JONATHAN TURLEY

Another case is using the court system for entertaining justice. Evelyn Border, 55 and her daughter, Tina Griekspoor, in Bedford, Pa. have been sentenced to sit outside a courthouse with a sign saying that they stole a gift card from a 9-year-old girl on her birthday. I have previously opposed the use of such humiliation and public scorn punishments, here. It is trend of judges who are freelancing with their own forms of humiliating justice for citizens — an erosion of professionalism and continuity in our legal system.

Continue reading ‘Sign of the Times: Prosecutor Forces Mother and Daughter to Wear Humilitating Signs in His Own Forms of Punishment’

Timothy Wilton, a professor at Suffolk University Law School, and Kathy Jo Cook, former president of the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts, have been accused by their son (and stepson) of knowledge of his drug dealing and home pot growing operation. Jonathon Cook, 20, told police that they not only knew that he was growing marijuana in his room but that his mother told him to destroy the pot when police were called about a shooting at their home. Wilton and Cook publicly denied the allegations.
Continue reading ‘Law Professor and Leading Massachusetts Lawyer Accused of Involvement in the Illegal Home Pot Growing Business’

On a trial basis, I have added a new corrections page at the top of the blog to allow readers to spot and raise any factual or grammatical problems with stories. I often add blog stories early in the morning or during brief windows of free time during the day. In the rush to get out a new story, I will sometimes miss typos that can be understandably annoying to readers. I am a terrible typist. This page is an effort to enlist our regulars in spotting any such problems to improve the site.
Continue reading ‘NEW CORRECTIONS PAGE’

Sixteen tenured professors at DePaul University College of Law have filed a complaint with the American Bar Association over the firing of Dean Glen Weissenberger, which we have been following on this blog. The termination appeared to be retaliation for Weissenberger objecting to the University taking too much of tuition dollars.

Continue reading ‘DePaul Faculty Complain to ABA About Dean’s Firing As Symposium is Canceled Due to Controversy’

The New York’s Committee on Character and Fitness has rendered a novel, if not unprecedented, ruling: barring Robert Bowman, 47, from becoming an attorney because of the size of his student loans. The Committee was unmoved by Bowman’s claim that he has suffered two debilitating injuries and was wrongly denied a deferment of his loans.

Continue reading ‘New York Judges Deny Admission to Bar for Lawyer With $400,000 in Student Loans’

The dismissal of Dean Glen Weissenberger after only two years into his second term has caused a upheaval at the law school where students and faculty have rallied around the popular dean. Weissenberger was reportedly fired on the recommendation of the provost, Helmut Epp.
Continue reading ‘DePaul Students and Faculty Fight to Keep Fired Dean’

There are major question being raised about the failure of state authorities and police to respond to complaints by students at the St. Andrew’s Christian school. Sarah Johnson and Bec Gavan say that, not only were their complaints about St. Andrew’s Christian School headmaster Frank Bailey, but they were later expelled from the associated college. In late 2006, Hazel Bell, a science teacher, also raised the alarm to the board, but was terminated by Bailey. Bailey later pleaded guilty after being charged with drugging and raping a different teenage girl.
Continue reading ‘Headmaster at Religious School Admits Rape of Students — Prior Complaints of Teacher and Students Ignored by Police and Board’

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has announced that he will review the new law legalizing rape of women in the country after an international outcry. It is an act similar to the recent shock expressed by the Pakistani government after it turned over the Swat Valley to extremists and Sharia law — only to have a video surface of the flogging of a teenage girl. Karzai signed the law that requires Afghan women to “preen” for their husbands and submit to rape.
Continue reading ‘Karzai Promises to Review His Legalization of Rape in Afghanistan’

The case of a Brazilian nine-year-old girl who was raped and impregnated by her stepfather has shocked many in that country and the world. However, there is a strikingly different view of the most serious elements of this crime. For the Vatican, the most shocking part is that the girl was given an abortion at the recommendation of doctors who said that she was too young to give birth. The Church has now excommunicated the mother and the doctors. It has decided not to excommunicate the step father.
Continue reading ‘Stepfather Rapes Nine-Year-Old Girl Who Then Had Abortion — Vatican Excommunicates the Girl and Her Doctors’

The new job landed by former New York Supreme Court Judge Herman Cahn has raised from eyebrows. Less than a year ago, Cahn awarded millions in fees to founding partner Melvin Weiss despite his guilty plea in a massive fraud case. The firm, once called Milberg Weiss, wanted to let Weiss keep the fees and it was Cahn who agreed to the payment.
Continue reading ‘Revolving Door: Judge Who Awarded Millions to Milberg Partner Is Made Partner At Firm’

