Category: Politics

Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics, Society, Supreme Court

Supreme Court Dismisses Major Tobacco Case

supreme courtIn Philip Morris USA v. Williams, the Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal as “improvidently granted” in a long struggle with the Oregon Supreme Court. The Court had previously sent the case back twice to tell the Oregon court to review its huge punitive award. In this staring contest, the U.S. Supreme Court just blinked after the Oregon Supreme Court refused to consider the issues sent back on remand — instead upholding its $79.5 million punitive award million award on state grounds. With interest, that award may have doubled.

Continue reading “Supreme Court Dismisses Major Tobacco Case” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics, Society

Federal Court Enjoins Pennsylvania Prosecutor From Charging Teens in Sexting Case

george20skumanickThere is a very interesting case out of Pennsylvania where U.S. District Judge James M. Munley granted a temporary injunction to prevent Wyoming County District Attorney George Skumanick Jr. (left) from charging three teen girls who appeared in seminude photographs traded by classmates. A common practice called “sexting.” It is extremely uncommon to see an injunction of a criminal charge.

Continue reading “Federal Court Enjoins Pennsylvania Prosecutor From Charging Teens in Sexting Case” →

Criminal law, International, Justice, Politics, Religion, Society

Report: Torture of Abu Zubaida Yielded Nothing of Value and He Was Not a High-Ranking Member of Al Qaeda

torture -abu ghraib225px-george-w-bushThe Washington Post is reporting that the torture ofhigh-value captive, Abu Zubaida produced nothing but false leads — in direct contradiction of suggestions by former Vice President Dick Cheney and others who endorsed the torture program and use of waterboarding. Moreover, the report indicates that the Administration quickly learned that Zubaida was not the high-profile, highly placed Al Qaeda operative that they told the public. I discussed the latest developments on this segment of Countdown.

Continue reading “Report: Torture of Abu Zubaida Yielded Nothing of Value and He Was Not a High-Ranking Member of Al Qaeda” →

Constitutional Law, International, Politics, Religion, Society

Morocco Arrests and Expels Five Europeans Caught “Red-Handed” in the Act of Teaching Muslims About Christianity

125px-flag_of_moroccosvgMorocco has joined the list of Islamic nations denying freedom of religion to its citizens. Five women were arrested by authorities and sent to Spain after they were caught allegedly in the act of converting Muslims to Christianity. Presumably, any effort to teach Muslims the benefits or values of Christianity could qualify for this particular offense.

Continue reading “Morocco Arrests and Expels Five Europeans Caught “Red-Handed” in the Act of Teaching Muslims About Christianity” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, International, Justice, Military, Politics

Spanish Court Orders Investigation of Bush Aides for War Crimes at Guantanamo Bay

torture -abu ghraib200px-flag_of_spainsvg Spanish investigating magistrate Baltasar Garzon has passed a 98-page complaint to prosecutors that accuses former Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and five others violations of international law, including torture.
Continue reading “Spanish Court Orders Investigation of Bush Aides for War Crimes at Guantanamo Bay” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Lawyering, Politics, Society

Seller’s Remorse: Lawyer Reportedly First Tries to Sell Tape of Ashley Biden Allegedly Snorting Cocaine and Then Withdraws

sendbinaryAccording to an Internet report, Washington, D.C. lawyer Thomas Dunlap of Dunlap, Grubb and Weaver has been peddling a tape for a “friend” of Vice President Joseph Biden’s daughter, Ashley, allegedly snorting cocaine at a party in Delaware. With rising criticism in the press, Dunlap reportedly has withdrawn from his controversial role in this political version of the Michael Phelps pot shot. Radar Online is suggesting that the presumably now former friend may have set up Biden by buying the cocaine and hiding the camera — claims that (if proven) could lead to liability for the individual.
Continue reading “Seller’s Remorse: Lawyer Reportedly First Tries to Sell Tape of Ashley Biden Allegedly Snorting Cocaine and Then Withdraws” →

Criminal law, Politics, Society

Video Shows Police Officers Beating Man and Then Charging Him With Assault

default1Police in Fort Lauderdale, Florida are facing scrutiny and criticism after police officers beat a man in an elevator and then charged him with assaulting them. What is most disturbing is that internal affairs investigated Joshua Daniel Ortiz’s, 22, claims and completely cleared the officers — yet never appeared to have reviewed the surveillance tape (below) that clearly contradicts by the officers. The department, however, will not discipline the officers for a clearly bogus criminal charge and either intentionally misleading or false reports.

