Sheena Boll, 35, has been found guilty of a rather bizarre crime in London. The teacher posed as a sexual abused 14-yer-old student to implicate a colleague of pedophilia. In her underaged persona, Boll told police that she was sexually assaulted by the teacher. The police responded with a full investigation that led them back to the faux 14-year-old victim.
Category: Society
I previously discussed how President Donald Trump has the advantage in a constitutional challenge of this executive order suspending entry for refugees and imposing special limitations on seven stated countries. As I have noted, this does not mean that there are not legitimate questions raised, particularly over the express preference to be given “religious minorities” under the order. However, the case laws heavily supports a president’s plenary power over such border controls. There remains however a question over whether the law could be constitutional under a president’s inherent authority but still unlawful under statutory authority. Most of that argument centers on the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which bars discrimination based on nationality or place of origin. There are clearly compelling arguments on both sides of this question, but once again I believe that critics may be overstating the 1965 law as making the executive order facially invalid. As I have repeatedly stated since this executive order was signed, I believe it was a terrible mistake, poorly executed, and inimical to our values as a nation. However, legal analysis by a court should not be influenced by such personal viewpoints. The question is solely whether the president is barred statutorily from taking this action.
Continue reading “Is The Trump Executive Order on Refugees Unlawful?”
It appears that teachers are having a difficult time keeping their political views out of classroom. Recently, an Alabama teacher was put on suspension for projecting an image of Obama with “You’re fired” after the election. Now, on the other side of the political spectrum, a Texas high school art teacher has been placed on administrative leave after video surfaced showing her “shooting” the image of President Donald Trump in a classroom while screaming, “Die!”
Continue reading “Teachers In Alabama and Texas Suspended After Anti-Obama and Anti-Trump Displays”
Like many, I was saddened to see the passing of Mary Tyler Moore, who I grew up watching on the 1970s television series “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” She passed away at 80. I liked Moore both on and off the screen. Indeed, her passing made me think about this older generation of celebrities, perhaps the greatest generation. While some were high maintenance or unhinged, it seems like so many of our younger celebrities are raw, vulgar, and downright nuts. I know that that makes me sound like an older geezer. Perhaps I am, but I just watched the vulgar protest “speech” of Madonna and the rave of the actor. Moore was as big, if not bigger, in terms of her celebrity status. Yet, she always maintained a sense of grace and decorum. I shared her belief in animal rights and she was a great advocate for both animals and combatting juvenile diabetes. She was a force for good, which is more than I can say for so many celebrities that followed her. I cannot help but think of women like Ariana Grande licking donuts or Madonna screaming about burning down the White House or Charlie Sheen drinking “tiger blood” on some rooftop.
Continue reading “Farewell Mary Tyler Moore: Actress and Activist”
Northwestern University is facing an interesting controversy that captures the new reality for schools in dealing with alternative gender identifications. A freshman at the school was born a female but now identifies as a male. Adam Davies wants to participate in Greek life but is not ready to join a fraternity. So Davies has asked to join a sorority as a male with a female body. He insists that his interest “transcends the gender binary” but some have objected to leaving such choices to the individual’s determination on gender.
Continue reading “Northwestern Transgender Student Seeks Entry To Sorority”
Timothy Ciboro and his son, Esten Ciboro, both of Toledo, are living proof that extremism is not confined to any one religion. The two men are accused of a horrific series of crimes that involved the confinement of a teenage girl and repeatedly raping her. The girl, who was kept shackled in the basement is Timothy Ciboro’s stepdaughter. She managed to unshackle herself and flee. With the trial about to begin, the two men have refused counsel and demanded that they be able to introduce the Bible as the only authority that they recognize.
Continue reading “Ohio Father and Son Demand To Use Bible As Defense To Alleged Serial Rape and Kidnapping Charges”
One of the greatest concerns with the Trump Administration remains the environment. I share those concerns. The United States is falling behind the rest of the world in advancing green industries and markets. A return to fossil energy could not only erase gains in the environment but push our workforce farther away from the most competitive economies. A new report shows how important solar energy is to the workforce and the economy. The latest report from the Department of Energy shows that solar energy in the United States employs more people than traditional coal, gas and oil combined. At the same time, we have seen other countries slash the cost of renewable energy and radically expand the use of such energy as global leaders in the new industry. Notably, a recent poll showed that two thirds of the public oppose the return to fossil fuels for energy as opposed to alternative fuels.
Continue reading “Report: Solar Energy Employs More People Than All Fossil Fuel Industries Combined”
I regret to report that a few minutes ago, the United States Supreme Court denied the petition for review filed in the “Sister Wives” case. The case is Brown v. Buhman, No. 14-4117. As lead counsel for the Browns, I was joined on the petition by co-counsel Thomas Huff and Adam Alba. My prior assistants, including my current assistant Seth Tate, and law students worked countless hours into many late nights to maintain this litigation. We are greatly in their debt for their pro bono work on this case. The attorneys and law students who worked on this case came from different religions and held different values. Many disagreed morally with plural families. However, we all believed strongly that every family has a fundamental right to follow their own faiths so long as they did not harm others. We all believed that the Browns were denied those rights when they are singled out for public condemnation and criminal investigation due entirely to their public support for plural marriage. It is particularly difficult to prevail on the merits in establishing constitutional violations only to be reversed on standing issues on appeal. However, our victory in Salt Lake City will remain as a cautionary decision for legislators who wish to marginalize or sanction this community in the future.
