JONATHAN TURLEY

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy has stopped the controversial hunt for gray wolves in Montana, granting a preliminary injunction restoring the wolves to the endangered list. Given the need to show a likelihood to prevail on the merits, it is an important ruling for environmentalists. The planned hunt was endorsed by the ironically named Ed Bangs, a federal biologist who declared the decision to delist wolves as “a very biologically sound package.” Obviously, a neutral federal judge disagreed with Bangs’ view.

Continue reading ‘Less Bangs for Your Buck: Bush Administration Loses Effort to De-List and Allow Hunting of Gray Wolves’

Pakistani Judge Mian Muhammad Naeem has reportedly ruled that two Christian girls who were kidnapped and then converted to Islam cannot be returned to their family, including Saba Younas, aged 13, who was forced to marry the son of one of the kidnappers. Naeem ruled that the girls “have converted in a legitimate manner to Islam” and therefore cannot be “restored to their family of origin”.

Continue reading ‘Pakistani Judge Rules that Kidnapped Girls Who Were Converted to Islam Cannot be Returned to Family — Including One Married Off at 13′

Amber Arpaio, 26, was a “Girl Gone Wild” and apparently didn’t know it. She has sued Ashley Dupre, the former call girl to former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, for stealing her identity. As shocking as it may seem that a high-priced prostitute might also be an identity thief, Arpaio says its true. For her part, Dupre, who recently dropped a lawsuit against Girls Gone Wild, is saying nothing at all.
Continue reading ‘Girl Interrupted: Woman Accuses Spitzer Call Girl of Stealing Her Identity to Appear on Girls Gone Wild’

Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart is facing a tough election, so he has taken a page out of one of the oldest books of politics: he has demonized his opponents as “liberal good ol’ boys,” gays and tools of Satan. In this case, however, the book is a juvenile comic book that Rinehart has written and illustrated. He intends to send the comic book to voters depicting his opponents as Satan-following, Gay-loving liberals terrified of . . . you guessed it . . . Brent Rinehart.
Continue reading ‘Sooner v. Satan: Oklahoma Commissioner Reduces Campaign to a Homophobic Comic’

On Friday night, the defense filed a series of pre-trial motions challenging the two-count indictment against Dr. Sami Al-Arian. The filing includes charges of prosecutorial abuse and selective prosecution. The filings are below — as is the government’s single pre-trial motion.
Continue reading ‘Dr. Sami Al-Arian Files Pre-Trial Motions Alleging Prosecutorial Abuse and Constitutional Violations’

Afghan journalist Rahmatullah Naikzad has released a videotaped of the kidnapping and execution of two women, shown below, for their alleged involvement in a prostitution ring. The video is graphic and the viewer can hear that at least one woman screaming. It is another example of the barbarism still carried out by the Taliban under Sharia law. It is also more evidence of the return of the Taliban in a surge of its own in Afghanistan.

Continue reading ‘Shock Video: Journalist Films Taliban Execution of Two Women for Prostitution’

In Riverside, California, Mattel has won an impressive victory over the makers of the Bratz doll line. A federal jury has found that MGA Entertainment was guilty of copyright infringement of the maker of the Barbie series.

Continue reading ‘You Go Girl: Barbie Prevails Over the Bratz Girls in Copyright Infringement Case’

Congressional hearings have revealed that John Yoo was the favored candidate to lead the Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department based on a single resume item: his tolerance and support of torture. Alberto Gonzales and Cheney aide David S. Addington fought former Attorney General John Ashcroft, who submitted five names for the position that conspicuously omitted Yoo’s name.

Continue reading ‘Earning Your Bona Fides in the Bush Bada Bing Club: Administration Officials Pushed for Yoo to Head OLC Based on His Support for Torture’

Those gifted storytellers at Hamas television are at it again. Previously, we saw their popular television program for children feature killer puppets and an anti-Israeli Mickey Mouse. Now, the popular Hamas children’s television program shows a giant bunny character who steals money and then has the child host sentence him to having his paw cut off. The letter of the day, it appears, is A for amputation.

