Despite the right of media access to commission proceedings under the Military Commissions Act, the Administration has barred press from the current trials in Cuba. Continue reading “The Bush Administration Shuts Out the Public From Seeing “Justice” Being Done in Cuba”
Category: Constitutional Law
In the expanding wreck called the Jefferson prosecution, the Justice Department is still reeling from its loss before the D.C. Circuit over its 2005 raid on the congressional office of Rep. William Jefferson. Continue reading “Justice May Appeal Jefferson Ruling to Supreme Court: Ruling Could Undermine Other Corruption Cases”
The U.S. military is helping build a case against journalist, Bilal Hussein, an award-winning photographer in Iraq. Continue reading “Military to Turn Over AP Journalist for Iraqi Trial”
In what is likely to be one of the most important rulings of this term, the Supreme Court has taken up the D.C. hand-gun case. Continue reading “Supreme Court Takes the Parker Case and Will Interpret the Meaning of the Second Amendment”
The use of dormant memories in the Blackmon case has prompted links to Elizabeth Morgan controversy, below is a prior column on the issue. There are some significant differences however, particularly given the intervention of Congress into the family dispute. Continue reading “Elizabeth Morgan Act and Legislating Family Values”
For a prior column on the boy scouts and the Court’s prior decision in Dale, see below Continue reading “Boy Scouts, Discrimination, and Association”
The Boy Scouts of Philadelphia face evictions as a discriminatory organization in Philadelphia under a local 1982 “fair practices” law. Continue reading “Boy Scouts Face Eviction as Discriminatory Organization in Philadelphia”
For decades, bullet-lead analysis has been used by the FBI to convict individuals and to investigate such crimes as the President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. Now, it appears that the analysis was flawed and hundreds of prisoners should have their convictions reviewed. However, the FBI has not informed them or their counsel and time is running out on many appeals. Continue reading “FBI Quietly Abandons Bullet Analysis Used to Convict Hundreds Without Informing Them”
When religion becomes fair game; If candidates can court the faithful, they should be willing to answer questions of faith as well. Continue reading “When Religion Becomes Fair Game: If Presidential Candidates Court the Faithful They Should Also Answer Questions of Faith”
For many years, the market for “bushmeat” has been increasing in major cities among immigrants. This is often done through private distributors who sell the meat in secret. Now, a case in Brooklyn will be heard by a jury Continue reading “Bushmeat Prosecution in New York Starts Amid Religious Claims”
The Utah Highway Patrol Association is being sued for more than a dozen crosses, over 12-feet-tall, that bear the names individually of troopers killed in the line of duty. Continue reading “Utah Sued Over Cross Memorials on Highways for Troopers”
President Bush’s nominee for the Fourth Circuit is in trouble. E. Duncan Getchell, Jr. is being sued for defamation stemming from an appeal dismissed for malpractice. Continue reading “Bush Nominee for the Fourth Circuit — Duncan Getchell, Jr. — Sued for Defamation”
In yet another failure of an appellate court to check the excessive use of the military and state secrets privilege, the Ninth Circuit has ruled that Al-Haramain cannot use a critical piece of evidence that was inadvertently disclosed to it — evidence showing potentially serious violations by the government. Continue reading “Ninth Circuit Rules Against the Plaintiffs in Al-Haramain Case”
Two cases have raised questions about the right of self-defense of a homeowner — where the intruders in both cases were killed. Continue reading “Two Cases Raise Questions of Self-Defense by Homeowners”
The Democratic plan for improving civil liberties protections in national security surveillance programs has been criticized as facially weak, but it appears too much protection for Michael Mukasey. Continue reading “Mukasey Starts Service as AG By Opposing Civil Liberties Reforms in Surveillance”