Former Missouri Rep. Kenny Hulshof secured six terms as a Republican member of the House and ran for Governor on his tough-on-crime record. That record, however, is now under scrutiny with another abuse cited by a court from Hulshof’s work as a prosecutor — leading to the conviction of a teenager for a murder that he did not commit.
Continue reading ‘Former Missouri Rep. Kenny Hulshof Accused of Another Case of Prosecutorial Abuse’

Peter Hoekstra of Michigan, the top-ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, is under fire for using Twitter to tell reporters that a group of officials were going to Iraq and Afghanistan. Anonymous sources have criticized Hoekstra for putting the entire delegation at risk by the security breach. It was an ironic twist for Hoekstra who has led calls for tough measures on staffers and other members accused of releasing classified or sensitive information, including my former client Larry Hanauer, a House Intelligence Committee staff member who was later cleared of all charges of leaking such information.

Continue reading ‘All A Twitter: Rep. Hoekstra Defends Himself Against Allegations of Disclosing Sensitive Information on Twitter’

Roy Brown, 54, is a homeless man who said that he was hungry and needed a place to live when he walked the Capitol One bank in Shreveport, Louisiana in December 2007 and stole a single $100 bill. The next day, he turned himself into police, apologized, and said that he was not raised to do such things. After he pleaded guilty, the Shreveport judge then sentenced him to 15 years in prison. In the meantime, former AIG executive Christian Milton defrauded customers of more tha $500 million and was just sentenced to 4 years.

Continue reading ‘Homeless Man Steals a $100 Bill From Bank, Turns Himself in the Next Day and Apologizes — and Is Given 15 Years By Louisiana Judge’

The United States is facing a worsening recession, an expanding war in Afghanistan, and global warming. Yet, New York Republican Rep. Peter King believes that one of the more pressing matters for Congress should be to require that all cell phones make a click or sound when taking a picture. It is the basis for his “Camera Phone Predator Alert Act” to protect the unwary from the unscrupulous.
Continue reading ‘Snapped: Rep. Peter King Introduces Bill To Require That Mobile Phones Make a Sound When Taking Pictures’

Once again the main stream media has let us down. While everyone was covering Inaugural Balls in Washington, a major crisis is emerging in New York and New Jersey: a chronic shortage of chicken wings. Not only are restaurant and bar owners in a panic over the shortage and rising costs, they have begun a boycott to protest the price increases. I noticed that at the confirmation hearing of the Treasury Department nominee, no one had the guts to ask about the strangle hold of the chicken wing and buffalo wing industry on the East Coast.

Continue reading ‘On a Wing and A Prayer: East Coast Facing Mysterious Chicken Wing Shortage’

Many of us have been alarmed by the obvious effort of the Obama staff to avoid any investigation of confirmed war crimes by the Bush Administration in the torture program. Obama and Attorney General nominee Eric Holder have been suggesting that a war crime investigation would be “uncivil” and “looking backwards.” It has not gone over well since torture is a crime under eight treaties and statutes. Now, General Michael V. Hayden claims that Obama secretly promised him that there would be no war crimes investigation or prosecution in a meeting in Chicago.
Continue reading ‘Gen. Hayden Claims Obama Promised Not To Investigate War Crimes A Month Ago’

Chrysler also always boasted the “inspiration comes standard” but but what about the indignation? For many voters, the billions of dollars given to the auto industry is the latest outrage from Washington, which seems intent on bailing out every failed company and bad mortgage. The U.S. auto industry spent decades fighting environmental laws and resisting pressure to build smaller, fuel efficient cars. Now, no one wants to buy their cars and they are receiving a bailout. Chrysler, however, decided that it wanted to thank the American people — so it took out full page ads in the most expensive newspapers in the country. Of course, this is a lot like sending flowers to a loved one with a bill from the florist. After all, as the advertisement says, “Chrysler. Drive = Love.”
Continue reading ‘Indignation Comes Standard: Chrysler Thanks Public with Public-Subsidized Thank You Campaign’

Sandra Howery may not be the most popular homecoming queen candidate but she is certainly the most litigious. Howery is suing Sacramento State University after it failed to make her Queen despite what she alleges was more points in favor of her selection.

Continue reading ‘Royal Mess: Sacramento Student Sues Over Rejection as Homecoming Queen’

The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has refused to disqualify US District Judge Nancy Gertner from a lawsuit against the Boston Police Department for a wrongful conviction in three rapes. Counsel for the department charged with her showing “deep-seated favoritism and antagonism” in comments made in court.