Continue reading ‘Unlucky Rabbit’s Foot: Hamas TV Sentences Assud the Bunny To Have Paw Cut Off After Theft’

Every lawyer’s mother told them to wear clean underwear as they left the house in case they end up in an ambulance (presumably that they were chasing). In a rather curious moment, David Remes, a partner with Covington & Burling, showed the importance of this age-old maternal advice when he dropped his pants in front of an audience in Yemen to make a point about the mistreatment of detainees. It is not clear how the barrister burlesque went over in Yemen.

Continue reading ‘Burling-esque: Covington & Burling Partner Drops Pants in Front of Audience’

Daytona Lt. Major Garvin appears not concerned about the stereotype of cops and donut shops. When a Starbucks cut off free coffee, Garvin allegedly threatened the manager that he might also cut off prompt service. He is now under internal investigation after flunking a polygraph examination.

Continue reading ‘Don’t Tazerberry Me, Bro: Cop Threatens Starbucks For Cutting Off Free Coffee’

If you ever wondered why we needed a catch-all criminal mischief provision, Allan Patton, 56, has the answer. Patton shut-off the urinals at the Hilliard West Municipal Pool in Ohio and inserted cups so that he could drink the urine of boys. He suffers from what is known as urophilia - which either means being really really crazy or having a sexual fetish involving urine — or both. The case, however, does present a novel issue of the appropriate criminal charge.

Continue reading ‘Urine a Lot of Trouble, Mr. Patton: Ohio Man Arrested for Collecting Boys’ Urine for Personal Consumption’

Ever wonder what the McDonald’s slogan “I’m Lovin’ It” means? The American Family Association thinks it knows: Gays. Not just gays, but gay business people. Well, not just gay business people — that cabal of gay spreading, bottom lining executives known as the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Because McDonald’s made a small corporate donation to the chamber of commerce, the good (and straight) people of the American Family Association has organized a national boycott.
Continue reading ‘Lovin’ It or Leavin’ It: Christian Group Boycotts McDonald’s for Supporting Gay Chamber of Commerce’

Christian Voice, a group of religious activists with apparently a great deal of time on their hands, has launched a protest against a new outfit of Barbie called Black Canary Barbie. They insist it looks like a dress up for S & M play and is complete “filth” that must be stopped to protect our children — and presumably any impressionable other dolls like the Shrek children dolls.
Continue reading ‘Ken’s Been a Bad Boy: Christian Group Protests “S & M Barbie”’

Another abuse story is emerging from the Middle East on the treatment of young girls. Nujood Ali, 10, was married to a man in his 30s, who then allegedly raped her. While she is now divorced, she has been criticized for confronting her husband and not accepting her fate. Not only was she denounced by some for not obeying her husband, but under Islamic Sharia law in Yemen, her family had to compensate the accused rapist.

Continue reading ‘Ten-Year-Old Girl in Yemen Married and Then Raped — Then Divorced’

A very disturbing case has emerged from Florida where police entrapped Frank Milio, a 94-year-old man suffering from dementia. What is remarkable is that prosecutors did not drop these charges. It took a judge to throw them out — allowing Milio to move into an assisted care facility. He is not the only geriatric scooped up by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, which seems to developing a reputation for entrapping the elderly. Frank Underhill, 93 (pictured here), was arrested in the same operation.

Continue reading ‘Florida Judge Finds Police Entrapped 94-Year-Old Man With Dementia in Prostitution Sting’

In the last hearing, Prosecutor Gordon Kromberg indicated that Dr. Al-Arian was being charged with his refusal to answer questions from his Florida trial — not questions related to the IIIT investigation. Indeed, as these affidavits established, Dr. Al-Arian voluntarily answered every question on IIIT and addressed every documents in the IIIT investigation. He then submitted a second affidavit answering questions beyond IIIT. Both statements were made under oath and Dr. Al-Arian repeatedly offered to take a polygraph examination to prove that he was not withholding information. We have decided to release the affidavits publicly after they were filed this week in court.
Continue reading ‘Dr. Sami Al-Arian: Affidavits Filed With the Court Show Government Seeks to Re-Argue Florida Trial’

Boston firefighter, Albert Arroyo, has every reason to be proud of his eighth place finish in a body building competition. However, the Boston fire department was more interested in the fact that he is supposed to be on permanent disability after a fall two months hurt his back. As watching the video below, they are now wondering why he can bulk up to Arnold Schwarzenegger size but cannot serve as an inspector with the fire department.
Continue reading ‘Boston Firefighter Raises Eyebrows By Competing in Body Builder Competition While on Disability Pay’

In a prior entry, the bizarre case of murderers Helen Golay, 77, and Olga Rutterschmidt, 75, were discussed. The two women (known as the “Black widows”) who killed homeless men for insurance benefits have now been sentenced to two consecutive life terms each.

