Month: November 2012

Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

Banking On Banks: Detroit Elects An Eight-Time Convicted Felon

Brian Banks successfully campaigned on a catchy slogan this election: “You Can Bank On Banks!” That may be true unless you are an actual bank. Banks has been convicted eight times for felonies involving bad checks and credit card fraud. In some states, he would have faced a lengthy or even lifetime in prison as a habitual offender. However, in Detroit, Banks is the newest member of the state House of Representatives. What is interesting is that he was not the most unconventional candidate on the ballot in Michigan.

Continue reading “Banking On Banks: Detroit Elects An Eight-Time Convicted Felon” →

Constitutional Law, International, Politics

Chinese Newspaper Denounces Long Lines For Americans In Choosing Their Leader

My colleague and well-known China expert Donald Clarke sent me another ironic nugget from our friends in China. China’s Global Times has run a story entitled “Seven-Hour Wait to Vote; This Election Is Shameful.” Since I blogged on this disgrace myself, I would normally be heartened by the outcry, but coming from China, where citizens are denied the ability to choose their government, it is nothing short of absurd. It is right up there with the Iranian government calling for the investigation of the mistreatment of protesters in England.

Continue reading “Chinese Newspaper Denounces Long Lines For Americans In Choosing Their Leader” →

Academia, Politics, Science, Society, Torts

Study Finds Finds Dramatic Drop In Hospitalizations In Areas With Smoke-Free Areas

There is another study that offers strong support for the dangers of both smoking and second-hand smoke. The study at the University of California – San Francisco found a dramatic decline in hospitalizations in areas with laws banning smoking at work and public areas.

Continue reading “Study Finds Finds Dramatic Drop In Hospitalizations In Areas With Smoke-Free Areas” →

Academia, Animals, Torts

Meet GW’s Newest Scholar: Professor Molly Turley

In torts class, I promised an esteemed lecturer who spent a lifetime of work on animal liability. Yesterday, they met the professor who had a biting wit and a dogged socratic style: my dog Molly. Her qualifications are that she has spent a lifetime as a dog and has studied most animals under clinical conditions. Herr Professor is tamed but untenured.

Continue reading “Meet GW’s Newest Scholar: Professor Molly Turley” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Religion, Society

He’s Baaaack: Roy Moore Elected Chief Justice of Alabama Supreme Court

You remember Roy Moore. He was the Alabama judge who was challenged by the ACLU for posting a copy of the Ten Commandments in his courtroom and began jury deliberations with a prayer for divine guidance. He became the personification of the movement in the United States to reduce the wall of separation between Church and State. Most people assumed that he has returned to well-deserved obscurity. Well guess again. As of last night, he is again the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.

Continue reading “He’s Baaaack: Roy Moore Elected Chief Justice of Alabama Supreme Court” →

International, Media, Society, Torts

Dutch Suicide Highlights Homophobia In Netherlands

We have yet another tragedy of a gay student bullied to the point that he committed suicide. Tim Ribberink, 20, left a note saying that he simply could not take the teasing and isolation anymore despite his love for his parents. His image puts another face on the costs of homophobia and intolerance. Ribberlink was studying to be a history teacher.

Continue reading “Dutch Suicide Highlights Homophobia In Netherlands” →

Bizarre, Courts, Criminal law, Society

Cleveland Judge Orders Woman To Wear Sign Calling Herself An “Idiot” In Latest Shaming Punishment

I have previously written about the rise of shaming punishments in the United States in both blogs (here and here and here and here) and columns (here and here). We can now add Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Pinkey S. Carr to the ignoble line of judge meting out their own forms of justice through humiliating acts. In this case, as shown in the video below, Shena Hardin, 32, is requiring to wear a sign calling herself an “idiot” in public for repeatedly driving around a school bus on the sidewalk while children were boarding.

Continue reading “Cleveland Judge Orders Woman To Wear Sign Calling Herself An “Idiot” In Latest Shaming Punishment” →

Bizarre, Congress, Politics

Eighty Percent of Success Is Just [Not] Showing Up: Jesse Jackson Jr. Releected Despite Disappearance For Months

It appears that Woody Allen was wrong when he famously said that “eighty percent of success is showing up.” Jesse Jackson Jr. proved yesterday that success can be just not showing up. While Republicans are grappling this morning with the rather pathetic image of Todd Akin in Missouri, Democrats have Jesse Jackson Jr. in Illinois. At least Republicans can point out that their leadership opposed Akin and he was defeated. Jackson won reelection despite his disappearance for months from office and failure to actually campaign. He won despite rising allegations of corruption and his long-term residency in the Mayo Clinic for whatever are believed to be psychiatric problems. He won despite not explaining any of this to this constituents. Like Akin, the thought of withdrawing for the benefit of his constituents never appeared to a serious consideration. Yet, the people of the Illinois 2nd congressional district reelected him to Congress by a 63 percent vote.

