Month: January 2013

Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics, Religion, Society

Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Illinois Cross Case

BaldknobcrossThe U.S. Supreme Court this week refused to hear a challenge by an Illinois atheist to the use of public funds to renovate the 111-foot-high Bald Knob Cross of Peace on the highest mountain in Southern Illinois. The court never considered the merits because Robert Sherman was found to have no standing to bring the lawsuit. I have previously written about my opposition to the Supreme Court’s narrow definition of standing — rulings that effectively insulate some constitutional violations from review as in our lawsuit against the Libyan war.

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Society, Torts

Women Sue “Revenge Porn Site” Where Men Publish Photos of Former Girlfriends

thumb_computer_assault_2For our torts lovers, there is an interesting case out of Fort Worth. We have been following the increased litigation over websites that trash former boyfriends or girlfriends or spouses or even strangers (here and here and here). In the latest case various girlfriends are suing over what is described by some as a “revenge porn site” called Texxxan.com where men revenge on their ex-girlfriends by publishing revealing pictures of their former lovers.

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Bizarre, Free Speech, International

“Stop Saying That!”: Qantas Flight Attendant Demands Passenger Change T-Shirt With Princess Bride Quote

15744_187310782365_1464670_s180px-Qantas_Airways_Limited_logo.svgWe have been following the increasing crackdown on passengers wearing T-Shirts on airlines deemed offensive or threatening. These cases often raise free speech questions, but also raise serious questions of the increasing irrationality of airline staff and some passengers. The t-shirt of Wynand Mullins is a good example. Mullins wore a t-shirt on a Qantas flight from Sydney with the well-known quote from Princess Bride by character Montoya (played in the film by Mandy Patinkin): “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die.” Some passengers became alarmed by the t-shirt, presumably convinced that a terrorist would not only advertise his intent but choose a fictional character from a children’s book to represent his deep homicidal beliefs. Flight staff insisted that he change his shirt. Presumably, there was a passenger with five fingers that felt personally threatened by the quotation.

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Bizarre, Criminal law

Florida Man Arrested After Trying To Force Fiancée to Swallow Engagement Ring

article-2267368-171FF7F3000005DC-464_634x602We have a new example for our criminal defense lawyers (and budding criminals) on the blog of how not to respond to an arrest. Faron Thompson, 29, was arrested after he tried to force his fiancée (now presumably his former fiancée) to swallow their engagement ring after she said she wanted to call off their wedding. Given his statements after the arrest, one can understand how she decided to let this gem go.

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Bizarre, International, Religion

Legos or Logos? Turks Protest Latest Lego Set

Screen-shot-2013-01-25-at-10.21.08-AM220px-İstanbul-AyasofyaAustria’s Turkish community has launched an international campaign against Lego because it insists that a Lego model sold as “Jabba’s Palace” is based on the sacred Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul. It is a curious argument since the only similarity is the use of a classic domed palace structure. I have been to the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (which is spectacular) and I fail to see the clear duplication. Ironically, the original church was dedicated to the Logos not the Legos, which might be the source of the confusion.

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Bizarre, Congress, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Politics, Society

New Mexico Legislator Introduces Bill To Make It A Crime of “Destroying Evidence” For A Rape Victim To Get An Abortion

HBROWNew Mexico Rep. Cathrynn Brown (R) has introduced House Bill 206, a bill that would make it a crime a rape victim to get an abortion as destruction of evidence of a crime. Brown is a lawyer and a member of the judiciary committee. She is also an ardent pro-life legislator who has made eliminating abortion (and “debunking” global warming) a mission. and, after a national outcry, says that the bill was poorly drafted will be changed to address the public concerns.

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Courts, Criminal law, International

Infamous Indian Rape Trial Begins Behind Closed Doors and Under Gag Order

gavel2We have previously discussed the horrific gang rape of a 23-year-old student. The trial is now beginning. However, the court has ordered that it be conducted behind closed doors despite the fact that the victim is dead. In addition, the judge has imposed a gag order on the lawyers. It is a poor decision by the judge and denies the public’s interest to view such trials. While India may not have the same right to public proceedings that we have in the United States, the denial of public access to the trial in such an important case is a terrible judgment on the part of the Court. This case has galvanized public opinion and forced Indian officials to deal with a long-ignored problem of rape in the country. Those officials would prefer for the trial to be conducted in secret.

