Category: Society

Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Justice, Lawyering, Media, Politics, Society, Supreme Court

Should Scalia and Thomas Be Retroactively Recused From Citizens United?

I just participated in a press conference (with Stanford Professor Deborah Rhode) dealing with Common Cause’s letter (below) asking the Justice Department to look into alleged conflicts of interest related to Justices Scalia and Thomas in the Citizens United case. Common Cause identified extremely serious issues related to the participation of Scalia and Thomas in events organized by Koch Industries CEO Charles Koch as well as Ginny Thomas’ involvement in Liberty Central.

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Animals, Bizarre, International, Society

Tucson Restaurant To Serve Lion Tacos

A restaurant in Tucson has hit upon a rather disturbing promotional gimmick: it is taking orders for African Lion tacos. The owner of Exotic Taco y Tequila, Bryan Mazon, sees nothing wrong with serving up lions and admits that he hopes that grinding up lions will bring him some publicity. I just cannot believe that this is the type of publicity that would help — particularly in a college town with plenty of environmentalists and public interest advocates.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

Utah Police Execute No-Knock Warrant on Home and Shoot and Kill Man Holding Golf Club

This video was released by the Salt Lake Tribune of a drug bust gone bad where officers shot and killed Todd Blair, 45, when he appeared holding a golf club. The police had secured a no knock warrant for his roommate — suspected of selling drugs.
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Bizarre, Politics, Society

Rep. Cohen Compares Republicans To Nazis and Calls Repeal Arguments to “Blood Libel”

It is beginning to seem like “blood libel” has become the contemporary term of art. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) took the floor last night to compare the Republicans to Nazi propagandist Goebbels and their arguments to “blood libel.” Since Sarah Palin was just skewered over the use of the term, it will be interesting to see the reaction to this reference occurring just days later over national health.
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Bizarre, Criminal law, Society, Torts

Fairfax Gives $2 Million To Parents of Unarmed Man Shot and Killed By Swat Officer Outside of His Home

According to the Washington Post, Fairfax County (where I reside) has agreed to pay $2 million to the parents of an unarmed man who was shot by one of its officers five years ago. Optometrist Salvatore J. Culosi, 37, (shown left) was shot by SWAT officer Deval V. Bullock. Bullock insisted that his gun accidentally went off and he was not charged in the killing.
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Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

Pittsburgh Settles Case of Man Allegedly Pistol-Whipped and Shot By Drunken Off-Duty Officer . . . The Officer is Reinstated To Force

This Pittsburgh case has me confused. Kaleb Miller, 22, has been given a $40,000 settlement after he was pistol-whipped and shot by an off-duty Pittsburgh police officer Paul Abel, 35. Abel was previously charged with drunken driving, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment. However, in June, Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning acquitted Abel of the charges in a non-jury trial and then Abel was reinstated to the force. Now, the city is paying damages to Miller.
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Criminal law, International, Politics, Religion, Society

Vatican Warned Irish Bishops Not To Report Child Abuse in 1997

In a discovery that is being called “the smoking gun,” Irish media is reporting that they have a 1997 letter from the Vatican warning Ireland’s Catholic bishops not to report all suspected child-abuse cases to police. This was from 1997 — less then 13 years ago in the midst of the scandal. This occurred during the tenure of Pope John Paul II.
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Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

Police Officer Tasers Unarmed Man in Traffic Stop Without Cause — Receives Only 90 Day Probation for “Official Oppression”

The video below has led to the sentencing of a Beaumont, Texas police officer for “official oppression” in the beating of a man at a 2007 traffic stop.

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International, Military, Politics, Society

Biting The Hand: Afghan Government To Tax United States Aid

The Washington Post is reporting that the Afghan government is moving to tax U.S. aid to his country — notifying U.S. contractors that the government wants a piece of the aid given . . . to them. The Karzai government is taking this action over the objections of the Administration and conflicting U.S. law. It is also taking this action after Karzai has shutdown corruption investigations against his government. The Karzai family has been denounced as a virtual criminal enterprise with his brothers stealing anything that they can lay their hands on.

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Criminal law, International, Society

English Woman Sentenced To Two Years For Accusing Four Men of Raping Her

Under pressure from women’s groups, English officials recently backed down in giving the same anonymity protections to men accused of rape as they do to their alleged victims. Emma Blunden, 21, of Reading, Berkshire should give them second thoughts. Blunden received two years after repeatedly accusing men of raping her.

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Constitutional Law, Courts, International, Religion, Society

Irish Justice Orders Baby Saved Over Objections of Religious Parents

Justice Gerard Hogan of Ireland’s High Court held a novel hearing on December 27th in his own home. Hogan ordered that the government give a lie-saving blood transfusion to a baby boy born in August 2010. His parents are both Jehovah Witnesses and had refused the procedure to save their son.

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Bizarre, Congress, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, International, Military, Politics, Society

Cheney: Obama Has Adopted Bush Policies on Torture and Gitmo

As many of us expected, President Obama’s decision to block any investigation or prosecution of war crimes has led Republicans to rehabilitate George Bush’s legacy.  The latest claim came from former Vice President Dick Cheney who previously boasted about the torture program in public — unconcerned about any prosecution from Attorney General Eric Holder.  Now, Cheney is boasting that Obama has “learned from experience” that some of the Bush administration’s decisions on terrorism issues.

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Academia, Bizarre, Society, Torts

College Student Goes to School Officials To Complain About a Hidden Camera in Her Apartment . . . And Is Committed To Mental Hospital (Before Camera is Found)

This is an amazing story. Brooklyn College student Chinemerem Eze, a Nigerian national, was convinced that her landlord had hidden a camera in her apartment. She complained to school officials, who proceeded to arrange for her being committed to a psychiatric ward . . . Then later she found the camera.

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