Category: Justice

Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Society

FBI Accused of Trying to Bury Findings That Raised Questions Over DNA Claims

The FBI is accused of launching a coordinated effort to bury the results of a finding by an Arizona crime lab analyst, Kathryn Troyer, that individuals may have very similar DNA profiles. The finding throws into question the claims made in court about the unlikelihood of two individuals sharing such similarities. Where such matches have been portrayed as 1 in 113 billion — a virtual guarantee of conviction — it turns out to be more common. Rather than being concerned over past representations in court and the accuracy of its work, the FBI reportedly worked diligently to stop other analysts from performing the same tests and to discourage any citation to the study.

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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Environment, Justice, Society

Oklahoma Couple Arrested in Massive Bestiality Case

Oklahoma City may have the largest bestiality case in history — and without question the most disgusting. Diane Sue Whalen 54, and Donald Roy Seigfried, 55, are accused of training their dogs to have sex with Whalen and other women. Whalen was apparently busted by her own son who found 150 tapes of her performing sex acts with the dogs — including a mixed breed and labrador Lucky and Buddy and a blue heeler named Merlin owned by Seigfried. Seigfried allegedly filmed the events.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Justice, Society, Torts

Holy Assault and Battery, Batman: Batman Star Christian Bale Arrested for Assault on Mother and Sister

Not exactly the press that the flaks were hoping for. Batman star Christian Bale has been arrested for assault on his mother and sister. He could also face a personal injury action — a possibility that seems a bit more likely with a film that shattered the earlier record held by Spiderman (who notably stayed felony-free during both production and syndication). With $156 million in a three-day weekend of sales, it is likely to draw not just viewers but litigants aplenty.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Justice, Society

Dark Knight: Batman Actor Christian Bale Accused of Assault by Mother and Sister

Police allowed Christian Bale and his wife Sibi to attend the European premiere of The Dark Knight despite pending criminal allegations by his mother and sister that he committed assault at the Dorchester Hotel. His mother, Jenny, 61, and his sister, 40, signed out complaints against him, according to media reports.

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Courts, Justice, Lawyering, Politics, Society

Florida Judge Reprimanded for Statement in Court Opinion

A divided Judicial Qualifications Commission in Tallahassee has ruled to reprimand 1st District Court of Appeal Judge Michael E. Allen. For a prior entry, click here.
The panel also suggested an investigation into the subject of Allen’s criticism, fellow Judge Charles J. Kahn Jr. for participating in the appeal of the criminal case against former Senate President W.D. Childers.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Justice, Society

Stoning Season: Iran Set to Stone Eight Women and One Man to Death for Adultery

Despite an international outcry over its medieval legal system, Iran has announced a real crowd pleaser: eight women and one man will be stoned to death for adultery. Iran applies Sharia law and will execute them in the name of Islamic justice.

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Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Society

Obama Adviser Cass Sunstein Rejects Prosecution of “Non-Egregious” Bush Crimes

With many Democrats still fuming over the refusal of Democratic leaders like Speaker Nancy Pelosi to allow even impeachment hearings into detailed allegations of crimes by President Bush in office, close Obama adviser (and University of Chicago Law Professor) Cass Sunstein recently rejected the notion of prosecuting Bush officials for crimes such as torture and unlawful surveillance. After Sen. Obama’s unpopular vote on the FISA bill, it has triggered a blogger backlash — raising questions about the commitment of the Democrats to do anything other than taking office and reaping the benefits of power.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Justice, Military, Politics, Society

Shock Video: Israeli Soldier Shown Firing a Rubber Bullet into Leg of Blindfolded Palestinian Prisoner at Close Range

A video has been released that shows an Israeli soldier filing a rubber bullet at close range into the leg of a Palestinian prisoner who is being held by another soldier. [Warning: The video linked below contains disturbing images]. The video was released by the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem. The victim is reportedly named Ashraf Abu Rahma, 27.

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Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Society

Arab League Denounces Genocide Charges Against Sudan President Omar al-Bashir

In an act of self-condemnation, the Arab League has denounced the genocide charges and defended Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir. Many of these 22 countries engage in rampant abuses and torture. While they expressed fears of danger to national sovereignty, there is no doubt a fair measure of concern over their own acts of abuses.
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Congress, Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Society

Earning Your Bona Fides in the Bush Bada Bing Club: Administration Officials Pushed for Yoo to Head OLC Based on His Support for Torture

Congressional hearings have revealed that John Yoo was the favored candidate to lead the Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department based on a single resume item: his tolerance and support of torture. Alberto Gonzales and Cheney aide David S. Addington fought former Attorney General John Ashcroft, who submitted five names for the position that conspicuously omitted Yoo’s name.

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Bizarre, Congress, Constitutional Law, Justice, Military

Ashcroft Defends Waterboarding — Congress Calmly Discusses the U.S. Torture Program

With the Democratic leadership continuing to block any impeachment effort or any serious effort to hold officials liable for the U.S. torture program, Congress was free to hold another bizarre hearing today to calmly discussed our use of torture. Even though current Attorney General continues to evade the question, former Attorney General acknowledged and defended water boarding.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Justice, Society

Ten-Year-Old Girl in Yemen Married and Then Raped — Then Divorced

Another abuse story is emerging from the Middle East on the treatment of young girls. Nujood Ali, 10, was married to a man in his 30s, who then allegedly raped her. While she is now divorced, she has been criticized for confronting her husband and not accepting her fate. Not only was she denounced by some for not obeying her husband, but under Islamic Sharia law in Yemen, her family had to compensate the accused rapist.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Justice, Politics, Society

Florida Judge Finds Police Entrapped 94-Year-Old Man With Dementia in Prostitution Sting

A very disturbing case has emerged from Florida where police entrapped Frank Milio, a 94-year-old man suffering from dementia. What is remarkable is that prosecutors did not drop these charges. It took a judge to throw them out — allowing Milio to move into an assisted care facility. He is not the only geriatric scooped up by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, which seems to developing a reputation for entrapping the elderly. Frank Underhill, 93 (pictured here), was arrested in the same operation.

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