The ultimate odd couple David Boies and Theodore B. Olson have opened up their case against Proposition 8 in California to fight for the right of same-sex couples to marry. The opening arguments occurred this morning in the United States District Court in San Francisco. I will be discussing the case on the BBC tonight.
Continue reading “Same-Sex- Marriage Trial Begins in San Francisco”
Last night, the Plaintiffs in the World Bank/IMF protest case filed our opposition to the summary judgment motion filed by the District in the World Bank/IMF protest case. The District is trying to use a proposed settlement in another case to bar us from seeking more comprehensive reforms (or equitable relief) at the trial in September. As lead co-counsel in the Chang case (with my colleague Daniel Schwartz of Bryan Cave), I am limited in what I can say on the case. However, to reduce calls to my office, I am posting the filings below.
Continue reading “Plaintiffs Fight Effort to Limit Reforms in World Bank Protest Trial”
This week, the Plaintiffs in the World Bank/IMF protest case filed a notice with the Court on the appointment of a forensic expert to investigate the destruction of evidence in the case. As lead counsel in one of the two cases (with my colleague Daniel Schwartz of Bryan Cave), I am limited in what I can say on the case. However, to reduce calls to my office, I am posting the filings below.
Continue reading “Plaintiffs in World Bank Protest Case File for Forensic Expert”
Tennessee General Sessions Judge Durwood Moore has a curious view of the fourth amendment and the doctrine of judicial notice. Moore is the subject of a judicial ethics complaint and lawsuit after he had an observer in his courtroom arrested and forced to do a urinalysis. Moore insisted that this is simply his routine practice when he has “a hunch.”
AFP is reporting another outrage out of the Iranian legal system where a journalist Bahman Ahmadi Amoui has been sentenced to over seven years in jail and a flogging with 34 lashes. Amoui was a critic of Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s economic policies.
Continue reading “Iranian Court Orders Economics Journalist Jailed for Over Seven Years and Flogged”
The Obama Administration’s nominee to head the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is facing some serious questions after the release of a letter showing that he had intentionally or inadvertently misled Congress over his violation of privacy laws while at the FBI. While the Democrats are continuing to support Erroll Southers, civil libertarians have great misgivings over the controversy.
Continue reading “Nomination Goes Southers: TSA Nominee Caught in False Statement to Congress”
The Ninth Circuit has handed down a major ruling that allows an officer to be sued for injuries sustained from the use of a taser. The unanimous panel ruled that Carl Bryan could sue over his injuries resulting from the use of a taser in 2005 by former Coronado, Calif., police officer, Brian McPherson.
Continue reading “Ninth Circuit Rules Officer Can Be Sued For Taser Injury”
Happy New Year to all of our blogging family. This has been a remarkable year for the blog. We are now solidly in the top ten legal blogs, according to the AVVO rankings and we have over doubled our number of visits from last year. The success is almost entirely due to our regulars who bring insight, humor, and passion to legal and policies issues every day. I cannot thank you enough.
Continue reading “HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!”
Happy New Year’s Eve to all of our blog family.
The final day is here in the galactic struggle for blog dominance. This afternoon, voting will end and, while the vote count has now been hidden by the ABA, we cannot give up our righteous battle.
Continue reading “VOTE NOW: HOURS TO GO TO THE CLOSING OF THE ABA POLLS!”
We are now four days short of the finish line in the ABA top blog competition. While the vote count has now been hidden by the ABA, we must learn to fight blindfolded and trust our senses, Little Grasshoppers.
Continue reading “FLOG THE BLOG: FOUR DAYS LEFT FOR BLOG IMMORTALITY”
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has insisted that the Obama Administration will not fight with China over human rights and instead seek a “more practical” approach that emphasizes trade issues, here. Yesterday, China showed the world that it doesn’t feel any pressure to allow free speech or basic rights to its citizens. It sentenced leading human rights advocate Liu Xiaobo to 11 years in prison for calling for the rule of law and democracy in China.
Continue reading “China Sentences Human Rights Leader to 11 Years in Jail For Drafting Pro-Democracy Paper”
There is a horrible case out of India where a former senior police officer has been able to openly flaunt and manipulate the legal system after molesting a 14-year-old girl. SPS Rathore allegedly used his authority to harass the family of Ruchika Girhotra and obstruct the investigation into the assault of the promising tennis player. Now, the outrage has grown after Rathore was given a mere six months sentence and told to pay 1,000 rupees ($20). Ruckika was not in the court room when Rathore reportedly laughed at the sentence. She committed suicide after years of harassment by the police.
Best wishes to everyone celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah. To paraphrase Tiny Tim, “And God bless us, everyone . . . even Legal Satyricon.” Continue reading “MERRY CHRISTMAS”
A California appellate court has struck down the state law barring ex-felons from possessing body armor. The law was passed in 1998 and the Congress passed a similar federal law in 2002.
Continue reading “California Court Strikes Down State Law Criminalizing Possession of Body Armor By Ex-Felons”