Continue reading ‘Black Widows Get Two Consecutive Life Sentences’

In Omaha, Nebraska, a police officer and his family won $40,000 in a lawsuit against a KFC/Taco Bell restaurant after it served them food tainted with the saliva and urine of one of the employees. Officer Keith Andrew and his two sons were sickened by the tainted food and, for some bizarre reason, the lawyers for the restaurant thought that this would be a good case to fight in court. Now, “thinking outside the bun” will have a lasting and different meaning for Taco Bell and “finger lickin’ good” for Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Continue reading ‘Not So Finger Lickin’ Good: Nebraska Jury Awards $40,000 to Family Given Urine and Saliva Tainted Food at KFC/Taco Bell’

Seasons Restaurant in Grand Chute, Wisconsin likes to proclaim that “our achievements are the result of your expectations.” However, it is the expectations of Debbie R. Miller, 41, that is now the subject of a criminal case. Miller has been arrested for allegedly planting a dead lab rat in a dish and the demanding $500,000 to keep quiet. Prosecutors served up a steamy dish of extortion this week..

Continue reading ‘Putting the Rat Back into Ratatouille: Wisconsin Woman Accused of Planting Cooked Lab Rat in Dish’

In an entry yesterday, we looked at the curious case of Saudi prince, Bader Al Saud, 26, who killed Orlando Ramos, 37, in a crosswalk while driving drunk without a valid license. His punishment was a year in a converted home. He then disappeared. The Court has now ordered him to appear to answer for violation of his probation.

Continue reading ‘Royal Treatment II: Prince Ordered Back to Court in Martha’s Vineyard’

Below is today’s column on a growing national trend of parents taking bullying cases to court after receiving no action from school officials. This may be a case where litigation is needed to concentrate the minds of some school officials (and parents of bullies) on the costs of such violence in schools.

Continue reading ‘Bullies in the Dock: Some Parents Take Their Complaints from the Schoolhouse to the Courthouse’

No this is not a story out of Tehran. In Georgia, a federal court is considering an interesting challenge to the state’s sex offender laws. Wendy Whitaker, 28, has had enough. She was put on the sex offender list after being found guilty of having oral sex at 17 with a 15-year-old boy. She has now had to move twice because she is not allowed to live within 1,000 feet of places where children congregate. She has been told that her new home is also off limits because it is near a church.
Continue reading ‘Wendy Whitaker: Another Outrage Emerges From Georgia’s Statutory Rape Law’

Last week, the defense filed papers showing that, despite claims of the prosecutors in court to Judge Brinkema, the government has been aware of valid travel documents of Dr. Sami Al-Arian for weeks. Today’s filing, also made at the request of the court, shows that Dr. Al-Arian never waived his statutory rights with regard to pre-trial release. The filing is posted below.

Continue reading ‘Dr. Sami Al-Arian Newly Filed Papers Further Contradict Statements of the Justice Department’

In Moscow, dozens of audience members received retinal burns from a laser light show — some experiencing 80 blindness in affected eyes. It is an astonishing act of negligence in a country with an extremely rudimentary torts system.

Continue reading ‘Russian Rave: Party Organizers Blind Dozens with Lasers’

A Salinas, California woman was killed by Salinas police early Sunday morning when she threatened officers with a metal crochet hook. Her family says that Maria Irma De La Torre, 45, was disabled and suffered from seizures.
Continue reading ‘California Police Shoot and Kill Woman Approaching Them With Crochet Hook’

In Martha’s Vineyard, they sure know how to punish a prince. Saudi prince, Bader Al Saud, 26, killed Orlando Ramos, 37, in a crosswalk while driving drunk without a valid license. His punishment was a year in a converted home and then he simply disappeared while on probation. He will not, however, be allowed to attend next year’s masked ball or “silly dress” event.

