editors for $25,000 to $250,000. These meetings are billed as off the record, non-confrontational access to “those powerful few” in the Beltway. Called “Salons,” the entire program is raising eyebrows in both the media and business areas.
The members of Congress are once again facing the dangers of public service from sunburns to shopping overload. Our public servants are again planning their summer vacations at public expense. Many of us have been concerned about the runaway spending of this Administration and Congress. For prior columns, click here and here. Even if one accepts some spending was necessary for stimulus, Democrats have used the economic recovery as an excuse to pile on spending programs and pork projects. Now, it appears that overseas travel expenses are up tenfold since 1995. Congressional delegations, or “codels,” have increased 70% since 2005.
Continue reading ‘Vacationing for the Public Good: Members Massively Increase Travel at Taxpayer Expense for Themselves and Family’
The New York Republican Senators are up in arms over what they insist was a Democratic trick: using the brief appearance of a Republican Senator to break a long-standing stalemate. Sen. Frank Padavan of Queens says that he was on a quest for a Coca Cola, not voting, when he cut through the Senate floor on the way to the member lounge’s soda machine. The Democrats immediately counted him as the 32nd vote and unanimously passed 125 bills in three hours with Republicans absent.
Continue reading ‘The Real Thing? New York Republican Claims Democrats Misconstrued a Coke Run as Political Statement’
In 2006, Joel Witriol broke barriers in becoming New York’s first Hasidic cop — a proud moment for both Witriol and the Hasidic community. He is now, however, embroiled in a controversy over whether he was abusive in the treatment of Chrissie Brodigan and her pug dog in a New York subway station.
Continue reading ‘Dog Owner Accuses New York’s First Hasidic Police Officer of Abuse and Sexism’
The Israeli High Court has ordered the Military Advocate General to file more serious charges against an Israel Defense Forces officer who ordered a soldier to shoot a bound Palestinian with a rubber-coated metal bullet. Lt. Col. Omri Burberg, the officer, and Staff Sgt. L., the soldier, were formally charged with “improper conduct” over the incident, a mere misdemeanor.
India is on the verge of a major victory for civil liberties: repealing a ban on homosexuality that was first introduced by the British 150 years ago.
Continue reading ‘India on the Verge of Repealing 150 Year Ban on Homosexuality’
I’m Good Enough, I’m Smart Enough, and Doggone It, the Minnesota Supreme Court Likes Me. This election may have been a virtual tie, but Al Franken swept the Minnesota Supreme Court today. The Court ruled that Franken should be certified as the winner of the state’s Senate race — rejecting a challenge by Republican Norm Coleman. With Franken, the Democrats will have the votes to overcome any filibuster (if you include the two independents).
Continue reading ‘Minnesota Supreme Court Votes Unanimously With Franken — Coleman Concedes’
Recently, Rush Limbaugh explained how Obama economic policies were the cause of Republican Gov. Mark Sanford’s affair with a beautiful Argentinian woman. But what caused the economic problems that caused the stimulus package that aroused Gov. Sanford? Oklahoma Rep. Sally Kern has finally answered that question: our sins. Kern has drafted a resolution that puts the current economic crisis squarely on the backs of libertines and godless people who have produced a moral crisis. This includes Obama’s refusal to “uphold the long held tradition of past presidents in recognition of our National Day of Prayer.”
As expected, the Supreme Court voted in Ricci v. DeStefano, the New Haven firefighters case, to reverse the decision of the Second Circuit panel, which included Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Also as expected, Justice Kennedy played the swing vote in giving cities a new defense in such cases. Kennedy wrote the majority opinion. The fear of litigation was not sufficient to justify the discrimination against white and Hispanic firefighters. Firefighters challenged a decision to throw out promotional exam results because no African-American firefighters were among the top scoring candidates for promotion — only white and Hispanic officers. Judge Sonia Sotomayor was on the panel that upheld the city’s decision in one of her most controversial decisions.
Continue reading ‘Supreme Court Rules 5-4 to Reverse Sotomayor Ruling in New Haven Firefighters Case’
Larry Wilder, the City Council attorney for Jeffersonville, Ind. has announced that he will resigned due to recent criticism. It was not Wilder’s skills or courtroom demeanor that proved his undoing. It was the combination of a certain trash can, a lawyer, and a camera. He resign before he was . . . well . . . canned.
