Category: Criminal law

Congress, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering, Politics, Society

Holder Reportedly Considering Special Prosecutor — But Serious Questions Remain

holderericNewsweek is reporting that Attorney General Eric Holder is leaning toward the appointment of a special prosecutor on the issue of torture. Much, however, was not stated and there remains a question of whether Holder will appoint a special prosecutor with the full authority to pursue any and all crimes related to the torture policy. There are rumors that, if an investigation occurs, it may be sharply curtailed.

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Congress, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Politics, Society

Report: Cheney Ordered Concealment of Secret Program From Congress

225px-richard_cheney_2005_official_portraitIt goes without saying that, where there is a story of constitutional or human rights abuse, Dick Cheney cannot be far behind. It is therefore little surprise to learn this week that, according to sources in the recent disclosure of a hidden counterterrorism program, the prior concealment from Congress was allegedly ordered by Cheney.
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Criminal law, Lawyering, Religion, Society, Torts

Rabbi Accused of Infecting Infants with Herpes During Circumcisions — And Killing One Boy

180px-Covenant_of_AbrahamNew York City health officials are investigating the death of a baby boy who died of herpes after a circumcision by Rabbi Yitzhok Fischer. Fischer carries the herpes virus and is believed to have infected two other infants while serving as a mohel. Under the Orthodox practice followed by Fischer, he actually uses his mouth to suck the blood from the infant’s penis when he cuts the foreskin.
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Congress, Criminal law, International, Justice, Military, Politics, Society

Bush Administration Accused of Cover-Up of Massacre of Taliban Prisoners

Abdul_Rashid_Dostum_Jan_20_2005225px-george-w-bushThe Bush Administration was accused this week of helping cover-up the massacre of possibly thousands of Taliban prisoners by an American-backed warlord, Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum. Dostrum is widely viewed as a butcher and war criminal. He was also on the payroll of the CIA.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Politics, Society

Man Caught Photographing Fish and Chips Shop in England

PoTAct-2K-373x1024We have been reading of the struggle of media and civil libertarians in England where the government continues to pass and enforce laws prohibiting things like photography of police and other sites. Now, we have a report of Alexander Turner who was given a citation for taking a picture of a fish and chips shop under the English anti-terrorism laws. The incriminating picture is below.

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Congress, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Lawyering, Politics, Society

Reports Shows Additional Undisclosed Surveillance Programs — And Likely Unlawful Conduct by Bush Administration

225px-george-w-bushA new government report has disclosed that President Bush authorized secret surveillance activities that went beyond the previously disclosed NSA program – raising the prospect of additional unlawful conduct by the Bush Administration. At the same time, a House member has revealed that CIA Director Leon Panetta has shutdown a program that was never revealed to Congress in direct violation of federal law. I discussed these stories on this segment of MSNBC Countdown.
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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Politics, Society

Chico’s Is Not For Gay Chicos: Two Men Allegedly Threatened With Arrest for Kissing in Texas

180px-Chicos_Tacos_on_AlamedaGay Rights activists are protesting the handling of a dispute at a Chico’s Tacos restaurant in El Paso, Texas. When two gay men kissed, the group of five gay men were reportedly told by guards to leave because the restaurant did not approve of “the faggot stuff.” An El Paso police officer later allegedly told the men that they could be arrested for kissing another man in public.

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Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Lawyering, Politics, Society

D.C. Circuit Rules Police Checkpoints Unconstitutional

nickles2resizeLast year, many of us denounced the police checkpoints in the Trinidad area of Northeast Washington as grossly unconstitutional despite the insistence of D.C. Attorney General Peter J. Nickles that he had ample law on his side. Now, a conservative panel of the D.C. Circuit has ruled as expected that the checkpoints presumptively violate the fourth amendment and granted a preliminary injunction.
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Bizarre, Congress, Criminal law, Media, Politics, Society

Family Affair: Sen. Ensign’s Parents Wrote $96,000 Check to Lover

200px-Sen_John_Ensign_official(2)Sen. John Ensign’s affair is moving from the politically damaging to the downright pathetic. Ensign’s lawyer has released a statement confirming that the $96,000 given to former aide and close family friend Cindy Hampton came from his parents.
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Congress, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Politics, Society

House Members: CIA Repeatedly Misled Congress

225px-leon_panetta_informal_photo200px-CIA.svgDespite the outrage expressed by certain members and former Bush officials over allegations that the CIA may have lied about prior briefings with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, members revealed this week that the CIA has admitted to members that it did indeed repeatedly mislead members in reports since 2001. However, CIA Director Leon Panetta stands by the earlier denial of misrepresentations linked to Pelosi.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

Rendering Unto To Caesar: Man Sought After Running Out on Payment for a “Only God Can Judge Me” Tattoo

200px-Last_judgementPolice in Denton, Texas are searching for a man with a usual piece of identifying information: a tattoo reading “Only God Can Judge Me.” It was indeed the tattoo that is the cause for the arrest warrant: the man took the meaning to heart and ran from the parlor without paying for the tattoo.

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