Continue reading ‘Royal Treatment: Saudi Prince Drives Drunk Without License and Kills a Man — Gets One Year in Converted Home in Martha’s Vineyard’

Windsor Hills Baptist had to cancel its plan to give away a semiautomatic assault rifle to a teenager because one of the organizers hurt his foot. While the church has been ridiculed nationally for the event, it is planning to give away the assault rifle next year instead as part of its promotion for its weekend youth conference.

Continue reading ‘High-Caliber Christianity: Oklahoma Baptist Church Plans to Give Away Assault Weapon at Teen Camp’

In a long-delayed action, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has filed genocide charges against Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for a five-year campaign of violence in Darfur. It is a great moment for the rule of law and justice.

Continue reading ‘Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir Charged with Genocide’

When Ahmad Batebi appeared on the cover of the Economist nine year ago, the world was struck by the image of his holding up a shirt covered in the blood of another protester. The religious fanatics in Iran responded by arresting Batebi and torturing him. He was sentenced to death and then given a commuted sentence of 15 years. He recently escaped Iran to Iraq and is now in the United States.

Continue reading ‘Iranian Photographer and Protester Who Appeared in Famous Photo Escapes Iran After Years of Torture’

Dominic DiAngi, 7, received a fractured skull this week from a foul ball hit by Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly. Dominic needed CPR and only recently was transferred from intensive care in Chicago.
Continue reading ‘Foul Ball: Boy Injured from Hit at Wrigley’

The family of Martin Luther King are at it again. The siblings are in court alleging misrepresentation and self-dealing in the handling of the MLK estate. Bernice King and Martin Luther King III are accusing Dexter King of effectively transferring “substantial funds” from Bank of America to accounts he controls.

Continue reading ‘I Had a Dream [Trust Fund]: King Kids Fight Over MLK Estate’

In Dublin, Ireland, Sharon Collins, 45, a divorced mother-of-two, has gotten a bit too comfortable with Internet shopping. Collins arranged to hire a hitman on wwwlhitman.com only to have the assassin-for-hire, Egyptian Essam Eid, contact her former husband to bargain for a no-kill contract.

Continue reading ‘The Perils of Internet Shopping: Divorcee Found Guilty of Plotting to Kill Ex-Husband on www.Hitman.com’

In Winnipeg, a white nationalist mother thought it was fun to draw a swastika on the arm of her seven-year-old daughter. When a teacher rubbed off the mark, the mother drew it back on. The second time, the school reported the incident and child welfare officials took both the daughter and a two-year-old boy away from the mother. It is a case that raises very serious questions of free speech balanced against child welfare.
Continue reading ‘Children Taken Away From Nazi Mother in Canada’

Kentucky pastor, Gregory James Coots, 36, is in jail this week after wildlife officers found dozens of snakes in his possession. He was one of 10 people arrested in the sweep. Coots is the head of Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name in Middlesboro — a snake handling sect that recently came under investigation with the death of a woman bitten by one of the venomous snakes.
Continue reading ‘Laying Hands On Religious Snake Handlers: Police Arrest Pastor of Fundamentalist Church’

A prior entry discussed the refusal of Disney and Universal Studios to comply with a new Florida law allowing citizens to bring guns to work. (SeaWorld is allowing armed employees). Now, Edwin Sotomayer has sued Disney after he was fired for packing at the Animal Kingdom and the matter will move to the courts.
Continue reading ‘Disney Sued Over Gun Ban at Animal Kingdom’

In yet another confrontation between France and the Muslim community, the government has refused to give a woman citizenship because she is too submissive to Islam and to men. In a June ruling, the Council of State found that the Moroccan woman’s religious beliefs are incompatible with French citizenship. Notably, the woman speaks good French, is married to a French national, has lived in the country since 2000, has three children born in France, and has never been arrested for a crime.
Continue reading ‘Muslim Woman Denied French Citizenship for Being Too Submissive’

One would think that former U.S. diplomat Gons G. Nachman, 42, might have a few matters other than marriage on his mind as he faces sentencing for sex with teenage girls in the Congo and Brazil. However, Nachman asked United States District Judge Bruce Lee in Alexandria, Virginia to marry him to his fiance at his sentencing hearing. Lee declined. Nachman then made a “when in Rome” defense for his sex with young girls in foreign lands.
Continue reading ‘Judge Refuses to Marry Diplomat Before His Sentencing on Sex Crimes’