Continue reading ‘Trashed: City Attorney Resigns After Embarrassing Photos in Garbage Can’
The scandal involving University of Illinois Law School is getting worse by the day. We previously discussed the scandal involving the admissions process and the use of “special admits” where deans circumvent the usual process to guarantee admission for certain well-connected students.The Chicago Tribune continues to uncover shocking examples of manipulation of the admissions process at Illinois by politicians and donors. This may be an example of why admissions are like sausage and legislation — things that you should not watch being made.
Detroit City Council President Pro Tem Monica Conyers and wife of Judiciary Chairman John Conyers has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bribery. She is free on personal bond awaiting sentencing. This is
only the latest criminal plea or conviction for the Detroit political establishment.
Continue reading ‘Monica Conyers Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bribery’
The Iranian government has continued its crackdown on protests, including the arrest of dozens of university professors for merely meeting with opposition leader Hossein Mousavi. Senior cleric Ayatollah Ahmed Khatami has called for the execution of some protesters and harsh treatment of all leaders of the protests.
Continue reading ‘Leading Iranian Cleric Calls for Execution of Some Protesters’
There were of course many possible explanations for Republican South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s affair with an Argentinian beauty. There is of course love, lust, or simply a mid-life crisis. However, it took Rush Limbaugh to isolate the true reason: President Obama. Limbaugh was heard yesterday explaining that Obama’s economic policies pushed poor Sanford into the arms of this mistress.
Continue reading ‘Stimulating Sex: Rush Limbaugh Blames Sanford Affair On Obama Economic Policies’
U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent has finally resigned after Congress expedited his impeachment and Senate trial. In a remarkably dim-witted act, Kent’s lawyer announced that they had calculated that Congress could not possibly complete an impeachment and start a trial for a year. Thus, he decided that he would resign in a year to continue to bilk the government for salary and benefits. The inevitable result was that an infuriated Congress expedited the process.
Continue reading ‘Judge Samuel Kent Resigns to Avoid Senate Hearing’
In a major victory for student right, the Supreme Court has ruled that the strip search of a 13-year-old middle school student was unconstitutional. The Court ruled 8-1 with only Justice Clarence Thomas voting with the school in the case. For an earlier column on the case, click here. However, the justices also voted to protect individual school officials from such lawsuits.
Continue reading ‘Supreme Court Rules Strip Search of Middle School Student Illegal’
The University of North Carolina has started a program called the College Bound Sisters where teenagers receive $7 a day to stay in school and stay baby-free. They must also attend meetings each week on abstinence.
Continue reading ‘A Dollar A Day Keeps The Babies Away: North Carolina Teens Offered $7 Day to Remain Baby-Free’
A white supremacist blogger, Hal Turner, 47, has been arrested for allegedly posting threatening messages about three federal judges in Chicago. Turner was upset with the decision to uphold a handgun ban in Chicago. The judges are Chief Judge Frank Easterbrook, Judge Richard Posner, and Judge William Bauer. Turner is the host of the Hal Turner Show.
Continue reading ‘White Supremacist Leader Arrested for Threatening Federal Judges’
There are new reports of beatings and shootings as the Iranian government tries to crush protests by citizens demanding more freedoms and democratic rights. The violence is little surprise after it was disclosed this week that the person behind the crackdown is the notorious “Butcher” Saeed Mortazavi. He is a religious extremist previously called upon to do the dirty work of the mullahs.
Continue reading ‘Meet The Butcher: Iranian Mullahs Enlist Controversial Figure to Crackdown on Protesters’
The respected newspaper Stars and Stripes has raised the alarm of censorship against the military. Stripes receives federal funding for the coverage of the military, but has long earned the respect of journalists for its independent reporting. An editorial raises a very disturbing incident involving the U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Division.
Continue reading ‘Newspaper Charges Military With Censorship Over Critical Reporting From Iraq’
Some of Iran’s most famous football (soccer) players have been banned for life due to their courageous show of solidarity with protesters in the recent World Cup games. The players wore green wrist bans and four refused to take off the bands at half-time when told to do so by the government or face punishment.
A federal commission on prison rape has called for reforms and safeguards to combat prison rape, which involves an estimated 60,000 victims each year among the prison population.
Continue reading ‘Report: More than 60,000 Inmates are Raped Each Year’
Acting true to it authoritarian form, the Iranian government is seeking to erase evidence of Neda Solton, the 26-year-old woman who died during protests when government forces used live rounds to disperse crowds.
Continue reading ‘Negating Neda: Iranian Government Seeks to Erase Memory of Iranian Martyr’
Dane Halovich can hardly complain that justice is slow or distant in Nevada. This week, Supreme Court Justice Kris Pickering drove her Mercedes into his UPS Store.
