Category: Bizarre

Bizarre, Criminal law, Environment, Politics

You Will Have to Peel My Cold Dead Fingers From My Geiger Counter: New York Moves to Require a Permit to Own Detectors of Radioactive, Biological, or Chemical Threats

Where is the NGA — National Geiger Association — when you need them?

Facing an apparent shortfall of new permits to impose on citizens, the New York city council (with Mayor Bloomberg’s reported support) is moving to require that any citizens who want to own devices that detect biological, chemical, and radiological dangers must first register and secure a permit from the city. If Bloomberg wants to run for President, this would not be the way to do it. There is a strong suspicion that the problem with these devices is that they will reveal a much greater level of such dangers and require officials to address countless false — and true — readings. Continue reading “You Will Have to Peel My Cold Dead Fingers From My Geiger Counter: New York Moves to Require a Permit to Own Detectors of Radioactive, Biological, or Chemical Threats” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering, Media, Politics, Religion

Afghan Justice: Government Sentences Journalist to Death for Blasphemy Against the Prophet

After the loss of many American lives and billions in American dollars, the justice system in Afghanistan seems to be de-evolving back into the Taliban-style Islamic extremism. Journalist Sayed Perwiz Kambakhsh, 23, has been sentenced to death for merely downloading material deemed blasphemous to Islam relating to the role of women in Islamic societies. Not only has the U.S.-backed government sentenced him to death, one of its top “justice” officials has threatened to severely punish any reporter even expressing support for Kambakhsh. Continue reading “Afghan Justice: Government Sentences Journalist to Death for Blasphemy Against the Prophet” →

Bizarre, Justice, Lawyering, Politics

South Carolina Supreme Court Allows 20 People Who Flunked Bar to Pass — Including Children of Powerful Attorneys

In a positively mind-blowing decision, the South Carolina Supreme Court decided to allow 20 people who flunked the bar to become lawyers rather than inform one individual that he had been incorrectly told that he had passed. Worse still, the current and immediate past presidents of the state bar have dismissed the controversy as resolved. Continue reading “South Carolina Supreme Court Allows 20 People Who Flunked Bar to Pass — Including Children of Powerful Attorneys” →

Bizarre, Justice, Lawyering

New Jersey Court Orders Man to Pay Child Support Even If He is Not True Father

The New Jersey Supreme Court has upheld a lower court decision against a father who claimed that he should not have to pay child support to his ex-wife after discovering that the child was not his own. It is only the latest in a string of such cases. Continue reading “New Jersey Court Orders Man to Pay Child Support Even If He is Not True Father” →

Bizarre, Congress, Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering, Politics

A Made Man Returns: Wolfowitz Gets Another Government Job

After pushing the country into the disastrous Iraq war and then being forced out as head of the World Bank in scandal, Paul Wolfowitz has been given yet another chance to serve his country in his signature fashion as the head a high-level advisory panel on arms control and disarmament. At the same time, another made man Steven G. Bradbury has also been renominated for his position despite (or because of) his endorsement of torture Continue reading “A Made Man Returns: Wolfowitz Gets Another Government Job” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering

Making a Bad Situation Worse: Wesley Snipes Sends Bizarre Letters to IRS Claiming to Be Alien and Threatening “Collateral Damage”

The criminal trial of Wesley Snipes for tax evasion was already something of a curiosity with its focus on Section 861 tax movement described by experts as a virtual “cult.” Now, the government has revealed unhinged letters where Snipes claims nonresident alien status and appears to threaten the government with “collateral damage” if they pursue his case. Continue reading “Making a Bad Situation Worse: Wesley Snipes Sends Bizarre Letters to IRS Claiming to Be Alien and Threatening “Collateral Damage”” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering, Politics

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Accused of Perjury — Could Face Criminal and Bar Charges

Just as the media is looking back at the ten-year anniversary of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his chief of staff are facing accusations of lying under oath in a very similar case. The evidence under uncovered by the Free Press appears quite credible and damning for both Kwame Kilpatrick and his chief of staff Christine Beatty. Continue reading “Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Accused of Perjury — Could Face Criminal and Bar Charges” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering, Politics, Torts

School Destroys Tapes of Harmful Shock Treatments Given to Two Students in Hoax Case

