The officials in Brooksville, Florida have shelved a controversial measure that would have required city employees to quit smoking and disqualifying others from employment who are already smokers.
Continue reading “City Backs Down From Smoking Ban for Employees in Their Homes and After Hours”
Category: Politics
North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams in New Zealand appears to be an expert in moving things rapidly from bad to worse. When confronted over allegations that he drank heavily at a restaurant and then urinated on a tree, Williams reportedly defended himself by comparing the accusations to the crucifixion of Christ.
Arizona has become the third state to eliminate the need to have a permit to carry a concealed gun. Now, you can pack a gun without a permit in Arizona, Alaska, and Vermont.
Continue reading “Arizona Repeals Requirement of a Permit for Carrying a Concealed Weapon”
It took over two centuries, but the truth has finally caught up with George Washington. For 220 years, Washington’s dark secret laid undiscovered in a ledger of The New York Society Library, but it is now public: George Washington is a book scofflaw with overdue charges piling up for over 220 years on two books.
Continue reading “George Washington: War Hero, Father of Our Country . . . Book Scofflaw”
Margie Phelps, the lawyer representing Westboro in the current Supreme Court case and daughter of the Church’s founder, has responded to my recent column on that case. Since I do not believe it was published, in fairness I am publishing it in full on the blog:
Continue reading “Phelps Responds To Westboro Column”
Below is my column this morning on conflicts forming around non-discrimination laws and free exercise. Much of the attention this term in the Supreme Court has focused on the campaign finance ruling striking down limits on corporate spending. However, an equally (if not more) important case has been given little attention before its oral argument on April 19, 2010. Christian Legal Society v. Martinez is the classic “sleeper case”: a case that has a low profile but could have a sweeping impact on our society. While the immediate issue is the refusal of the Hastings College of Law in California to recognize the Christian Legal Society (CLS) as an official student organization, it is a case that could address a growing conflict between anti-discrimination laws and the free exercise of religion. The question is whether anti-discrimination laws are themselves discriminatory against some faith-based organizations. Notably (while it was cut for space), we have followed other cases around the country and the world. This includes Philadelphia evicting the Boy Scouts from a historic building after over 70 years (here).
This is not a unique problem for the United States. For example, in England, the famous Jewish Free School (founded in 1732) denied entry to a student because he was not viewed as Jewish under orthodox rules since his mother was not Jewish as opposed to his father. (His mother converted to Judaism). An appellate court ruled that the use of such religious principles violated anti-discrimination laws and that the school had to admit students that it does not consider Jewish (here).
Universities have also struggled with the line between non-discrimination and religious values. Harvard recently was criticized for setting aside time in a student gym for only women to accommodate the customs of Muslim women who could not exercise in the presence of males (here).
Here is the column:
Former New York Rep. Eric Massa wrote a $40,000 check to his chief of staff Joe Racalto — the day before his resignation. Racalto has accused Massa of sexual harassment.
Continue reading “Massa Wrote $40,000 Check to Aide Day Before Resignation”
The long-awaited judicial confirmation hearing today of Berkeley Law Professor Goodwin Liu erupted into open warfare today as Republicans attacked Liu on his background and perceived bias. I discussed the confirmation fight on the segment below of Rachel Maddow.
Continue reading “Liu Confirmation Hearing Erupts Into Partisan Fight Over Experience and Philosophy”
We have been following the steady decline of free speech in the West (here and here and here) and we have another interesting case on criminal charges for uttering prohibited thoughts. Germany has long made it a crime to deny the holocaust. Now, controversial British clergyman Richard Williamson has started a trial in Germany on Friday for his denial that the Nazis had systematically murdered millions of Jews.
Continue reading “Germany Prosecutes Bishop for Questioning the Holocaust”
There is a firestorm of controversy this morning over a piece that ran on the CBS blog by Ben Domenech, a former Bush administration aide and Republican Senate staffer. In his blog, Domenech alleged that Solicitor General (and possible Supreme Court nominee) Elena Kagan is a lesbian. The White House went ballistic and called the story false. CBS stood by the blogger and then issued an apology, saying that it was based on pure speculation.
Continue reading “CBS Deletes Blog After White House Denounces Column Alleging Kagan Is a Lesbian”
Federal trial judge Barbara Crabb handed down a major decision this week that found the National Day of Prayer to be unconstitutional.
Continue reading “Federal Judge Declares National Day of Prayer To Be Unconstitutional”
Judge Richard Goldstone, the author of a United Nations report accusing Israel of war crimes in the Gaza Strip, has been reportedly barred from his own grandson’s bar mitzvah in South Africa.
Continue reading “Goldstone Reporteldy Barred From Grandson’s Bar Mitzvah Due To U.N. Report”
We have been following a dangerous trend in both the United States and abroad where citizens are arrested for taking pictures of police. Now, the Maryland State Police are accusing an Air National Guardsman named Anthony Graber of violating state surveillance laws after he captured this video of an officer pulling his weapon during a routine traffic stop.
Continue reading “Maryland Police Officer Pulls Gun During Traffic Stop And Then Colleagues Arrest Motorcyclist For Filming the Incident”
The Boy Scouts lost a major case in Portland, Oregon with jurors awarding $1.4 million after finding Tuesday that the organization was negligent in allowing a Scout leader who was a sex offender after a three week trial.
Those small town values can add up. After quitting her job as Alaska Governor before the end of her term, Sarah Palin has raked in an estimated $12 million since July. Between speaking fees and her new reality show, Palin is becoming one of the wealthiest political figures in the country. In the meantime, questions are being raised about one organization that paid a speaking fee for Palin in California.
Continue reading “The Maverick Makes Millions: Palin Makes More Than $12 Million Since July”