Continue reading ‘Blind Justice? Nevada Supreme Court Justice Kris Pickering Plows Into UPS Store With Her Mercedes’
Convicted drug dealer Calvin Eugene Wells is looking at a likely release from prison based not on his conduct or innocence, but a three-letter typo. Wells was sentenced in October 2005 to 10 years for his possession of more than 100 grams of cocaine. However, the verdict form signed by the jurors contained a typo that wast eh grounds for an appellate court to slashed his sentence down to a fifth-degree felony.
Continue reading ‘Ohio Inmate to be Freed Over Typo on Sentencing Form’
The St. Petersburg Times is running a series on the Church of Scientology that has some pretty eye-popping allegations, particularly with regard to Church leader David Miscavige. For those who have long argued that the Church is a cult (most recently in Europe) the exposé will likely reinforce their views.
>Israel has a case that would make for an interesting false light and defamation claim in the United States. Indymedia Israel, a news site popular with civil libertarians, ran a picture of a soldier with the caption “murderer” and said that he was responsible for the death of Bassem Abu Rahma, who was hit in the chest with a tear gas grenade in Bilin near the West Bank. The government says that the soldier was not involved in the incident.
Continue reading ‘Website Under Investigation in Israel For Featuring Soldier As Alleged Killer’
There English media has been pursuing a series of stories about police abuse, particularly at protests. A new video (below) has surfaced showing the arrest of two such protesters, Val Swain, 43, and Emily Apple, 33, who claim that they were arrested and roughed up after demanding the badge number of an officer.
Continue reading ‘Video: Two Women Arrested After Asking for Officer’s Badge Number’
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has come out with criticism of the citizens who have filed ethics complaints against her. She says that all of these ethics charges are frivolous and politically motivated — and cost $500,000 to defend against.
U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor has resigned from the all-women Belizean Grove club — waiting for Friday to try to bury the announcement in the weekend news. Sotomayor did not express any personal concerns or regrets about joining an exclusive club and only stated that she did not want it to be a “distraction” from her record.
Continue reading ‘Sonia Sotomayor Resigns From Female-Only Club’
At the Boston Massacre, an unlikely figure emerged as one of the heros, a man of black or Indian parentage named Crispus Attucks. In Iran, women have played a key role in the protests and protesters have rallied around a female martyr named Neda Soltan, 26. Just as blacks in the United States were fighting from a position of slavery and discrimination, Iranian women have been throwing off of restrictions of the harsh Islamic regime and taken to the street. One such courageous young person was filmed as she died after being shot by Iranian security. The video is making it through the blackout curtain established by the Iranian government.
Continue reading ‘Iran’s Crispus Attucks: Demonstrators Chant the Name of Neda’
Gentleman assume your couches! Happy Father’s Day to all of the Turley bloggers.
There has been a steading criminalization of bad conduct in the United States, as discussed in earlier columns. We can add the New York subways push to force people to give up their seats to the elderly and disabled — or face a potential 10 day jail term.
Continue reading ‘Be Polite or Else: New York to Enforce Criminal Penalties on Yielding Seats on the Subway’
The now imprisoned U.S. District Court Samuel B. Kent has been openly bilking the government for salary and benefits by refusing to resign. His lawyer even acknowledged that his promise to resign in a year was due to his calculation that the Congress could not move any faster toward a Senate trial. It was a curious legal strategy since it virtually dared the Congress to expedite the matter, which it did. Kent has now been impeached in a fast track proceeding.
Continue reading ‘Judge Kent Impeached in Expedited Process’
There is a disturbing report out of South Africa this week. The South African Medical Research Council has found that one out of four South African men said that they had raped someone and more than half admitted to raping more than one person.
Continue reading ‘Report: One Out of Four South African Men Have Raped Someone’
A state judge in Illinois has ruled that an Illinois law requiring state judges to retire after turning 75 is unconstitutional. Notably, the author of the four-judge decision Justice Charles Freeman (left) would himself be forced to retire under the law. In the meantime, the U.S. Supreme Court has voted against age discrimination claims of older workers.
Continue reading ‘Illinois Judges Rule That They Cannot Be Forced to Retire Based on Age While Justices in Washington Raise the Bar for Age Discrimination for Citizens’
Ron Paul has challenged democrats for what he views as their hypocrisy in voting against the war funding during the Bush Administration while now voting for same legislation under the Obama Administration.
Continue reading ‘Ron Paul Challenges Democrats Who Support an Obama War Over a Bush War’
In a split 5-4 decision, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. ruled that an individual cannot demanded access or testing to DNA material after his conviction becomes final in District Attorney’s Office v. Osborne (08-6).