An explosive new book will disclose a Red Cross report that found that the Bush Administration committed clear acts of torture and that Bush Administration officials could be charged with war crimes. The book The book, “The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned Into a War on American Ideals,” by New Yorker writer Jane Mayer, gives details of the confidential report. I will be discussing its implications on MSNBC’s Countdown tonight. For the video, click here.
Continue reading ‘Book: Red Cross Informed Administration that Officials Could Be Tried for War Crimes’

Christian V. Phillips is not likely to drop off any more goodies for the police of Lake Worth, Texas. Phillips, 18, brought cookies from Mothers Against Drunk Driving to various police stations as part of his community service. He was arrested after police said that they suspected the cookies were laced with marijuana and field tests indicated LSD. It turns out the cookies were clean, but Phillips was jailed and charged.

Continue reading ‘Next Time Send a Card: Teen Jailed After Police Falsely Accuse Him of Giving Them Drug-Laced Cookies’

As shocking as it may seem, the evidence appears to confirm that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard altered the recent missile launch pictures to increase the number of missiles in a show of strength. This form of missile envy was uncovered after Agence France-Presse (AFP) ran the picture.

Continue reading ‘Iran Threatens to Photoshop Israel Out of Existence’

Jason Ellis, 33, a well-known photographer in Newport Beach, has been charged with unlawful sex with a 14-year-old girl. His fiancee, Michelle Hecker, 31, has been arrested for facilitating the crimes.
Continue reading ‘Leading Photographer and Fiancee Arrested For Sex With Underage Girl’

In Knoxville Tenn., Matt Lincoln wanted to be touched by God when he went to the Lakewind Church. It was the contact with the floor that he did not plan for when he was consumed by the holy spirit. He is not suing the church for negligence in failing to take preparations for those who lose their balance or consciousness when visited by the spirit during services. He is seeking $2.5 million of a more earthly reward.

Continue reading ‘Spiritual Slip and Fall: Knoxville Man Sues for Evangelical Injury After Being Touched By God’

In what is now an almost mocking level of contempt, Karl Rove has refused to appear before Congress despite a subpoena to do so. While claiming executive privilege, there is no justification for the failure to appear and to answer any questions on the firing of U.S. attorneys. The question is what will the Democratic Congress do beyond expressions of outrage. It is a question that I will discuss on the Dan Abrams show tonight.

Continue reading ‘Rove Again Refuses to Testify Under Subpoena’

In a set back for the government, Dr. Sami Al-Arian was granted bail by Judge Leonie M. Brinkema today. Over the objections of the government and the pre-trial services, Judge Brinkema agreed that Dr. Al-Arian was not a flight risk and no danger to the community. The government has suggested that it may now block release by having Immigration officials hold Dr. Al-Arian for deportation — despite the fact that it is trying to hold him for years under a criminal sentence rather than deport him.
Continue reading ‘Dr. Sami Al-Arian Granted Bail’

After 35 years, New Orleans police career, Sgt. Bobby Guidry probably thought that his supervisor wanted to give him a gold watch or final slap on the back. After all, he was fifteen minutes away from retirement and literally packing up his car to leave. His supervisor, however, suspended the veteran officer for wearing the wrong color shirt — an act that will affect his post-retirement status.
Continue reading ‘Fashion Police: New Orleans Officer Suspended Fifteen Minutes Before His Retirement’

The Wisconsin Supreme Court reversed a lower court and reinstated the criminal case of sexual assault against win brothers Nicholas and Alexander Grunke and Dustin Radke. The lower court had ruled that Wisconsin law does not expressly make necrophilia a crime.

Continue reading ‘Wisconsin is Not for Dead Lovers: Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules as Necrophilia is a Crime’

In Grand Rapids, Michigan, Christian publisher Zondervan is facing a $60 million federal lawsuit for allegedly homophobia and prejudicial translations of the Bible. by a man who claims he and other homosexuals have suffered based on what the suit claims is a misinterpretation of the Bible. Bradley Fowler has sued the publisher despite the fact that it is not the translator.
Continue reading ‘A Lawsuit of Biblical Proportions: Christian Publisher Sued for Allegedly Homophobic Translation of Bible’