Continue reading ‘First Circuit Refuses to Remove Judge Gertner For Alleged Bias’

There are reports today that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four co-defendants have indicated that they want to plead guilty to the charges that they are facing before a US military tribunal in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It is a bizarre turn of events when the defendants were likely to see new rights granted under an Obama Administration. I will be discussing the development today on the BBC and later on Rachel Maddow on MSNBC.
Continue reading ‘Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Four Co-Defendants Seek to Plead Guilty’

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and thank you for making this blog such a success — and so much fun. We had over a million hits in the first year and continue to grow each month. I hope that you have a litigation free holiday. In celebration, I give you the annual Turkey Tort below and a video of the Palin Turkey slaughter.

Continue reading ‘HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!’

There is growing tension between Saudi Arabia and Egypt over another medieval criminal sentence out of the Saudi court system. Raouf Amin el-Arabi, an Egyptian doctor who has treated the royal family for 20 years, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and 1,500 lashes after he allegedly committed malpractice in the treatment of a Saudi princess. Many believe the flogging will kill him.

Continue reading ‘Saudi Arabia Sentences Doctor to 1500 Lashes and 15 Years in Prison — For Malpractice on Saudi Princess’

Reporters have faced every type of threat from imprisonment to, as noted in yesterday’s entry, defecating bovine. But few face the danger of burning alive in an effort to report the news. Well, here’s a video of a reporter who does not allow a mere raging fire to stop the presses.
Continue reading ‘Perils of the Press IV: Fire in the Fourth Estate’

The South Carolina Supreme Court has ruled that striking a juror from a civil jury for wearing dreadlocks is not race neutral. Remarkably, there was a dissent filed in the close 3-2 decision by two justices who believe that it is appropriate to strike a juror over hairstyle.

Continue reading ‘Hairstyle Strike is Struck: South Carolina Rules that Dreadlocks Are Not a Race-Neutral Basis for Striking a Juror’

If Sen. Ted Stevens is not acquitted in his corruption trial, it is not for a lack of effort by the prosecutors who have again been accused of fumbling. This time the prosecutorial error was found not by the court or the defense, but the jurors themselves. The jury noted that the indictment states that Stevens marked “no” in his 2001 report on whether he received any gifts. In fact, he marked “yes.”

Continue reading ‘Comedy of Errors: Stevens Jurors Find Prosecutorial Error in Indictment’

In a major victory for the media, the Florida Supreme Court throw out a lawsuit where the Pensacola News Journal was successfully sued for false light of road-building contractor Joe Anderson. Anderson sued over a series of articles in 1998 about environmental issues surrounding the paving company he founded, Anderson Columbia. The story included references being on probation for fraud in 1988 when he shot and killed his wife in a Dixie County hunting accident. This was only days after he filed for divorce. The substantive decision came in an equally interesting case of Jews for Jesus v. Rapp.

Continue reading ‘Florida Throws Out False Light Verdict’

New reports show that “Hockey Mom” Sarah Palin spent $32,800 on hair and make-up in just two weeks. At that rate, you buy and could lipstick over 64,000 pigs. You could also pay the annual salary and medical expenses for one average citizen for what Palin spent on hair and make-up in two weeks. In the meantime, Palin has now given her deposition in the troopergate investigation where an investigation has already found that she acted unethically in the firing of a state employee.
Continue reading ‘Lipstick on a Pac: Palin Spent $32,800 on Hair and Make-Up’

Johnson County Clerk Jill Jackson in Franklin, Indiana waited until after hours to put copies of a chain letter on the desks of employees that called Sen. Barack Obama a “young, black Adolf Hitler” and discussed the absence of white pride. The problem is that a video camera captured her at 5:27 p.m. on the Friday of Labor Day weekend. When she was confronted by police, she insisted it was a joke — she merely forgot to tell anyone. Here’s one: what goes “Ha, Ha, Thump”? — a disgraced Indiana clerk laughing her head off.

Continue reading ‘Ha, Ha, Thump: GOP Election Officer Distributes Letter Calling Obama “Black Hitler”’

Chicago is set for a vote on the new high school targeting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transsexual students on November 19th. Below is today’s column on the school, which I reluctantly oppose as I did the Harvey Milk high school.

Continue reading ‘Chicago’s New Gay High School’

Jewish settlers attacked a photographer who was taking pictures of Palestinian farmers picking olives in the West Bank on Saturday — an attack filmed by AP Television. One man then hit a woman who tried to retrieve the camera that the settlers took from the photographer. Palestinians have long complained about such attacks.