When two emotionally disturbed teenagers at the the Judge Rotenberg Education Center in Boston were given extreme shock treatments after a prank call, seven staff members were fired. It now appears that that was too small of a purge. This week, it was revealed at officials at the Center ordered the destruction of the videotapes of the two boys being abused — despite direct demands that they preserve the tapes. The Center’s defense is virtually identical to that of the Bush Administration in destroying the CIA torture tapes: it was necessary to avoid the inadvertent release of the image to the public and the harm such release would produce. In doing so, the Center may have committed crimes by destroying evidence of its own potential guilt. Continue reading “School Destroys Tapes of Harmful Shock Treatments Given to Two Students in Hoax Case” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering

Judge Questions Decision to Quash Indictments of Texas Supreme Court Justice and Wife; Criticizes Actions of Prosecutors as Premature and Careless

There is another interesting turn of events in the ongoing scandal over the alleged arson by Texas Supreme Court Justice David Medina and his wife. While state Judge Jim Wallace agreed to the prosecutor’s demand to toss out the indictments, he strongly criticized both the decision and the competence of the prosecutors — voicing obvious questions over why prosecutors would seek an indictment over months only to quash those indictments when they are handed down by a grand jury. Continue reading “Judge Questions Decision to Quash Indictments of Texas Supreme Court Justice and Wife; Criticizes Actions of Prosecutors as Premature and Careless” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering, Politics

The Mess in Texas: State and Federal Judges Accused of Everything from Arson to Corruption to Sexual Assault

It seems that many Texas judges are spending more time in court or before investigators these days — as either defendants or targets. From sexual assault to arson to corruption to abuse, Texas jurists are facing a bumper crop of allegations with additional judicial scandals brewing in neighbor states of Louisiana and Mississippi. For the Fifth Circuit covering all three states, 2008 could be a black year. Continue reading “The Mess in Texas: State and Federal Judges Accused of Everything from Arson to Corruption to Sexual Assault” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering, Politics, Supreme Court

Indictment Against Texas Supreme Court Justice is Quashed by Prosecutor While Jurors Publicly Allege Cover-up

The scandal over alleged arson by Texas Supreme Court Justice David Medina has gotten even more controversial. First, Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal refused to prosecute Medina after a grand jury issued indictments. Now, two of the grand jurors who voted to indict are having a public fight with Medina counsel, Terry Yates. Yates in turn has called for their punishment in allegedly violating grand jury secrecy. For many, it raises the same images of the ongoing Rocky Flats grand jury controversy. Continue reading “Indictment Against Texas Supreme Court Justice is Quashed by Prosecutor While Jurors Publicly Allege Cover-up” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Lawyering, Politics, Torts

The Dr. Phil Defense: If It Was Friendly, It Was Not Felonious

Today, Dr. Phil (as expected) redefined his role in the Britany Spears controversy, insisting that he visited the pop star as a pop friend, not a pop psychologist. It is a critical distinction that could determine whether Dr. Phil McGraw is charged with a felony. Continue reading “The Dr. Phil Defense: If It Was Friendly, It Was Not Felonious” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering, Torts

The Shih Tzu Hits the Fan: Indictments Issue for Texas Mayor Over Theft and Alleged Cover-Up Alleged Over Dog Named Puddles

Texas Mayor Grace Saenz-Lopez and her twin sister have been indicted in bizarre alleged crimes. At the center of the legal storm is a Shih Tzu named Puddles — a canine vixen who places humans under an apparent Voldemort-like trance. Continue reading “The Shih Tzu Hits the Fan: Indictments Issue for Texas Mayor Over Theft and Alleged Cover-Up Alleged Over Dog Named Puddles” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering

Behind the Black Hood: Death Row Inmates Seek Identity of their Future Executioners

Historically, executioners were hooded or masked to prevent retaliation for their service or to convey the image of non-personal justice. Now, five death row inmates are suing to learn the identities of their executioners. With recent disclosures of executioners with criminal records, the lawsuits could create some interesting precedent. Continue reading “Behind the Black Hood: Death Row Inmates Seek Identity of their Future Executioners” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering, Supreme Court

Court Rules that Children’s Faces Put on Adult Bodies Does Not Constitute Child Porn

In the last few years, the Supreme Court and lower courts have been considering claims of virtual child pornography — where the images look real but are actually computer generated. It creates a difficult legal question. However, Marshal Zidel presented an equally difficult question for the New Hampshire Supreme Court: Is it child pornography when the camp photographer took the faces of children at the camp and superimposed them on the bodies of adults? The state supreme court ruled that it is not. What is most disturbing is not Zibel’s perverse conduct is not unique. Continue reading “Court Rules that Children’s Faces Put on Adult Bodies Does Not Constitute Child Porn” →