The most dangerous thing at Saudi Starbucks is not the caffeine — if you are a woman at least. An American businesswoman named Yara (she is withholding her last name) was arrested, strip searched and forced to sign a false confession after she was captured in the act of sitting with a male at a Starbucks in Riyadh. Continue reading “A Latte and Hold the Lashes, Please: American Businesswomen Arrested, Strip Searched, and Forced to Sign False Confession for Sitting with Male Colleague at a Starbucks”
Category: Justice
Attorney General Michael Mukasey has performed the central task for which he was chosen by the President and leading congressional leaders — he is refusing to allow a criminal investigation into water-boarding. It was a decision that seemed inevitable after Democrats like Chuck Schumer and Diane Feinstein saved his confirmation. Continue reading “Mukasey Refuses to Allow Criminal Investigation on Torture — Democrats and Republican Leaders Silently Cheer”
U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett has reduced by over half the damages awarded against a fundamentalist Kansas Church, which protests funerals of fallen soldiers from Iraq in a bizarre anti-homosexual crusade. The Westboro Baptist Church will now have to pay Albert Snyder, the fatehr of a dead Marine, $5 million rather than $10.9 million. Continue reading “Court Reduces Punitive Damages Against Radical Anti-Homosexual Church”
The Ninth Circuit has handed down a very interesting decision in a case of a police officer fired because he and his wife ran a private porn site in his free time. In January of 2002, the Chandler Police Department
discovered that Officer Ronald Dible was running the site, featuring his wife , Megan Dible, who performed various sex acts with various partners and objects. It was too much for the town and he was fired. It is a case that raises some difficult constitutional questions and the decision could cut deeply into first amendment rights. Continue reading “Court of Appeals Upholds Termination of Police Officer Over Private Porn Site”
Many opposed the selection of China as the host for the next Olympics due to its rampant pollution and repression of freedom. China has proven far worse on both fronts. As part of a crackdown on anyone voicing dissent, China has now convicted and sentenced journalist Lu Gengsong “inciting subversion of state power.” His crime was to detail some of the well-known corruption of government officials on the Internet. Continue reading “Let the Games Begin: China Prepares for Olympics by Convicting Journalist for Writing About Government Corruption”
Another vision of Iranian justice became apparent today with the announcement of a stoning sentence for two sisters accused by their respective husband and brother of adultery. In what passes for a Supreme Court in Iran, the justices upheld the sentences which are based on that country’s Islamic code. The sisters, Zohreh and Azar were originally sentenced to lashing but have been convicted a second time and sentenced to die by stoning. Continue reading “Iranian Justice: Two Sisters Sentenced to Be Stoned to Death for Adultery”
In a surprising development with significance to the on-going debate over polygamy in the United States, the British government has decided that polygamist citizens are entitled public welfare despite the fact the polygamy is illegal in Britain. Continue reading “England Approves Benefits for Polygamists”
A recent study has cast serious questions over the influence of campaign contributions on the members of the Louisiana Supreme Court. The study by my former Tulane Law School colleague, Vernon Palmer, and Loyola assistant professor of economics John Levendis finds a disturbing correlation between contributions and voting on the Court. It is only the latest allegation rocking one of our state supreme courts this year. [Update: Tulane has issued an apology for some errors in this study] Continue reading “Rent-a-Justice: Louisiana Supreme Court Faces Allegations of Favoritism for Contributors”
Texas Mayor Grace Saenz-Lopez has resigned soon after her indictment over the on-going sage of a a Shih Tzu named Puddles. Saenz-Lopez and her twin sister were indicted in the conspiracy to steal Puddles — who appears to hold a strange hypnotic effect over humans. Continue reading “The Shih Tzu Hits the Fan: Indicted Mayor Resigns Amid Allegations of Stealing Puddles”
The Second Circuit has rejected the appeal of homeowners contesting the right of New York to taken their homes under eminent domain authority to give to private developers. It is a repeat of the controversial use of eminent domain in Connecticut in the Kelo case — where the Supreme Court narrowly uphold the use of the power and rejected constitutional challenges. For those of us who believe that Kelo was wrongly decided, this case could test the matter before a newly reconstituted court. Continue reading “Kelo Redux: Second Circuit Upholds Use of Eminent Domain to Seize New York Homes for Private Development”
In a surprising victory, Wesley Snipes was acquitted of federal tax fraud and conspiracy counts, but was found guilty of failing to file tax returns. It was a particular vindication for his attorneys who did not put him on the stand or call defense witnesses – a very dangerous strategy that has backfired in many cases with a conviction. The acquittal was unexpected given the bizarre tax theory that he believed relieved him of paying taxes — his co-defendants were convicted on the basis of that scheme. Continue reading “Snipes Acquitted on Major Tax Counts; Convicted of Misdemeanors”
Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal has been in the thick of controversy of late. First, he refused to prosecute Texas Supreme Court Justice David Medina and his wife after a grand jury indicted them for arson. (Click here). Then he was forced to turn over e-mails in case that included embarrassing material, such as the married man’s romantic notes to his secretary as well as racist and pornographic material. Now, Rosenthal has admitted that he destroyed more than 2,500 e-mails after they were subpoenaed — an act that could result in a charge of contempt and potential incarceration. Continue reading “Texas District Attorney Admits to Destroying Emails in Violation of Court Order — Faces Potential Contempt Charge”
In light of the DeMint bill to strip Berkeley of its federal funding, this earlier column on the hypocrisy in Congress over federalism may be of interest: Continue reading “Medical Marijuana, Federalism and the Forbidden Fruit of the Constitution”
Perhaps the most basic requirement of a judge (beyond remaining full clothed during deliberations) is not to pronounced guilt until after the trial. It is a rule that Superior Court Judge Hilton Fuller allegedly forgot by telling a reporter that Brian Nichols, accused of killing four people in a 2005 shooting spree that began at the Fulton County Courthouse, was clearly guilty. While denying the comment, Fuller has removed himself from the case. Continue reading “Judging 101: Refrain From Pronouncing Guilt Before End of Trial”
Maryland Delegate Nicholaus Kipke and Sen. Bryan Simonaire are pushing for passage of the Fallen Soldier Privacy Act of 2008 to criminalize the the commercial use of a deceased soldier’s name or image. It is a controversy triggered by tee-shirts produced by anti-war activist Dan R. Frazier of Flagstaff, Ariz., whose online business Carryabigsticker.com sells anti-war shirts and other items that use soldiers’ names. The law is, in my view, unconstitutional and could lead to an interesting court fight if Congress follows suit with its own legislation. Continue reading “Maryland Considering Criminalizing Use of Soldiers Names and Images in Protest Tee-Shirts or Material for Sale”