Category: Criminal law

Courts, Criminal law, International, Justice, Lawyering, Media, Military, Politics, Society

U.S. Holds Journalist For Almost a Year Without Charges or Evidence

200px-flag_of_the_united_statessvgThe United States has been vocal in its denouncing of the recent arrests of journalists by North Korea and Iran. These countries refuse to comply with American values and legal process, particularly in the treatment of journalists. The biggest difference thus far: North Korea and Iran gave the journalists trials. Reuters cameraman Ibrahim Jassam has been held since September by the U.S. military in Iraq without charges or evidence.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics, Society, Torts

Seattle Police Officer Chases Wrongly Identified Suspect and Slams His Head Into Wall — Leaving Him in a Coma

default-1There is a shocking video showing King County Deputy Matthew Paul slamming the head of Christopher Harris into a wall in the mistaken belief that Harris was a suspect in an assault. Harris, 29, remains in a coma.
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Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

Princess Cruise: Couple Charged With Throwing Chihuahua Out of Window of Moving Car

new-bedford-300x209new-bedford-princessCousins Jimmy Correa, 24, and Jenny Torres, 31, were arraigned this week in New Bedford, Massachusetts on felony animal abuse charges after they reportedly tossed Princess, a 1-year-old Chihuahua out the window of their speeding SUV. They now want Princess back.
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Academia, Congress, Courts, Criminal law, International, Military, Politics, Society

Obama: We Must Uphold Our Principles To Be Safe and Strong

225px-official_portrait_of_barack_obamaSpeaking to the graduating class of U.S. Naval Academy, President Barack Obama told the graduates that the best way to protect our nation is to stand up to its principles. I discussed the detainee issue last night on this segment of Countdown.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Media, Politics, Society

Officials Announce Investigation Into Minnesota Police Unit — Within Hours Computer Trackers are Shutoff and Documents Shredded

MGSF_logoThe Star Tribune is reporting that within hours of state officials announcing an investigation into the Metro Gang Force. Officials released a report about missing money and lack of records at the Metro Gang Force, someone turned off a computer showing who enters the building and began shredding documents.
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Academia, Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics, Society

Magnum Cum Laude: Texas Passes Law Allowing Students and Teachers to Carry Concealed Weapons on Campus

8263thumb_weapon_gun_smith_and_wesson_hand_ejectorThe Texas legislature passed a bill to allow college students, teachers, and employees to carry concealed weapons on school grounds. This is the solution found by Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, to the problem of the Virginia Tech massacre — fill campuses with firearms.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Society, Torts

Police Officer Killed After Plowing Into Pickup Truck at 109 MPH Without Seatbelt, Siren, or Lights — Police Charge Other Driver

35559893556093There is a disturbing report out of Las Vegas this week concerning a fatal crash involving a police car. Officer James Manor was driving at 109 mph without either lights or siren on May 7th. The sheriff admits that the speed and manner of Manor’s driving was “excessive and unsafe” — leading to his own death after crashing into the the pickup truck of Calvin Darling. Yet, the police promptly arrested Darling for failing to yield to a police car and driving under the influence (despite the fact that he was not driving under the influence).
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Bizarre, Criminal law, Media, Politics, Religion, Society

Weakland: I Did Not Know Sex With Child Was a Crime and Thought Kids Would “Grow Out of It”

weakland_mug_050709Recently, we discussed the forthcoming book by former Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, the leading cleric who was accused of date rape and covering up the abuse of children by other priests. The church paid $450,000 in 1998 to a man who had accused him of assault. Now, Weakland insists that he and other priests did not know it was a crime to have sex with children and thought they would not remember or they would “grow out of it.”
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Bizarre, Courts, Criminal law, International, Justice, Lawyering, Military, Politics

A Law Unto Himself: Obama Promises To Hold Some Detainees Without Trial

225px-official_portrait_of_barack_obamaPresident Barack Obama today defended his decision to close the military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and promptly raised more serious concerns for civil libertarians. In his speech, Obama announced that the country’s “moral authority” demanded closure but then said that his lawyers were working new policies to hold certain detainees indefinitely without trial.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Lawyering, Society

Two Angry Men: Recently Unsuccessful Juror Excuses

small_Grant Michael FaberThere has been a spate of juror problems of late in courts around the country. Grant Faber, 25, in Hillsboro, Oregon (left) is facing contempt charges for walking out of a trial due to “extreme boredom” while Erik Sly, 36, got into trouble in Gallatin county in Montana for writing the court to inform it that he would “rather count the wrinkles on my dog’s balls” than serve on a jury.
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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, International, Media, Society

French Judge Censors Magazine to Protect Feelings of Family in Torture Case

Ilan_HalimiA French judge has ordered a magazine off newsstands for publishing a photo of a Jewish man Ilan Halimi, who was allegedly tortured to death. The alleged culprits are facing trial. Judge Phillipe Jean-Draeher based his decision on the “exceptional” attack by Choc magazine on the feelings of Halimi’s mother and sisters.
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Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

Extreme Premeditation: 78-Year Old Woman Arrested for Assaulting 84-Year-Old Husband Over Affair 35 Years Ago

180px-Prison_cellThis will not be a POPS case. A 78-yea-old woman is being held on $70,000 bond after repeatedly beating her 84-year-old husband with a bowl, metal pipe, and carpet cleaner as well as kicking him in the groin. The reason: the long festering anger over her belief that her husband cheated on her 35 years earlier.

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