Continue reading ‘Photographer Attacked by Jewish Settlers While Taking Pictures of Palestinian Farmers’

Dance instructor Eric Rush is now sitting in jail for criminal cha-cha lessons. This might be hard to explain to fellow inmates who can boast manslaughter or car-jacking for their earning their bones, but Rush literally danced his way into jail by violating an order not to teach dance under an agreement with his former employer Arthur Murray. Judge Roach in Texas did not like Rush’s stomping around on a dance floor and sent him to jail where he is now desperately trying to look like a psycho gang banger.

Continue reading ‘Contempt in Four Easy Steps: Illegal Cha-Cha Lessons Leads Arthur Murray Dance Instructor’

According to the Rocky Mountain News, Chief Judge Edward Nottingham has decided to resign after months of scandal and judicial complaints.
Continue reading ‘Chief Judge Edward Nottingham To Resign Amid Scandal’

In Orlando, Florida, police moved in to arrest Casey Anthony after she switched cars on a highway, which police feared was an attempt to flee. She was charged shortly after an indictment was issued by the grand jury. What is most striking in the case is that her own father appears ready to testify against her. If he appears at trial, it would be very hard to wipe away the impact on the jury regardless of how talented the defense counsel may be.

Continue reading ‘Casey Anthony Arrested After Highway Car Switch’

In what may be the first such listing, the FBI is seeking the capture of Yaser Abdel Said for a double “honor killing.” Muslim groups are opposed to the use of the term, but the evidence appears to support the theory that the killings were due to the father’s “shame” that his daughters Sarah Said, 17, and Amina, 18, were dating non-Muslims. Both were killed on New Year’s Day in the back of his taxi cab.

Continue reading ‘FBI Puts “Honor Killing” Suspect on Wanted List’

In Pittsburgh, Brett Kolarik, 41, has confessed to feeding two dogs meatballs mixed with nails and broken glass. He will be sentenced for animal cruelty.

Continue reading ‘Neighbor Charged with Feeding Dogs Nails and Broken Glass to Stop Barking’

I will be overnight in North Carolina with the little livestock, so postings may be delayed this weekend.

McDonald’s was given a fair degree of credit by liberals for its refusal to drop support for the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) after a boycott by the American Family Association. It appears that got the company nuggets in a knot and AFA now claims that McDonald’s has announced that the board member who supported the group has resigned and the support will end.

Continue reading ‘McDonalds Reportedly Agrees to Drop Support for Gay Business Group’

In a remarkable investigation, Brian Ross has uncovered extensive abuses within the military surveillance program operated out of Fort Gordon. The investigation includes interviews with two former employees who say that purely private conversations were intercepted between U.S. citizens, including phone sex tapes that were passed around for fun. I was interviewed for the story.
Continue reading ‘ABC Investigation: Government Intercepted Private Calls and Personnel Passed Around Tapes for Recreation’

In a potentially wide ranging decision a British immigration court has ruled that a Syrian young couple who converted to Christianity from Islam are entitled to asylum due to the likely threats against their lives. Some Muslim clerics insist that any such converts must be killed. Six Republican members of Congress encouraged the court to rule in favor of asylum.

Continue reading ‘British Court Finds that Muslims Converting to Christianity Qualify for Asylum’

In class, we often discuss the limitations on suing children for torts, particularly children under seven. Now, an Australian case represents the problem in dealing with kids who cause destruction. In this case, a seven-year-old broke into a zoo, bludgeoned lizards to death and fed them to Terry, a large crocodile.

Continue reading ‘Seven-Year-Old Breaks Into Zoo, Clubs Animals to Death, and Feeds Others to Crocodile’

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is facing a discrimination action by a victim of drunk drivers, who claims that she was removed from public events due to her appearance. A drunk driver left Rose Harn with one working eye, brain damaged, and a shriveled, disfigured body as well as the need for a rag to catch her drool. She alleges that she was told that she was too disturbing to look at for a booth at a state fair in Idaho.

Continue reading ‘In Harn’s Way: MADD Sued For Discrimination in Removing Drunk Driving Victim Considers to be “Too Disturbing” for Public Events’

An interesting case was filed against Disneyland in California over a dog bite. Lena Dickerson was 2-years-old when she was encouraged to pet a German shepherd-Labrador retriever mix named Hemmingway at the Disneyland petting zoo in October of 2006. She was severely bitten on the face and left with scarring.
Continue reading ‘For Whom the Torts Toll: Disney is Sued After Hemmingway Bites Girl’

In Kansas City, Dana Washington is leading the latest move to ban a book in America. Washington wants John Steinbeck’s classic “Of Mice And Men” removed from Washington High School’s 500 book reading list because it uses the n-word. It is a standard that would effectively ban most of the classics from that period. Parents insist that it is technically not a ban, but a mere removal action from the required reading list. Of course, we will still have to work on that sexist title.
Continue reading ‘Of Mice and People: Parents in St. Louis Seek to Ban Steinbeck Classic’

For a couple of days, I have not posted material due to the death of an uncle in California. I am back now and will resume posting entries from our ongoing selection of the profound and the profoundly bizarre.

