Category: Courts

Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Justice, Politics, Supreme Court

Ethics and The Supreme Court

Submitted By Lawrence Rafferty, (rafflaw) Guest Blogger

 

Professor Turley has recently discussed the ethical problems raised by Supreme Court Justices Scalia and Thomas by their attendance and participation in fund raisers for conservative groups.  In addition, Justice Thomas’ wife has also come under criticism for working for a lobbying group that benefitted from the Citizen United decision.  With all of the potential conflicts of interest that these Supreme Court Justices are involved in, it looks like someone is finally attempting to rein in the Justices and make them subject to the Judicial Conference’s Code of Conduct which all other Federal Judges have to adhere to. Continue reading “Ethics and The Supreme Court” →

Bizarre, Courts, Politics, Society

Dallas Commissioner Tells Complaining Citizens “All You Are White. Go To Hell”

The Dallas County Commissioner’s Court meeting this week became the scene of a racially charged incident after citizens confronted Commissioner John Wiley Price. Price, who is black, responded by telling the citizens “All of you are white. Go to hell!”

Continue reading “Dallas Commissioner Tells Complaining Citizens “All You Are White. Go To Hell”” →

Academia, Constitutional Law, Courts, Society

Teacher Suspended For Writing Critical Comments on Her Personal Blog

After just posting the story of a tenth-grade student suspended for a posting on Facebook, this story appeared of yet another teacher suspended for her own postings on a blog. Natalie Munroe taught at the Central Bucks East High School near Philadelphia as an English teacher — until students discovered a comment on a February 8th blog.

Continue reading “Teacher Suspended For Writing Critical Comments on Her Personal Blog” →

Courts, Justice, Religion

Faith Healers Given Probation

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

We have previously discussed the death of Kent Schaible, here and here. Kent Schaible, 2, died of bacterial pneumonia because his parents Herbert and Catherine Schaible, a fundamentalist Christian couple, believed in faith healing and declined to get medical attention for their child in Philadelphia. They were convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment.

Common Pleas Court Judge Carolyn Engel Temin sentenced them to 10 years of probation. Continue reading “Faith Healers Given Probation” →

Bizarre, Courts, Lawyering, Society

Judge Accused of Misconduct Ranging From Pulling Gun To Flushing Evidence

The Atlanta Constitution is reporting on a bizarre case against Catossa County magistrate Anthony Peter who is accused of a rather impressive list of acts of misconduct ranging from smoking pot to flushing a cellphone intentionally down a toilet to pointing a gun at his own head.

Continue reading “Judge Accused of Misconduct Ranging From Pulling Gun To Flushing Evidence” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Justice, Lawyering, Politics, Supreme Court

Profit From Behind The Supreme Court Bench?

Submitted By Lawrence Rafferty, (rafflaw), Guest Blogger

I will be honest. I am not a big fan of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and as of late, I have had the same less than positive feelings about his wife, Virginia Thomas.  According to a recent Think Progress article, Justice Thomas’ vote on the Citizens United case has allowed his wife’s “consultant” company to profit by educating its customers on the best political causes to invest, I mean, donate to .

Continue reading “Profit From Behind The Supreme Court Bench?” →

Courts, Lawyering, Politics, Society

Court: Judge Allowed To Speak Publicly Against Federal Law and “Institutionalized Racism”

Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Alex Kozinski (left) has written an order (below) absolving a magistrate judge (believed to be Magistrate Judge Edward Chen) of ethical charges after he spoke out publicly against “institutionalized racism” and the criminalization of immigration laws.
Continue reading “Court: Judge Allowed To Speak Publicly Against Federal Law and “Institutionalized Racism”” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics, Society

Health Care and Federalism: A Response to Professor Charles Fried

I have received a significant number of emails after my earlier stated views on the national health care legislation were raised in the hearings this week before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Unfortunately, I am plowed under this week in litigation, but I wanted to offer a brief response to Harvard Law Professor and former Reagan Solicitor General Charles Fried who disagreed with my views on the danger to federalism.

Continue reading “Health Care and Federalism: A Response to Professor Charles Fried” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Lawyering, Politics, Society

Redskins Owner Threatens Newspaper With Libel Suit After Unflattering Article

Dan Snyder is reportedly planning a defamation action against Washington’s City Paper for a scathing story about his controversial time as owner of the Washington Redskins. The case could prove an interesting battle over first amendment rights and defamation law.

Continue reading “Redskins Owner Threatens Newspaper With Libel Suit After Unflattering Article” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Lawyering, Politics, Religion, Society, Supreme Court

The Ford Pinto Act: Is The White House Claim of “Activism” Fair?

Here is my column in USA Today (which was posted yesterday but will run in print on Monday) on the charge that Judge Vinson is an activist after his striking down of the entire health care plan. While I did not view the opinion as particularly strong in its substantive analysis and did not like the rhetoric flourishes (as discussed with Lawrence O’Donnell this week), I find the charge of activism to be a bit forced over the issue of severability.
Continue reading “The Ford Pinto Act: Is The White House Claim of “Activism” Fair?” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics

Federal Court in Florida Strikes Down Health Care Law As Unconstitutional

United States District Court Judge Roger Vinson has struck down the entirety of the National Health Care law (The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) as unconstitutional. What is most interesting is his decision that the entire act had to be struck down because of the individual mandate provision’s unconstitutionality. Vinson grants declaratory relief but declines to grant injunctive relief.

Continue reading “Federal Court in Florida Strikes Down Health Care Law As Unconstitutional” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Justice, Lawyering, Society, Torts

Playing It Straight: LPGA’s “Female By Birth” Rule Challenged

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

California professional golfer (and former police officer) Lana Lawless is challenging the LPGA’s rule requiring tournament participants to be “female by birth.”  The LPGA has ruled, according to Lawless, that as a transgender woman, she is ineligible to compete. The rule seems to fly directly in the face of California’s Unruh Law which holds that all people in the state are “free and equal, and no matter what their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, marital status, or sexual orientation are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever.”

Continue reading “Playing It Straight: LPGA’s “Female By Birth” Rule Challenged” →