Continue reading ‘Supreme Court Rules Against Constitutional Right to Access to DNA Testing’
Recently, many civil libertarians have been alarmed by legal changes in England restricting the media, free speech, prosecuting insults against religion, and other rollbacks. Now, the Lord Chief Justice has ruled that criminal trials no longer require a jury for the first time in England and Wales.
Continue reading ‘Lord Chief Justice: Jury Trial No Longer Required in England and Wales’
We have now all seen it: President Barack Obama killing a small fly and then gleefully celebrating that he “got the little sucker.” Now, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) (never late in embarrassing itself) has denounced the killing and encouraged people to use a “catch and release” device.
Continue reading ‘Obama’s Murderous Rage Raises Ire of PETA’
Attorney General Eric Holder left little question in anyone’s mind this week that the Obama Administration will not allow a prosecution of unlawful surveillance during the Bush Administration. As with the torture program, the Administration has been avoiding questions about its failure to prosecute the illegal surveillance program. Now, Holder has refused to call the program “illegal” and would only refer to it as “unwise.” I intent to use this as my main defense in my next criminal case: my client’s robbery of a bank was merely “unwise” and a lack of wisdom does not justify prosecution.
Continue reading ‘Holder: Warrantless Surveillance was “Unwise” Rather than “Illegal”’
President Obama has already adopted or expanded many of the most controversial Bush policies on executive privilege, detainee treatment, termination of privacy lawsuit, and other matters. Now, he has adopted the identical position of Vice President Dick Cheney in seeking to withhold visitor logs to the White House.
Continue reading ‘Obama Adopts Cheney Policy and Opposes Release of White House Logs’
Detroit City Council member Monica Conyers has been repeatedly the subject of scathing media articles regarding physical and verbal attacks on her critics, here and here and here. She is now facing a corruption probe after being identified as the alleged “Council Member A” in a federal investigation who accepted more than $6000 for a vote on a sludge contract.
Continue reading ‘Report: Monica Conyers is “Council Member A” In Federal Bribery Investigation’
Columnist Bonnie Erbe said last week that “it ought to be against the law” for people to call George Tiller “a murderer” and “anyone who [says such things] it ought to be prosecuted as an accessory to murder, as well as for partaking in domestic terrorism.” Others have also demanded that we treat such crimes as “domestic terrorism.” Below is today’s column on defining terrorism.
Continue reading ‘Defining Terrorism: We Can Call People Murderers Without Diminishing Their Crimes’
In Oklahoma, David Harold Earls, 64, has received a one-year jail sentence after raping a 4-year-old girl. The sentence has caused an outcry across the country and moves in the legislature to recall District Judge Thomas Bartheld, who gave Earls a twenty-year sentence with nineteen years suspended under a plea agreement between the prosecutors and defense counsel. He also fined Earls $1,000.
Continue reading ‘Oklahoma Man Pleads Guilty to Raping 4-Year-Old Child and Gets One Year in Jail’
Sen. Dick Durbin, the second most senior democrat in the Senate, cashed out his stock the day after meeting with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Durbin took the money and invested much of the $115,000 in Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Continue reading ‘Senatorial Privilege? Sen. Dick Durbin Cashed Out His Stocks and Shares After Meeting With Paulson and Bernanke on Economic Crisis’
State prosecutor Maud Coujard has recommended that a Paris court dissolve the French branch of the Church of Scientology. Scientology has been accused of being little more than a criminal enterprise in France and other countries that uses escalating courses or levels to bilk individuals of thousands of dollars.
Continue reading ‘Prosecutor to Seek Dissolution of Scientology in France’
Civil libertarians have been outraged by President Barack Obama’s adoption of extreme Bush policies on secrecy and executive privilege, including his effort to dismiss public interest lawsuits and his Administration’s refusal to investigate war crimes committed by the Bush Administration. Now, Obama has filed to dismiss the case of Arthur Smelt and Christopher Hammer, who are challenging the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which blocks same-sex couples from securing Social Security spousal benefits, filing joint taxes and enjoying other federal rights of marriage.
In a bizarre case, Bridgeville Borough resident has been convicted for repeatedly writing and calling his elected officials to complain about their lack of effort to relieve a local nuisance. If you count copies sent to some officers, Marshall Pappert sent around 350 and was arrested for criminal harassment. It is a good thing that Bridgeville prosecutors and courts did not exist when Thomas Paine was doing his incessant complaining about his government.