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.

Continue reading ‘Palin: Iraq War is Part of God’s Plan’

I have certainly heard from folks about my reference to Attorney General Michael Mukasey’s explanation for not taking action in the political hiring scandal as the “Elmer Fudd defense”, click here. Mukasey stated that, once again, he would not take action in this matter, but suggested it was due to the fact that the culprits left the Justice Department before he could take action. The problem is that he has blocked action in matters involving clear crimes with officials still in office.
Continue reading ‘Mukasey’s Elmer Fudd Defense’

Baltimore is dealing with a horrific death of a Javon Thompson, who was nineteen months old when he was allegedly starved to death because he would not say “Amen.” His mother, Ria Ramkissoon (shown here), and three others (Queen Antoinette, 40, also known as Toni Ellsberry or Toni Sloan; Marcus Cobbs, 21; and Trevia Williams, 21) all members of a religious sect known as 1 Mind Ministries. They found his remains in a suitcase left in a shed. Unfortunately, this is not a unique tale and children appear to be the ones who have paid for the religious extremism of their parents.

Continue reading ‘One Mind, No Soul: Mother and Other Religious Sect Members Arrested in Death of Toddler’

Internet sites have made a startling accusation. They are reporting that Lin Miaoke (林妙可)，the ultra-cute nine-year-old girl who sang “Paean to the Motherland” when the Chinese national flag entered the Bird’s Nest Stadium during the Olympics Opening Ceremony, was a fake. They claim to have an interview from a Chinese official admitting that they swapped out the real child for a cuter child to make the scene perfect. The real angelic voice allegedly belonged to Yang Peiyi (杨沛宜), a student of the Attached Primary School of Beijing University, who was not cute enough for prime time.

Continue reading ‘Say It Ain’t So Miaoke: China Accused of Faking Nine-Year-Old’s Song at Opening Ceremony’

Thomas Neal, 20, of French Camp, California, stormed into a convenience sword wielding a sword. He reportedly wanted to be shot, but police had a few taser malfunctions.

Continue reading ‘Slow but Convenient Service: Sword-Wielding Man Waits to Be Shot In Convenience Store’

There seems to be a sudden outbreak of roof driving arrests. Recently, we saw a newlywed husband charged with driving with his wife on the roof, here. Now, it is a grandmother, 54-year-old Brenda Bouschet, driving with her three-year-old granddaughter on the roof.

Continue reading ‘Florida Grandmother Charged with Driving With Three-Year-Old Girl on Roof’

The co-sponsor of laws increasing penalties for sexual offenders may be one of the first to receive the enhanced sentences in Missouri. State Rep. Scott Muschany, R-Frontenac, has been indicted in the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl, the daughter of a state employee who was reportedly romantically involved with Muschany (who is married with two children).

Continue reading ‘Missouri Legislator Arrested for Sexually Assaulting Minor’

Today I returned from Goshen — the huge Virginia Cub Scout reservation where my oldest son was completing a week of camping as a cub scout. I only learned when I returned that nine scouts were sickened by E. coli 0157 at the camp. Now, with eighteen serious cases and 60 scouts showing symptoms, the number of cases are expected to rise in the coming days. Both Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts were affected.
Continue reading ‘Earning Your E-Coli Badge: 18 Scouts Sickened at Virginia Camp’

It appears that CNN’s Nancy Grace will have to answer for her conduct on her program. CNN and Grace have been sued for the wrongful death of Melinda Duckett, who committed suicide after Grace attacked her on the program — suggesting that she was responsible for her own child’s disappearance. Many in the bar are delighted by the lawsuit against Grace who was repeatedly charged with abuses as a prosecutor and has degraded the profession with her snarling sensationalistic program.
Continue reading ‘Dis-Grace: CNN’s Nancy Grace Loses Critical Motion in Court’

New York has an interesting hoax case involving another YouTube-related crime video. In this case, Anton Dunn has been arrested for videos of himself proclaiming that he had poisoned millions of bottles of baby food –causing a panic. He said that he wanted to kill hispanic and black children. There was no evidence of poisoning, but they did have Dunn on videotape and he has now been charged with sending threats in interstate commerce and falsely claiming to have tampered with a consumer product.
Continue reading ‘Stick a Fork in Yourself Because You’re Dunn: Man Arrested in Baby Food Poisoning Hoax’

In Afghanistan, journalist Ghaws Zalmay faces the death penalty for printing a translation of the Koran (Qur’an) in in Dari, one of Afghanistan’s official languages. Yet, even if he is acquitted religious leaders are promising that he will still be put to death for his blasphemy as required under Sharia law. It is certainly a good thing that we got the Taliban out of power.