I also wanted to extend my deepest gratitude and respect to the Brown family which allowed us to represent them in this historic action. The Browns remained steadfast in their commitment to equal rights and have become the voice for not just plural families but many families which do not meet the strict definition of monogamy practiced by the majority of citizens. The Browns have kept their show and this litigation largely separate to allow the courts to fully consider the merits of our case without interference or aggrandizement. They continue to have faith in our country and our legal system despite this decision. More importantly, they have faith in the right of all families to enjoy the protections of our Constitution and will continue to fight to make that promise a reality for plural families throughout the country.
Continue reading “SUPREME COURT TURNS DOWN SISTER WIVES PETITION”
I have been discussing the likely confrontation between the Trump Administration and various “sanctuary cities” which have pledged not to cooperate with federal authorities in the deportation of illegal immigrants. I believe that cities like New York City will face a rude awakening when they calculate just how much they received in federal grants that could be withheld by Attorney General Jeff Sessions or the Administration. Now that scenario is playing out in Texas where Gov. Greg Abbott is threatening to cut funding for Travis County after Sheriff Sally Hernandez announced the county would be scaling back its cooperation with federal immigration. Hernandez could trigger a perfect storm of having both state and federal fundings cut back in a county that is deeply dependent on such funding.
Continue reading “Texas Governor Moves Against Sanctuary County”
The Trump Administration has a rocky kick off this week due to both things outside of its control and things of its own making. First there was the planned protests against the new President — demonstrations both on Inaugural Day and the next day that I criticized. Those were outside the control of the Administration. However, then there was a remarkably disappointing and lackluster Inaugural speech followed by a truly dreadful press conference. This was the first press conference for the Administration – a key moment for any new Administration. Instead of emphasizing the positive and taking control of the news cycle with strategic announcements, White House Press secretary Sean Spicer largely criticized the press and then made a series a highly dubious factual assertions about the size of Trump’s audience. It was a performance that even stalwart supporters like Charles Krauthammer on Fox called “weird.” Likewise, Fox News has described Spicer’s facts as “incorrect.” Most of us who have previously watched or covered Inaugurations thought that the crowd seemed smaller. So what? Tens of millions of people voted for Trump. That is the measure that counts. Yet, Spicer went on the attack with some shaky assertions and guaranteed that this tempest in a teapot would be the focus of the next news cycle — and gave critics an opening to lambast the new president. I have said this before that friends of this President need to call him out when his Administration goofs if they want this Administration to succeed. This is one such moment and shows an early lack of discipline and message.
There is an interesting case out of San Francisco where an illegal immigrant from El Salvador is suing San Francisco after police turned him over to United States Immigration authorities. Pedro Figueroa Zarceno, 32, alleges that the police violated the law by helping the federal authorities in the enforcement of the law. He relies on the controversial municipal law barring municipal employees from cooperating with federal immigration authorities seeking to deport a person.
Below is today’s column in USA Today on the protests against President-Elect Donald Trump and why, despite having a house full of family members and friends who have come to protest Trump, I will not be joining them. Instead, I will be home with my kids as we have been in every inauguration – celebrating the peaceful transfer of power in our democracy and wishing the newly elected president (and our country) the best with an inaugural toast. I criticized Trump (and Hillary Clinton) during the campaign (and I will not hesitate to criticize Trump again for policies or actions that I disagree with). However, I find the claims of illegitimacy and attacks this week to be highly disturbing. I totally respect the right of people to come to protest Trump and his policies. However, there appears to be a concerted effort to delegitimize his presidency and create a type of political mythology about this election.
In this column I discuss that mythology and, more importantly, the meaning of the day of inauguration for many of us. Regardless of my criticism of both Trump and Clinton, I always knew that on January 20th I would raise a glass to the 45th President of the United States and wish him or her . . . and us . . . the best of luck in the coming years. It is a time when we reaffirm our commitment not so much to a politician but to each other. We reaffirm a common article of faith that, despite our disagreements and divisions, we remain one country joined by our belief in democratic transition and government. There is much to celebrate this week as a glance around the world at places like Gambia will readily confirm. Donald Trump will be the 45th President. Our President.
Continue reading “WHY I WILL NOT BE JOINING THE PROTESTS AGAINST PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP”
After repeated refusals of her family to allow her to marry the man she loved, Zeenat Rafiq, 18, eloped with Hassan Khan, a classmate. She was surprised therefore when her mother found her to say that all was forgiven and that she should return home for a belated celebration of the marriage. When she showed up, her mother and brother proceeded to beat and strangle her . . . and then burned her. Her mother, Perveen Bibi, has proudly claimed to have upheld the honor of the family by killing her own daughter. She told the police “I have no regrets.”
The Democratic establishment has been pushing hard on a new narrative that Hillary Clinton lost not because of her record negatives polling going back years on truthfulness or the desire of the voters for an non-establishment candidate or the baggage carried by Clinton into the election. Rather, it was the hacking by the Russians with a bit of help from FBI Director James Comey, according to this universal spin. The media has assisted to a degree by referring to the “Russian hacking of the election,” which is obviously not true. The election was not hacked. No voting machines or tallies were hacked. Emails were hacked and none of those emails appear to have been altered. They were real emails showing highly dishonest conduct by key players. Despite the virtual mantra from Washington, voters are clearly not buying it. A new CNN/ORC poll shows roughly 8 out of 10 voters followed the controversy but 58 percent doubt that the hacking influenced the outcome of the election. [This posting was updated]
There are an interesting set of polls out this week. President Barack Obama appears to be leaving office with one of the highest exiting polls of American presidents at 58 percent while President-elect Donald Trump has hit the lowest at 40 percent. Polls change and Trump has already attacked the polls as rigged against him. However, these polls can have a pronounced impact among members of the GOP who may be uncertain about the degree to which they will follow the lead of the White House on changes to taxes, immigration and other areas. With a developing conflict over tax reform, the polls (whether accurate or not) could complicate problems for the new White House.