Today, I testified in the House Judiciary Committee (Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security), on the new proposed changes to the rules governing federal restitution. They are quite extreme. Continue reading “Testimony on New Federal Restitution Law”
Category: Criminal law
It took only a week. Police have arrested a couple who allegedly posted the Craigslist ad offering the contents of Robert Salisbury’s home. They are Brandon and Amber Herbert and ideally they will not be the last people to be charged. Continue reading “Police Arrest Couple Behind Craigslist Ransacking Hoax”
Yet, another prostitution scandal was triggered today with the disclosure that the husband of U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Thomas Athans, allegedly admitted to police that he used the Internet to arrange for a prostitute to come to his hotel and paid for services. Continue reading “Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s Husband Implicated in Prostitution Arrest”
The Los Angeles City Council appears to be dropping the proposed 40-hour moratorium on killings that was supposed to start on Friday. The tabling of this proposal by advocates like Councilman Tony Cardenas should clear the way for other possible alternatives like requiring Los Angeles residents with even numbered license plates to kill only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays while people with odd numbered license plates could do their killing on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. All would be expected to rest on Sunday. Continue reading “Los Angeles Debates a 40-Hour Moratorium on Killings”
The White House finally released some of the torture memos to Congress — justifications of coercive methods by Professor John Yoo. What is most striking about the memo below is its rather low-grade effort to justify torture — citing a type of self-defense theory for why an isolated detainee might have died or been injured during rough interrogation. Continue reading “Torture Memo Released: Yoo Argues Self-Defense in Cases of Interrogation Deaths or Injuries”
In yet another loss for the Bush Administration in the case of accused Rep. William Jefferson, the United States Supreme Court today denied its appeal on the issue of the constitutionality of its raid of a congressional office. Continue reading “Supreme Court Denies Review in the Jefferson Case”
It is beginning to look like all new hires in the Bush Administration receive with an office, security pass, and list of available criminal defense counsel. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson resigned today in the midst of a criminal investigation into favoritism in government contracts. He is only the latest in an impressive list of Administration officials fleeing on the heels on pursuing constables. Continue reading “All the President’s Men: HUD Secretary Latest to Resign Amid Criminal Investigation”
10-year-old Nebraska girl Jayci Yaeger died not long after she was given her last wish: to see her father Jason Yaeger who is serving time on a drug offense. There remain questions about why federal officials in Yankton, S.D. fought any extended furlough for so long and only relented after a national outcry over their position. Continue reading “Little Girl Dies After Getting Last Wish to See Prisoner-Father”
Georgia Judge Marvin Arrington is accused of telling white lawyers to leave his courtroom and then lecturing young black defendants. He discusses his “mistake” in the video below. Continue reading “Judge Accused of Ordering Whites Out of Courtroom to Lecture Blacks”
Parents of a 15-month-old baby have been criminally charged in her death after they allegedly refused to get medical assistance due to their faith-healing religions. Carl Worthington, 28, and Raylene Worthington, 25, have been charged in the death of their daughter, Ava, on March 2. It is only the latest of a litany of such disturbing cases. Continue reading “Faith-Healing Parents in Oregon Charged With Death of Daughter”
Jennifer Latham was arrested yesterday is an extraordinary crime in Florida. After parents allegedly stopped her from stealing their baby while pretending to be a nurse, she simply grabbed another baby and walked out of the hospital. She was caught later and the baby returned. She now faces charges that could keep her in jail for decades. Continue reading “Woman Arrested After Attempting to Kidnap One Baby and Then Succeeding in Taking Another Baby from Hospital”
Larry Silverstein, president and CEO of Silverstein Properties, the developer of the World Trade Center in New York is seeking $12.3 billion in damages from the airlines and other companies for damages related to the September 11 terrorist attacks. The defendants include American Airlines, United Airlines, Continental Airlines and Boeing. Continue reading “Developer Lawsuit Seeks $12.3 Billion in 9-11 Damages”
“Real Time With Bill Maher” is not usually the forum for legislative proposals, but Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) used it to announce legislation in Congress that would strip the federal government of its authority to arrest for some cannabis violations. Continue reading “Rep. Frank to Introduce Legislation to Decriminalize Some Pot Violations”
Congress is set to investigate a contract under which the Defense Department contracted with 22-year-old Efraim E. Diveroli’s AEY Inc. for $200 million to supply ammunition to the Afghan Army and police. Instead of supplying Hungarian bullets, the company allegedly committed a series of false statements to supply shoddy Chinese products. Continue reading ““Lad of War”: Administration Gave 22-Year-Old’s Company $200 Million for Faulty Chinese Ammunition”
The federal bureau of prisons finally relented to overwhelming public condemnation over its refusal to release a father to be with his dying daughter. People were aghast at the federal prison officials refusing a dying 10-year-old girl, Jayci Yaeger, her last wish: to spend time with her dad who is serving time for a drug offense. Continue reading “Prison Officials Finally Relent to Outrage Over Dying Girl’s Last Request”