Continue reading ‘Afghan Journalist Faces Death if Convicted of Blasphemy — and Death If He Is Acquitted’

In Ozark, Missouri, a family is wondering why their 16-year-old son Mace Hutchinson was hit by tasers up to 19 times after he fell (or jumped) from an overpass and broke his back.

Continue reading ‘Using Tasers Over Mace: Police Taser Teenage Boy With Broken Back Up to 19 Times’

In an extraordinary act of self-censorship, the Los Angeles Times has asked its bloggers not to discuss the Edwards story about his alleged affair and child with Rielle Hunter. The story was broken by the National Enquirer after allegedly catching Edwards at a hotel with the woman.

Continue reading ‘L.A. Times Bars Bloggers From Covering Edwards Affair Story’

“Spam King” Edward ‘Eddie’ Davidson, his wife and 3-year-old daughter escaped recently from the minimum-security federal prison in Florence, Colorado. He has now been found dead after shooting his wife and three-year-old daughter.
Continue reading ‘“Spam King” Eddie Davidson Escapes from Jail Then Kills Wife, Daughter, and Himself’

A Cobb County sheriff’s deputy has been arrested and accused of rape, officials said Tuesday. The deputy was fired after the sheriff learned of his arrest.
Officers in Cobb County were eager to track down the man who took a woman at gun point from a bar and then handcuffed and raped her. It allegedly turned out, however, to be another officer: 37-year-old Jason Anthony Bill.

Continue reading ‘Georgia Police Officer Arrested for Kidnapping and Rape’

It appears that the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not amused. Mormon Chad Hardy has been summoned to a Church disciplinary hearing for possible excommunication after he produced a popular “Men on a Mission” calendar showing Mormon hunks without shirts. The new missionary position is that such photos are completely unacceptable — even if they do help with door-to-door outreach programs.
Continue reading ‘Mormon Church Cracks Down on “Men on a Mission” Calendar’

The Washington Redskins won another victory over Native American litigants challenging its name as racially disparaging and offensive. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled that the name was permissible and not sufficiently insulting to justify stripping it of trademark protection. The Redskins name has been protected since 1967.
Continue reading ‘Redskins Win Lawsuit Against Native Americans Over Name’

Former Fox anchor and White House spokesman Tony Snow has died. Tony was a friend too many and I was privileged to be among them. Despite our differences of opinion and politics, Tony was a wonderfully person — always engaging and funny. He was truly a wonderful person and will be missed. He was 53.

Continue reading ‘Tony Snow Dies at 53′

In New City, New York, former prosecutor Beth Modica, 44, has been sentenced to two years in prison years for statutory rape. The main witness against her was her own daughter.
Continue reading ‘Former New York Prosecutor Sentenced to Jail for Statutory Rape’

Hans Reiser (creator of the ReiserFS file system), 44, strenuously denied that he had murdered his wife throughout his criminal trial — only to be found guilty. He even asserted his innocence following the verdict. However, in a surprise development, he has led police to his wife’s body.

Continue reading ‘Late Reiser: Leading Programmer Takes Police to Wife’s Body After Denying the Murder at Trial’

Going on a date with Robert P. Farnam is generally fun until the very end. That is when the check arrives and he has a heart attack. Indeed, cab rides can be equally stressful (so you might want to drive). According to Wisconsin police, Farnam is a habitual faker of heart attacks — timed to avoid having to pay for cabs, dinners, or other services.

Continue reading ‘I’ll Have the Dessert and a Defibrillator, Please: Wisconsin Man Accused of Having Fake Heart Attacks to Avoid Payments’

In a long-delayed piece in Village Voice, Tony Ortega reveals the details of the tactics and loss of the Church of Scientology in a case against former member Lawrence Wollersheim. After allegedly blocking access to public documents and filing retaliatory lawsuits, the church finally paid $8,674,843 to cover the $2.5 million judgment and the interest it had accrued. Among the court documents that the Court sought to withhold was this picture of Scientology leader David Miscavige, in his full Sea Org outfit, the most secret part of the secretive organization.

