Category: Justice

Criminal law, Justice, Society

Texas Justice: 17-Year-Old Boy Gets Eight Years in Prison for Phone Threat

Terrance Taylor of Tyler, Texas is a seventeen-year-old boy who did a stupid thing. In a prank, he called his rival high school and said that he was going to come over an open fire on the students. The adults then did an equally stupid thing: the sentenced him to eight years in prison for the prank rather than giving him probation. It is an example of prosecutors and judges have lost any sense of proportion or logic in sentencing.

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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Society, Supreme Court

James Madison Meets Max Hardcore: Florida Obscenity Case Could Force Review of Community Standards in Internet Age

A Tampa case may present an ideal context to review the long-criticized pornography test and the role of community standards in the Internet age. Paul F. Little, known as “Max Hardcore,” is facing an obscenity prosecution for selling porn on the Internet. The Bush Administration could have chosen any state in the Union, but engineered an indictment in Tampa — an open case of forum shopping for the most conservative jury pool that it could find. The Supreme Court has never produced a coherent and consistent approach to obscenity and this case is the result of this long-standing judicial failure. Continue reading “James Madison Meets Max Hardcore: Florida Obscenity Case Could Force Review of Community Standards in Internet Age” →

Criminal law, Justice, Society

Agent Denies Abusive Tactics in Feiger Case

The FBI agent in charge of the campaign-finance probe of Southfield lawyer Geoffrey Fieger denied that he was abusive to possible witnesses as they have claimed. Jeffrey Rees said that he was merely trying to get them to tell the truth. There has been no action taken against Rees, even though some of these accusers appear quite credible and his alleged misconduct has undermined the federal case.
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Courts, Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering

Dammed if You Don’t: Ninth Circuit Dismisses Criminal Case Due to Flagrant Prosecutorial Abuse

Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Greg Damm is the focus of a blistering condemnation by the trial and appellate courts of his alleged prosecutorial misconduct in a Las Vegas case. The case against five individuals, attorneys Daniel Chapman and Sean Flanagan, involved alleged securities trading violations. Damm is accused for failing to turn over 650 pages of critical evidence after telling the court that all evidence had been produced for the defense. Continue reading “Dammed if You Don’t: Ninth Circuit Dismisses Criminal Case Due to Flagrant Prosecutorial Abuse” →

Congress, Criminal law, Justice

Senate Finds that Domenici’s Call to U.S. Attorney was Only an “Appearance” of Impropriety

The Senate is congratulating itself on finding taking a stand on ethics. It admonished Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R., N.M.) yesterday for his “appearance of impropriety” in connection with the firing of one of the nine U.S. attorneys fired. Yet, it is hard to see what it takes under congressional rule to commit an actual act of impropriety. Perhaps if Domenici had actually paraded around with the head of David C. Iglesias . . . wait, that is an “appearance of insobriety” under Senate rules. Continue reading “Senate Finds that Domenici’s Call to U.S. Attorney was Only an “Appearance” of Impropriety” →

Courts, Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering, Society

Playing the Law of Averages: Justice Department to Try Sears Tower Defendants a Third Time

The Bush Administration has long had difficulty in terrorism, assembling the worst record of losses of an modern Administration. Now, in the Liberty City case of six defendants accused of plotting to try to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago, they are going to try a THIRD time to get a jury to believe them. This is not a matter of the law of terrorism but the law of averages. Despite the strikingly similar reaction of the prior two juries, the Justice Department just hopes that it can still find people who will not question the unconvincing case against these individuals. Continue reading “Playing the Law of Averages: Justice Department to Try Sears Tower Defendants a Third Time” →

Justice, Society

Forever Children: Human Rights Watch Blasts Saudi Arabia on Treatment of Women

Human Right Watch has issued a detailed report of how Saudi Arabia keeps women in a state of “childhood,” dependent upon males for things ranging from medical care to driving. The report, “Perpetual Minors: Human Rights Abuses Stemming from Male Guardianship and Sex Segregation in Saudi Arabia,” is based on more than 100 interviews with Saudi women. Continue reading “Forever Children: Human Rights Watch Blasts Saudi Arabia on Treatment of Women” →

