There is an interesting case out of Fairfax County in Virginia where an eighth-grader was pulled from his class and interrogated by a police officer and school officials on this smoking pot after-school hours and off campus. The case shows the continuing uncertainty over when police officers are required to give Miranda after the Supreme Court’s decision in J.D.B. v. North Carolina (below).
Continue reading “When Should Schools Give Miranda? Virginia Case Shows Continuing Uncertainties After J.D.B. Ruling”
Jacob Simmons and his fiancée, Gentry Lee Sutherland insist it is a miracle after they bought some pictures at Wal-Mart and found Jesus staring back at them on the receipt. Many people would question whether Jesus would work through Wal-Mart but a bargain is a bargain. Wal-Mart appears to be offering miracle at a low price, undercutting local stores in Anderson County, South Carolina in their own Savior slips.
For weeks, many of us have been shocked by the use of controversial Al Sharpton as a host on “MSNBC Live.” We have followed Sharpton’s long litany of alleged criminal violations and race-baiting tactics. Now, as if to show that it can match Fox’s hiring of Glenn Beck and CNN’s hiring of Nancy Grace, MSNBC is reportedly close to giving Sharpton the slot held by Cenk Uygur.
Continue reading “Report: MSNBC Close To Naming Al Sharpton Host of Prime Time Show”
Two of my clients in the pilots litigation flagged an article by conservative Republican activist and attorney Debbie Schlussel reporting that I am funded by the Bin Laden family and using the Brown family as a front for an Islamic radical agenda. Ms. Schlussel previously attracted national attention by writing in the aftermath of Bin Laden’s death “1 down, 1.8 billion more to go.” She was also denounced for her statement that CBS reporter Lara Logan deserved to be raped while covering the protests in Egypt — a statement rightfully criticized by David Drumm (which she attributes to me). The article by Ms. Schlussel is clearly defamatory and neither she nor her attorney has responded to inquiries over the last couple days.
Continue reading “Turley Demands Retraction and Apology From Conservative Attorney and Radio Host Debbie Schlussel”
News reports indicate that the bodyguard who assassinated President Hamid Karzai’s brother was a trusted CIA operative and worked closely with US Special Forces. He also appears to have been an undercover operative for the Taliban. Sardar Mohammad shot Ahmed Wali Karzai at his home in Kandahar City on Tuesday. He has two brothers-in-law serving in a CIA-run paramilitary unit, the Kandahar Strike Force.
Continue reading “Report: Assassin of Hamid Karzai’s Brother Was Trusted CIA Operative”
When Kelly Ballentine was given several parking tickets, she lucked out by getting a lenient judge: herself. The Lancaster Magisterial District Judge dismissed a no-parking ticket and an expired registration ticket in December and a no-parking ticket in January.
Continue reading “Pennsylvania Judge Under Fire For Dismissing Her Own Parking Tickets”
In New Jersey, the family of Stephen Rooney, 54, is mourning his loss after a bizarre lightning strike. Rooney’s father was killed by a lightning strike 48 years ago when Rooney was five. At a picnic with friends and family, Rooney told people not to worry about the thunder in the area because lightning never strikes the same family twice. Seconds after making that statement, he was hit and killed by lightning.
Continue reading “New Jersey Man Killed By Lightning — 48 Years After His Father Was Killed By Lightning”
It is the modern equivalent of the “man bites dog” story. Every week, TSA agents are accused of groping old ladies or toddlers. Now, Yukari Mihamae, 61, is accused of groping a TSA agent at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix.
Continue reading “Woman Gropes TSA Agent”
You have probably seen such videos before, but this remains a thing of beauty.
Continue reading “Man and Dog: Nature’s Perfect Duet”
Submitted By: Mike Spindell, Guest Blogger
When my NY Times headline feed came in today the headline and then to this article stood out:
Egypt Military Aims to Cement Muscular Role in Government
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/world/middleeast/17egypt.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2
Reading it, I thought of the euphoria that we felt when Hosni Mubarak left, overthrown by the bravery of the Egyptian people as they had fought and protested for a more democratic way of life. How stirring the unfolding story was of Muslim Peoples beginning to rise up and overthrow the tyranny they under which they lived. The tipping point in Mubarak’s ouster was the support of the powerful Egyptian Military, who promised a civilian authored constitution and democratic reforms. Knowing Egyptian history for the last 60 years or so did little to damp my enthusiasm, despite the fact that every regime change came about by military coup/intervention. Afterwards, like many of us Egypt passed out of my thoughts as other issues came to the fore. Then this story drew me back to the experiences of my life and the stream of disappointments that followed every seemingly triumphant political moment I’ve lived through. Continue reading “Be Careful What You Wish For…”
Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
Seeing-eye dogs are a feature of most urban areas and a godsend to folks disabled by challenges to their vision. What isn’t so common is a seeing-eye dog for a dog. Ellie, a King Charles spaniel, is the victim of abuse by humans and almost totally blind. Kept in the dark most of her life before her rescue by the local SPCA, her eye muscles haven’t developed and she suffers from bilateral cataracts. While the SPCA raises money to pay for an operation that could mitigate the problem, Ellie’s protection has fallen to an unlikley hero.
Submitted by Gene Howington, Guest Blogger
How would you feel if you asked your cell phone company for an itemized bill and their response was to tell you that you needed a subpoena? A Pennsylvania woman, Bernice Keebler, can tell you exactly how she felt because that is the response Verizon gave her when she asked for an itemized bill. Bernice Keebler, without the benefit of counsel, decided to take the matter to the courts.
-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger
The latest incoherence from the Right has to do with incandescence, as in incandescent light bulbs. The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, a bill mandating higher efficiency standards, passed by massive majorities in Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush, has put the kibosh on inefficient incandescent light bulbs. Obviously, an example of socialism/communism/fascism run amok.
Submitted by: Mike Spindell, guest blogger
The abortion issue is not solely about a women’s right to choose, it is about the hatred and fear of women’s sexuality. There is a subtext to this movement, shown plainly by the actions of many Anti-Abortion supporters, that goes way beyond the issue of whether abortion is murder. This is not asserting my opinion as to the validity of either side in the Anti-Abortion debate. It is not to stir up a debate for or against abortion. I’ve commented here enough for people to know where I stand on the issue. What has bothered me for a long time on this issue has been whether it is just about being for or against a women’s right to choose? If it is only about the right of choice, then I could at least accept that those who would deny it have sufficient beliefs to justify their actions, without there being another unspoken agenda. Indeed, the original initiator of the anti-abortion issue was the Roman Catholic Church.
Continue reading “Does the Anti-Abortion Movement Hate Women’s Sexuality?”
Submitted by Gene Howington, Guest Blogger
In 1780, John Adams succinctly defined the principle of the Rule of Law in the Massachusetts Constitution by seeking to establish “a government of laws and not of men”. This reflects the democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution’s preamble: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” The very foundation of our legal system says that the law should work for us all, not just a select few.
This raises the question of what is a good law that serves the majority of society and what is a bad law that doesn’t serve the majority of society?
Continue reading “What Makes A Good Law, What Makes A Bad Law?”