Continue reading ‘Details of $8.7 Million Court Loss of Scientology Revealed’

The discovery of a three-foot-tall tablet with 87 lines of Hebrew is causing a controversy. The tablet speaks of a messiah rising from the dead after three days. That would seem to confirm the account of Jesus’ resurrection except for the fact that the tablet was written decades before his birth. It is likely to trigger quite a debate among the entire religious and non-religious communities. Given today’s other entry on the survey of intellectuals on religion, here, this should make for some interesting debates.
Continue reading ‘Discovery of Ancient Stones Cause Controversy Over Biblical Account of Jesus’

There is an unexpected dust up over the nomination of George Mason law professor (and former Senate Judiciary Committee chief counsel) Michael E. O’Neill. The former aide to Sen. Arlan Specter has been accused of plagiarism in his legal publications and now may failed in his confirmation bid.

Continue reading ‘Bush Judicial Nominee and Law Professor Accused of Plagarism’

In Pinellas Country, Florida, 53-year old Jack Q. Brown used a leash to drag his 1 1/2 year old male bichon-yorkie mix named Riley down the road with his car. Despite going under the car and bouncing off the sides, Riley survived and Brown is now in a jail for animal cruelty.

Continue reading ‘Florida Man Drags Dog With Car Down Road: Dog Survives; Man is Caged.’

In Greenwood, Indiana, an Indianapolis Metro police officer, his wife, and a former Marion County Sheriff employee have been arrested in a prostitution bust. Lori Vernon-Lee, 36, is accused of recruiting the women and running the business out of her home. Her husband, Jeremy Lee, 30, has been fired from the force in the wake of the charges.

Continue reading ‘Police Officer, Wife, and former Sheriff Employee Charged with Running Prostitution Ring’

In Salem, Massachusetts, Kristen Anne LaBrie, 36, has been charged in a novel case. She is alleged to have withheld cancer medication from Jeremy Fraser, her 8-year-old autistic son, allowing the return of his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Continue reading ‘Mother Charged with Withholding Cancer Medicine from Autistic Child’

A shocking video has emerged of a woman who collapsed on the floor of Kings County Hospital and is left to die without any assistance despite people and staff moving around the patient, Esmin Green. It now turns out that staff may have falsified medical charts at the psych ward to conceal the incident.

Continue reading ‘Shock Video: Woman Shown Dying at New York Hospital Without Any Assistance from Staff or Witnesses’

The French marines stationed at the Laperrine military barracks wanted to give the public a realistic example of a hostage rescue operation. One soldier, however, used life rounds and shot 16 people including children. The incident is under investigation, but officials have stated that it may have been an accident.
Continue reading ‘French Give Public a Realistic Demonstration of a Hostage Rescue: Shooting 16 Bystanders’

The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that the Pleasant Glade Assembly of God cannot be held liable for injuries to a 17-year-old girl from an exorcism performed on her by the church members. Laura Schubert was cut and bruised and suffered lasting psychological trauma but the Texas Supreme Court said that it is all part of free exercise of religion.

Continue reading ‘Exorcising Free Exercise: Texas Supreme Court Rules That Church Can Injure Minors During Exorcisms’

The cherished institution of marriage in the United States is about to be saved. Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), fresh from his bathroom arrest, and Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), fresh from his call-girl scandal, have co-sponsored S. J. RES. 43, dubbed the Marriage Protection Amendment, to bar same-sex marriage. They have joined their colleagues to amend the United States Constitution to state that marriage “shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman.” Now, that is a wide constitutional stance.

Continue reading ‘Senators Craig and Vitter Team Up to Save Marriage’

An inspector general report has found that the Bush Justice Department barred applicants on the basis of their political views. It is further proof of the open politicalization of the Justice Department by the Bush Administration, including selections for the honors program — long treated as completely apolitical.
Continue reading ‘Bush Administration Officials Bar Lawyer Applicants on the Basis of Political Beliefs’

California took a major step forward in reversing the steady rollback of student speech rights this year by passing a law protecting the rights of student free speech and prohibiting the firing or suspension of employees for exercising their free speech rights on newspapers and organizations. That is when the sponsor, State Sen. Leland Yee, received a letter from Happy Chastain, senior legislative director for state government relations in the UC president’s office — stating that the school would not comply with the law.

Continue reading ‘Happy Unto Yee: University of California States Intent to Violate Free Press Law’

In a critical step toward impeachment, the United States Judicial Conference voted unanimously to forward charges against U.S. District Judge Thomas Porteous to the House of Representatives for impeachment. He is accused of perjury, accepting gifts from lawyers and violating other criminal and ethical standards. Unless he resigns, he would be the first federal judge impeached in 19 years.
Continue reading ‘Judge Thomas Porteous Moves Closer to Impeachment’

For the Bush Administration, Curveball (the super secret source on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction) seemed God-sent. He supplied intelligence that the President used to launch a preemptive invasion of Iraq. It turns out that Rafid Ahmed Alwan learned how to super-size such stories from the best: Burger King (where he was viewed as a congenital liar by the minimum wage staff).