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Bizarre, Congress, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Politics, Society

NFL Crushes Indiana Man Who Claimed Ownership Of “Harbowl”

FirstfootballgameWe have previously discussed how Congress and the White House have yielded to demand for increasing copyright and trademark restrictions, including criminal prosecutions of ordinary citizens. One of my longest complaints is how people and businesses now claim ownership of common symbols and phrases. (here and here). This week we have two parties in a fight to claim trademark over a common expression. Roy Fox of Pendleton, Indiana secured a copyright to the term “Harbowl” last year to make money off of a Superbowl with the Baltimore Ravens under coach John Harbaugh and San Francisco 49ers under coach Jim Harbaugh. He was then muscled out of his trademark by NFL lawyers claiming to own the term “Superbowl.”

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Animals, Bizarre, Environment, International, Science

Zoo Animals In China Dying From Abuse

220px-NileCrocodile250px-Male_Lion_on_RockWe have previously discussed the cruelty shown by Chinese to animals in zoos and circuses. The article below offers a further glimpse into this national and cultural disgrace after a man strangled an ostrich to death in a zoo. Another report shows that a zoo in Shenzen is down to just two crocodiles from a dozen because people are killing them by throwing rocks at them and garbage into their pools.

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Bizarre, Politics

Alexandria Moves Toward Registration And Taxing Bicycles

301px-Seal_of_Alexandria,_VA.svg220px-MichauxjunWe have previously discussed the counterproductive increases in taxes that have been implemented recently without consideration of their impact on behavior or revenue. France’s ridiculous 75 percent tax on the rich is an obvious example (now even the former French president is reportedly planning to flee the taxes for England). So is our high tax on corporations while Canada continues to lower its tax just next door. There are also reports of high earners like Tiger Woods leaving California and New York in the face of high increases. A smaller but even more moronic tax is being contemplated by Alexandria, Virginia where the city council is considering a law forcing people to register bikes so that they can be forced to pay a fee.

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Bizarre, Media, Society

What So Proudly We Hailed at Beyoncé’s Lip Syncing . . . (Part II)

220px-Beyonce_Knowles_with_necklaces220px-The_Star-Spangled_Banner_-_Project_Gutenberg_eText_21566We previously discussed the insulting decision of Beyoncé to lip sync the national anthem at the Inauguration.  The story has only gotten worse with time.  First, it turns out that the Marine band also faked playing to match her fake singing.  Second, and more recently, we have learned that Beyoncé decided to lip sync the day before after showing up late and not rehearsing. It appears that gig was not important enough to her to either show up on time or work a bit later. It is not the Superbowl after all.

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Columns, Constitutional Law, Politics, Society

Obama and The Leap Of Faith

PresObamaAfter the Inauguration, I shared my thoughts on President Barack Obama’s address. I liked the speech but, as with many civil libertarians, I do not share the faith in his commitment to principle — at least not the principles behind civil liberties. Below is today’s print column that touches on some of the same themes with a few additional observations.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Torts

California Highway Patrol Settles Case Of Pregnant Woman Being Thrown To Ground and Hogtied After Talking On Her Cellphone While Driving

mqdefaultThe California Highway Patrol has agreed to a settlement of the recent case of a pregnant driver, Tamara Gaglione, 30, being hogtied by police after being stopped for talking on her cellphone. Gaglione will receive a $250,000 settlement.

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Bizarre, International, Politics, Religion, Science

Paleontological Perversity? Saudi Religious Police Shutdown Dinosaur Exhibit

220px-Marasuchus170px-Ministry_of_Interior_Saudi_Arabia.svgThe Saudi Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is a religious police force that has been a constant presence in the Kingdom arresting woman having coffee with colleagues or forcing young girls to burn to death in fire rather than run out without their scarves. Now the religious police in Dammam marched into a popular dinosaur exhibit and shut it down without any explanation of why the dinosaurs threatened the virtue of good Muslims.

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