We have been following the lawsuit (now dropped) against a writer in England by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) for his criticism of their profession. Now, Samsung is suing a columnist for making from of its executives, who have been involved in a series of criminal cases and controversies. Michael Breen with the Korea Times is being sued for defamation for a parody by the electronic giant. The company is pursuing both civil and criminal charges against Breen — a move that seems to struggle to confirm the arrogance and heavy-handedness alleged in the column.
Category: Constitutional Law
President Barack Obama said he wanted to honor the legacy of Associate Justice John Paul Stevens with his nominee. If so, he has chosen to honor it in the breach with a nominee who is likely to dismantle a significant part of Stevens’ legacy. As with Justice Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama has decided to nominate someone who is demonstrably more conservative than the person she is replacing on some issues –potentially moving the Court to the right. I discussed on the nomination on this segment of Countdown.
Below is a shocking video of Seattle police kicking a man on the ground after he was apprehended in an alleged robbery. A male officer is heard calling the man racial slurs as he kicks him: “I’m going to beat the [expletive] Mexican piss out of you homey. You feel me?”
Continue reading “Shock Video: “I’m Going to Beat the [expletive] Mexican Piss Out of You Homey””
Comedy Central has rightfully been condemned for censoring “South Park” after extremists made implied threats due to the showing of the image of Muhammad. Yet, the network is now reportedly developing a whole animated series around Jesus Christ, who is also routinely shown on “South Park.”
Continue reading “After Blocking Image of Muhammad, Comedy Central Announces Series on Jesus Christ”
Oak High School In Morgan Hill, California is now ground zero for a free speech controversy after five students were told to turn their tee-shirts with American flags inside out and remove flag bandannas from their heads. The reason was that it was viewed as inappropriate on Cinco de Mayo day.
Greg Sargent at the Washington Post is reporting that Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) will be proposing a new law that could potentially strip Americans of their citizenship if they’re involved with foreign terrorist organizations. The limited details revealed today are enough to send a chill down the spine of civil libertarians around the country. I will be discussing this issue tonight on Rachel Maddow’s show.
Continue reading “Lieberman to Propose Citizenship-Stripping Law”
In a recent speech before the Heritage Foundation, Senator Orrin Hatch (R, Utah) cited one of my column’s stating that I consider the claim of federal jurisdiction in the health care litigation to be a threat to federalism. That is certainly true (here). However, Senator Hatch then added that I had come to change my views over the course of the debate. That last addition is not accurate so I thought I would offer a brief response.
Continue reading “Federalism and Health Care: A Response to Senator Orrin Hatch”
Alex Kotran is a photo-journalist working for the Ohio State Lantern where he is studying. He was on the scene when cows broke out of their pens and roamed around campus. He was promptly arrested for criminal trespass and the Ohio State University is now refusing to supply him with counsel. The school has basically told Kotran that he can wait until the cows come home, but he is on his own.
Continue reading “Ohio State Refuses To Supply Counsel for Arrested Student Journalist”
Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI) has filed a disturbing report with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture alleging that the Judge Rotenberg Center for the disabled in Massachusetts is engaging in the torture of disabled children through electric shocks and restraints.
Continue reading “Rights Group Accuses Judge Rotenberg Center of Torture”
A newly married Pakistani couple in Dubai won an appeal to overturn their conviction after police arrested them for having sex in their car. The problem was that the car windows were black-out and police had to knock repeatedly to get the couple to roll down the window.
Continue reading “Married Couple in Dubai Win Appeal After Arrest for Having Sex in Car”
The Supreme Court justices have voted to end one of the most important symbols of American justice: the open doors of justice at the Supreme Court building. Visitors have always entered through the massive doors which represented the access of citizens to our legal system. In yet another case of security trumping all other considerations, the justices voted to close the doors to citizens (and to use new doors located in a more secure location).
Continue reading “Supreme Court Closes Front Doors To Visitors In The Name of Security”
We have another case of a religious person being jailed for denouncing homosexuality. In England, Dale McAlpine was charged with causing “harassment, alarm or distress” after a homosexual police community support officer (PCSO) overheard him stating that he viewed homosexuality to be a sin.
Continue reading “Police Arrest Man in England For Calling Homosexuality a Sin”
Women of the World, rest easy! The United Nations has chosen the next country to join the Women Rights Council to defend your rights: Iran. That’s right, the nation that beats women in the street, allows the raping of women in custody (here), raids human rights organizations (here), stones women to death (here), arrests women for “satanic” clothing styles (here), bans makeup on television (here), enforces segregation based on gender (here), searches for women with tans to punish (here), and blames women for earthquakes (here) will now sit on the United Nations Women Rights Council.
Continue reading “Iran Elected to the United Nations Women Rights Commission”
The Supreme Court’s voted in a 5-4 decision to reverse lower courts in California in the case involving the cross in the Mojave National Preserve. The decision is significant in showing a more permissive approach to such religious symbols.
Continue reading “Supreme Court Reverses Lower Courts on Mojave War Memorial Cross”
Gary McFarlane, 48, from Bristol triggered a heated court fight when he challenged his termination as a counselor with Relate Avon, a counseling service, due to his religious conflict with assisting homosexual couples. An English court ruled against him in a case that led to sharp condemnations on both sides. In a statement that drew objections from the court, former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey called for judges to handle the case who show greater appreciation for religious individuals.
Continue reading “English Court Rules Against Counselor Who Objected to Working With Same-Sex Couples”