Continue reading “Eighty Percent of Success Is Just [Not] Showing Up: Jesse Jackson Jr. Releected Despite Disappearance For Months” →

Politics, Society

The Akin Factor: How Extremism and Egotism Has Crippled The Grand Old Party

Of all of the races yesterday, the most interesting for me was the Missouri Senate race. Senator Claire McCaskill was one of the least popular members of the Senate and a virtual guarantee for defeat until Rep. Todd Akin delivered victory from the jaws of defeat. Akin’s infamous rape remarks made him completely toxic to the entire nation and the GOP leadership quickly called for his withdrawal from the race. Akin treated the suggestion as absurd and allowed two deadlines to pass that would have allowed his party to repair the damage that he caused. At one time, politicians would put the interests of their party and their country before their own. However, we live in a different time and Akin is the face of the times: egotistical, selfish, and extremist. Linda MacMahon in Connecticut cut the same intensely egotistical image: spending $100 million of her own money in two unsuccessful efforts to make herself a Senator despite a fairly toxic personality and image associated with professional wrestling. Despite the sound defeat in the last election, MacMahon spent even more of her own money as the former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment to secure a second defeat. The question for the GOP is whether the disaster this election will cause anyone in the party to consider the eradication of moderates in their party and the loss of what we once called “Rockefeller Republicans.”

Continue reading “The Akin Factor: How Extremism and Egotism Has Crippled The Grand Old Party” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Media, Politics, Society

Waiting For Democracy

As the polls grind to a close, various images linger from the humorous of a surfer voting in California fresh from the beach with his board to the inspiring of a woman in labor insisting on voting before going to the hospital. However, one image remains consistent across the country: absurdly long line. Despite scandals from 2008 of people waiting for hours to vote, election officials have again produced endless lines by failing to produce adequate voting machines for the expected vote in many areas. My voting place in McLean was wonderful – enough machines and short lines. However, I have heard nightmare stories from others around the region including over three hour waits in Maryland.

Continue reading “Waiting For Democracy” →

Politics, Society

Clinton: We Don’t Need A President Who WIll Not Tell You The Truth

There are just some lines that politicians should leave to others like Senator Vitter (R., La.) denouncing others as “prostitutes” or former Senator Craig (R., Idaho) denouncing the critics for “pandering” to voters (as hypothetical examples). Bill Clinton reached that point Monday when he asked without a shadow of discomfort or awkwardness when voters really wanted a president who would lie to them with a straight face.
Continue reading “Clinton: We Don’t Need A President Who WIll Not Tell You The Truth” →

Criminal law, International, Politics, Society

Indian Leaders Blame Fast Food and Inability To Marry 15-Year-Old Girls As Cause For Gang Rapes Of “Lower Caste” Girls

We have yet another horrific rape case in India. In this case, a 13-year-old girl who is part of low Dalit caste was abducted and gang raped by men from the higher Jats caste. They took pictures of the rape and threatened to release them if she told anyone. Eventually her mother discovered the truth and told her father, a gardener. The father’s shame under the cultural and religious norms of the area was so great that he drank pesticide and killed himself. In response to the outrage, local leader, Jitender Chhatar blamed fast foods for the rape while the state’s former chief minister, Om Prakash Chautala, called for the lowering of the age of consent to marriage to 15 to combat rapes in the country.

Continue reading “Indian Leaders Blame Fast Food and Inability To Marry 15-Year-Old Girls As Cause For Gang Rapes Of “Lower Caste” Girls” →

Animals, Society, Torts

Grizzly Bear Kills Employee At Private Montana Wild Animal Facility

In torts, we are about to discuss animal liability and a case this week captures the liability line in such cases. In Montana, a twenty-four-year old employee of the Animals of Montana was killed by a grizzly bear raised in captivity to appear on films and photographic images.

Continue reading “Grizzly Bear Kills Employee At Private Montana Wild Animal Facility” →

Constitutional Law, International, Media, Politics, Society

Russians Pass Ban On “Gay Propaganda” While Banning Gay Pride Parades in Capitol For 100 Years

The plight of homosexuals in Russia is getting worse under Vladimir Putin.  Gays and lesbians had their own Spring movement after the fall of the Soviet Union — coming out of the closet after decades of repression.  Then came Putin and his alliance with the Russian Orthodox Church. Putin’s government quickly used gays and lesbians as targets of political attacks. Those political attacks have now turned to actual attacks as thugs raid gay bars and clubs — beating down both men and women while the police do nothing.  The recent legislation banning “gay propaganda” (and a ban on parades for 100 years in Moscow) has triggered the increase in attacks as homophobes see official support for their violent campaigns.

Continue reading “Russians Pass Ban On “Gay Propaganda” While Banning Gay Pride Parades in Capitol For 100 Years” →