Continue reading ‘From Paine to Pappert: Citizen Arrested for Complaining Too Often to City Officials’
Venezuela President Hugo Chavez has renew his threats against one of the few remaining networks that voice opposition to his government. Chavez told executives at Globovision “to reflect” upon its criticism of him and change its tone or it “won’t be on the airwaves much longer.”
Continue reading ‘Chavez Continues Crackdown on Journalists and Free Speech’
In Ramallah, West Bank, Palestinian police say that a family hanged a 15-year-old boy because they believed that he might be a collaborator with Israel. The police doubt that he was a collaborator due to his young age.
Continue reading ‘Palestinian Family Hangs 15-Year-Old Boy Due To Suspicion of Collaboration with Israel’
France’s highest court, the Constitutional Council, has ruled that access to the Internet is a basic human right in a decision striking down a key component of the a new internet piracy law by the Sarkozy administration.
Continue reading ‘French Court: Access to Internet is Basic Human Right’
Ultra-Orthodox Jews are threatening widespread protests to prevent what they insist is a grave insult to their faith: a parking lot. The activists insist that no parking lot should be open on the Sabbath despite the fact that many Jews and non-Jews do not share their religious beliefs on driving. Protests last week turned violent.
Continue reading ‘Car Kvetsh: Orthodox Jews United Against Parking Lots in Jerusalem’
Civil libertarians have been complaining that many liberals are ignoring that Judge Sonia Sotomayor has been viewed as hostile to core liberal values and has a fairly conservative voting record in many areas, including free speech, student rights, and criminal procedure. For a review of her cases, click here. Another case has come to light that shows little of the empathy cited by the White House. While Vice President Joe Biden has emphasized the Sotomayor “watches the back of police” in cases (which is supported in some of her more controversial rulings), she has shown little empathy for those challenging police or convictions. The case of Jeffrey Deskovic is being cited as one such case.
Continue reading ‘Meaning of Empathy: Sotomayor Refused to Consider Appeal of Man Based on Technicality — Man Later Found Innocent Based on DNA’
Colleges in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh have a novel way to protecting women from sexual harassment. Officials announced that any female students wearing jeans, shorts, minishirts, or tight blouses will be expelled because men are harassing them. This falls into the category of destroying a village to save it. Rather than expelled men who harass women, the schools are cracking down on the victims.
Continue reading ‘Indian Colleges to Expel Any Women Wearing Jeans or Shorts — In Order to Protect Them’
The New York Times reports that Judge Sonia Sotomayor once described herself as “a product of affirmative action” and that she was admitted to both Princeton and Yale with “subpar” scores due to affirmative action. The comments have heightened criticism of her vote in the New Haven firefighters case where she supported the throwing out of promotion results because whites and Hispanics scored better than blacks.
Continue reading ‘New York Times: Sotomayor Called Herself an “Affirmative Action Baby”’
Rev. Jeremiah Wright is back with a vengeance. In an interview, Wright says that he has not spoken to President Obama since the campaign despite their prior close relationship. He blames the Jews saying
“them Jews aren’t going to let him talk to me.”
Continue reading ‘Wright: “Them Jews Aren’t Going To Let [Obama] Talk To Me”’
Ok, I need a little help with this one. Some Israelis are irate over a photo of President Barack Obama speaking on the telephone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with his feet on the desk. While the showing the bottom of your shoes is considered an insult by some Arabs, Israel’s insist that it is akin to the shoe throwing episode with President George Bush.
Continue reading ‘Soleless: Israelis Denounce Obama Shoe Pictures As Insult’
Elementary students in England are being shown a Lancashire Police film where a lion and a cat tell them to turn in people who espouse dangerous thoughts. It is the latest work of the Preventing Violent Extremism office, which seeks to uncover extremists in the country like Guy Fawkes.
Continue reading ‘Little Brother is Watching: English Police Show Elementary Students a Video on Reporting Extreme Views’
Alaskans Unite! You have nothing to lose but your chainsaws. Now, for our latest manifesto from Comrade Palin. See video clip below with Sean Hannity.
While this does not compete with the Palin Turkey Grind video, this one is a gem. In an interview with Fox, Palin explains how Alaska is a citizen paradise where resources are collectively owned by the people. She then launched into a warning that Obama was pushing us toward socialism.
The London Metropolitan Police has been accused of waterboarding suspects in the Enfield area of North London. There has been a shake-up but, as in the United States, no one has yet to be charged with the torture.
Continue reading ‘English Police Accused of Waterboarding’
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