Continue reading ‘You Want Fries With That Briefing? Bush’s “Curveball” Iraqi Source Was Found at Burger King’

A Springfield, Missouri woman was convicted under state truancy laws for her son’s truancy and sentenced to two days in jail and two years probation. Notably, Kathleen Casteel was home schooling her son — one of five. This is only the latest such criminalization of poor parental skills. Indeed, legislators have recently called for criminal charges against parents who miss parent-teacher conferences.

Continue reading ‘Court Rules Mother Must Take More Time with Kids: So It Sentences Her to Jail’

Political activists may have to contend with an interesting little crowd control device known as the “crap cannon” or the “brown note.” The infrasound device makes people defecate on themselves. It is not actually the type of movement that MoveOn.com activists were expecting.

Continue reading ‘Welcome to the Democratic Convention: But Bring a Change of Clothes’

Just a few months ago, the Administration admitted to lying to federal courts about the existence of classified material and also destroying material evidence in federal cases. Now, Lt. Commander William Kueber has disclosed that interrogators were told to destroy their notes from interrogations for legal reasons.

Continue reading ‘U.S. Interrogators Told to Destroy Notes to “Minimize Certain Legal Issues”’

It could be a sequel to her role in Jean-Luc Godard’s film Contempt. Actress Brigitte Bardot has contempt for Muslims, homosexuals, immigrants and many others. It is quite a list and few people would frankly care much about what the aging starlet thinks about such subjects. However, in France, it appears to be a crime. Bardot was convicted this week of provoking discrimination and racial hatred for writing that Muslims are destroying France. It is another example of the assault against free speech in Western countries. The punishment of such views is even more outrageous than the views themselves.

Continue reading ‘Brigitte Bardot Convicted of Hate Speech and Discrimination’

It may be one of the most unexpected verdicts of the year. Geoffrey Fieger and law partner Ven Johnson were acquitted on all charges after an 18 day trial on illegal campaign contributions. The jury deliberated for four days to reach the verdict. It is a major loss for the Justice Department given what seemed an over-whelming case with cooperating witnesses and massive effort. It was also a trial marred by accusations of strong-arm tactics by FBI agent, Jeffrey Rees, which may have poisoned the well for some jurors.

Continue reading ‘Geogrey Fieger Found Not Guilty in Michigan’

It was hard to imagine anything more disturbing than the story that was posted a couple weeks ago about Rand, a 17-year-old girl, was killed by her father (and her brothers) for simply falling in love with a young British soldier. While still a virgin, her father Abdel-Qader Ali, 46, still strangled her after she confided her feeling of Paul to a friend. Now her mother, Leila, who went public with the murder and divorced the father, has been gunned down while trying to flee to Jordon.
Continue reading ‘Mother of Iraqi Honor Killing Victim is Herself Killed After Divorcing the Murderer’

Police in Fullerton now believe that the arrest of Sunny Hills High School teacher Gregory Abbott, 31, was a set up — perhaps by his estranged wife and an associate.

Continue reading ‘California High School Teacher Framed in Drug and Gun Arrest’

Pennsylvania Chief Justice Ronald Castille has threatened sanctions against the League of Women Voters and disciplinary measures against its attorney, Paul Rossi, for being judicial misconduct charges related to his predecessor. The League has alleged that former Chief Justice Ralph Cappy had “secret negotiations” with legislative leaders in 2005 before the Court upheld the 2004 slots law and the Legislature passed a controversial pay-raise for judges. It is not clear what is more outrageous: the original allegations or Castille’s use of his office to threaten litigants and lawyers seeking a hearing. This is particularly troubling when Castille himself is implicated in the allegations. Continue reading ‘Pennsylvania Chief Justice Threatens Parties and Lawyers for Filing Action Alleging Judicial Misconduct’

Veteran TV journalist Barry Nolan has been fired by Comcast for his public criticism of the decision by the local Emmy Awards to honor Fox News anchor Bill O’Reilly. The termination occurred at a time when Fox has allegedly threatened a retaliation campaign against NBC if it does not stop criticism of O’Reilly on MSNBC. At issue are some core questions of journalistic ethics and free amendment rights.

Continue reading ‘Boston Newscaster Fired for Criticism of Bill O’Reilly’