Courts, Criminal law, Justice, Society

American Pastor Sentenced to Three Years in Russia for Smuggling Ammunition

Phillip Miles, of South Carolina, was sentenced by a Moscow court to more than three years in prison for smuggling hunting ammunition into Russia. He had brought a box of 20 rifle shells for a friend who had a Winchester rifle. Stupid to be sure, but three years? Continue reading “American Pastor Sentenced to Three Years in Russia for Smuggling Ammunition” →

Criminal law, Justice, Society

“Black Widows” Convicted Murder of Homeless Men

The so-called “black widows” Helen Golay, 77, and Olga Rutterschmidt, 75, were found guilty of five counts. Golay was found guilty of the first degree murder of Kenneth McDavid, 50, in 2005 and Paul Vados, 73, in 1999 as well as conspiracy to murder for financial gain counts in both killings. Rutterschmidt, 75, was convicted of conspiracy to murder McDavid for financial gain. The men were killed for insurance proceeds as discussed in the video below. Continue reading ““Black Widows” Convicted Murder of Homeless Men” →

Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering

Lawyers Reveal 26-Year-Old Secret: Innocent Man Convicted of Murder of Security Guard

In yet another controversy over attorney-client privilege and confidentiality, two attorneys in Chicago have revealed that their former client killed a security guard in 1982 and that an innocent man, Alton Logan, has been imprisoned for almost three decades for a crime that he did not commit. Bar officials in North Carolina and Virginia have faced similar questions over the limits of confidentiality, here. Continue reading “Lawyers Reveal 26-Year-Old Secret: Innocent Man Convicted of Murder of Security Guard” →

Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering, Society

Lawyer Faces Charges After Revealing Confidential Statement of Late Client to Exonerate Inmate

In North Carolina, the bar is faced with a difficult question over the limits of confidentiality in a case of Staples Hughes. Hughes revealed a confidential statement made by his late client, who allegedly exonerated his co-defendant, Lee Wayne Hunt in a double murder case. Continue reading “Lawyer Faces Charges After Revealing Confidential Statement of Late Client to Exonerate Inmate” →

Justice, Lawyering, Politics, Society

Firms Say No to Bush Yes Man: Alberto Gonzales Having Difficulty Finding Full-Time Job

According to the New York Times, former attorney general Alberto Gonzales can’ find a job after been rebuffed by law firms who are not eager to add a name now synonymous with incompetence and blind partisanship – not to mention torture. Still, these would be some interesting “ding letters”: “Dear General Gonzales, our lawyers were very impressed with your interview and resume. However, every year our firms receives countless applications from former attorney generals . . . .” Continue reading “Firms Say No to Bush Yes Man: Alberto Gonzales Having Difficulty Finding Full-Time Job” →

Courts, Justice, Lawyering, Politics, Society

The $5 Million Judge: Wisconsin Race Sets Record in Money and Meanness

This week, Michael Gableman celebrated a considerable victory: the first defeat of an incumbent judge in 40 years for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. His opponent Louis Butler was also the first African American on the Court. Yet, the $5 million race shows the steady trend toward high-priced campaigns to change the make-up of courts by legal and corporate interests. Continue reading “The $5 Million Judge: Wisconsin Race Sets Record in Money and Meanness” →

Constitutional Law, Justice, Media, Military, Politics, Society

Pentagon Accused of Editing Out Wikipedia Reference to Solider’s Sexual Orientation

There is a controversy brewing over at Wikipedia. Someone at the office of the Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence appears to have edited out an article about Major Alan Rogers, who died serving this country in Iraq. The Pentagon editor apparently objected to the recognition of the fact that Rogers was not only a hero, but gay. Continue reading “Pentagon Accused of Editing Out Wikipedia Reference to Solider’s Sexual Orientation” →