Continue reading “Video Shows Police Officers Beating Man and Then Charging Him With Assault” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Lawyering, Politics, Society

Fraud Fetish: Lawyers Accused of Duping Fetish Club Members With Help of Dominatrix

web-george-guldi-239x300Lawyer and Former Suffolk County legislator George Guldi, 57, is accused in a bizarre fraudulent conspiracy. With the help of a famous dominatrix and two other lawyers, the Long Island attorney is accused of a 450 million mortgage scam.
Continue reading “Fraud Fetish: Lawyers Accused of Duping Fetish Club Members With Help of Dominatrix” →

Bizarre, Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics, Supreme Court

Reid Says Chief Justice Roberts Lied to Congress in Confirmation Hearings

225px-harry_reid_official_portrait225px-official_roberts_cjSenate Majority Leader Harry Reid insisted this week that it was not the fault of the Democrats in confirming John Roberts and not using their power to block the nomination. Rather, they were tricked by Roberts who lied to them in suggesting that he was a moderate and that we are now “stuck” with him as chief justice.
Continue reading “Reid Says Chief Justice Roberts Lied to Congress in Confirmation Hearings” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Politics, Religion, Society

Indian Woman Seeks To Marry Rapist In Order To End Social Stigma and Isolation

India flagIn an example of the terrible treatment given rape victims in some traditional societies, a woman in India has converted to Islam to marry her rapist — in order to end the social stigma of being a rape victim. For years ago, the woman (who name was withheld) was raped and then ostracized for her status. She is asking a court to allow her rapist to be placed on bond so that she can marry him and end her isolation since the 2005 crime. As shown below, this is not a unique case.
Continue reading “Indian Woman Seeks To Marry Rapist In Order To End Social Stigma and Isolation” →

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Politics, Religion, Society

Exposing Oneself To Art: Court Rules that Poll Dancing Is Art Form

350px-poledsc325New York Judge Catherine Bennett had become the hero of many a strip joint by declaring that pole dancing is a form of art worthy of a tax exemption. In doing so, she ruled in favor of the argument of Nite Moves in near Albany that it qualified for the “dramatic arts” tax exemption — allowing it to keep $129,000 in sales tax. It also gave thousands of customers an opportunity to rebut claims by their spouses that they lack culture and should expose themselves to art.
Continue reading “Exposing Oneself To Art: Court Rules that Poll Dancing Is Art Form” →

Academia, Constitutional Law, International, Politics, Society

A Knight’s Tale: Professor Suspended for Hanging Bankers Comment

thumb_chris_in_delmenhorstIn yet another example of the shrinking values of free speech in England, a University of East London professor of anthropology Chris Knight has been suspended for saying that bankers need to be aware of the fury in the country before they are found “hanging from lampposts.” Knight was helping organize a protest for next week G20 summit.

Continue reading “A Knight’s Tale: Professor Suspended for Hanging Bankers Comment” →

Congress, Environment, International, Politics, Society

Any Color So Long As It Is Green: California Moves to Regulate Car Color

ir_image_vehicleHenry Ford once promised customers any color so long as it is black. Now, California seems close to saying that black cars can stay out of the state. This is not a racist takeover, but an environmental movement to encourage the selection of cars that reflect light to reduce energy demands.

Continue reading “Any Color So Long As It Is Green: California Moves to Regulate Car Color” →

Courts, Lawyering, Politics, Society

Former Pennsylvania Judge Wins Rehearing After Claiming She Was Framed By Other Judges Who Recently Pleaded Guilty to Crimes

gavel2Former judge Ann Lokuta has an intriguing claim for reinstatement: her accusers turned out to be criminals. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a stay of the Court of Judicial Discipline’s ruling to remove Lokuta and directed the Secretary of the Commonwealth not to place her judicial seat on the May ballot. Lokuta was removed after several weeks of testimony from dozens of witnesses about her abusive behavior toward courthouse staff and attorneys. However, she claims that the witnesses were part of the recent criminal conspiracy by former president judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella, who took kickbacks to send kids to jail.

Continue reading “Former Pennsylvania Judge Wins Rehearing After Claiming She Was Framed By Other Judges Who Recently Pleaded Guilty to Crimes” →