Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Politics

Instrument of Domestic Terrorism?

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

Liberty Dollar

Bernard von NotHaus, 67, was convicted making coins resembling and similar to United States coins; of issuing, passing, selling and possessing Liberty Dollar coins; of issuing and passing Liberty Dollar coins intended for use as current money; and of conspiracy against the United States.

von NotHaus was charged with violation of 18 U.S.C. § 485, conspiracy to possess and sell coins in resemblance or similitude of any foreign gold or silver coin current in the United States or in actual use and circulation as money within the United States.

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International, Politics, Society

Onward To Syria? Government Reportedly Massacres Citizens

The Syrian government has reportedly opened fired on protesters soon after President Bashar al-Assad promised to put an end to protests. The reported massacre occurred in the city of Sanamin near Daraa. Given President Barack Obama’s rationale for going to war in Libya, doesn’t that mean we will soon be bombing Damascus as we have Tripoli? After all, both Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton insisted that they had no choice when it was clear that the government was shooting protesters. Now, Syrian protesters can claim the same right to a U.S. led “time-limited, scope-limited military action.”

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Bizarre, Politics, Religion, Society

Roughly Four Out of Ten Americans Believe Disasters Like Japanese Earthquake Directed By God

Roughly four out of ten Americans still like that old testament version of God — full of wrath and fury. A poll by Public Religion Research Institute and Religion News Surveshows that forty percent of our citizens still believe that God directs such disasters like the Japanese earthquake for a purpose. It is not clear what God had against the Japanese, but these citizens believe it was for a divine purpose. They are not alone Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara called the earthquake and tsunami in Japan tembatsu — or “divine judgment”
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Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics, Society

Under Siege: Steven Seagal Attacks Home in Arizona with Armored Cars and SWAT Members to Arrest Man Accused of Cockfighting

We have previously followed the feudal system created by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Arizona. Arpaio’s insatiable desire for media attention has led him to turn over areas of his office to Hollywood producers. Last week, Arpaio’s unhinged administration gave the public another bizarre scene as Steven Seagal was seen attacking a home with a tank, armored cars, bomb robot, and dozens of SWAT team members. The crime? Suspected involvement in cockfighting.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Lawyering, Politics, Society

On the Lam: Indiana Prosecutor Resigns After Suggesting That Wisconsin Governor Fake Attack To Frame Unions

Indiana prosecutor Carlos Lam has resigned in a bizarre scandal where he admitted to sending an email to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker suggesting that he get a supporter to attack him to frame the unions and discredit their cause. While first denying that he sent the email, Lam eventually fessed up and resigned. Indiana prosecutors seem to be a bit obsessed with the union protests in Wisconsin. If you recall, we previously followed the case of Jeffrey Cox, a deputy attorney general, who was fired after reportedly suggesting the use of live ammunition against protesters.
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Constitutional Law, International, Politics, Society

War “Time-Limited, Scope-Limited Military Action” Is Hell

Many citizens are breathing a sense of relief today. When we saw the Obama Administration bomb the capital of a sovereign nation and openly support rebel forces in the field, many jumped to conclusions and asked how Obama could start a war without congressional approval under Article I. White House Spokesman Jay Carney has finally set the record straight. This may look like war but it is really “a time-limited, scope-limited military action.”
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Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Justice, Lawyering, Politics, Society

Obama Orders Limits on Miranda Rights For Domestic Suspects

President Obama has continued his attack on basic constitutional and legal principles with an astonishing new order that allows investigators to not only hold domestic terror suspects for longer periods but to deny them Miranda rights under a strained interpretation of the public safety exception. Obama had attempted to get this change from Congress but was rebuffed. He has now again adopted a tactic of his predecessor and acted unilaterally to trump recognized constitutional rights.
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Constitutional Law, International, Justice, Politics, Society

Obama Administration Supports Illinois Teacher’s Discrimination Claim After Being Denied Leave For Trip To Mecca

There is an interesting case out of Berkeley, Illinois involving alleged religious discrimination. The Obama Administration is supporting former teacher Safoorah Khan who alleged discrimination at her middle school after she was refused leave of three weeks to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca. The school insists that she was the only math lab instructor and would have left at the critical end-of-semester period for the school.

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Environment, Politics, Society

Burn Baby Burn: Obama Massively Expands Coal Exploration As Well As Approving New Offshore Drilling

Environmentalists are again calling foul after the announcement of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar that the Obama Administration has approved the expansion in coal mining and four new permits for deepwater offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. The increased coal production could cause U.S. climate pollution to rise by more than 50 percent, Glenn Hurowitz, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, has claimed that the expansion of the coal production could increase pollution by more than 50 percent.

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Courts, Lawyering, Politics

Wisconsin Conservative Justices Accused Of Adopting Ethics Rules Written By Corporate Lobbyists

Recently, we saw how Wisconsin Justice David Prosser is running for reelection after calling Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson a “total bitch.” Throwing aside notions of judicial decorum, Prosser has insisted that he meant every word, including his promise to “destroy” her. Now, it has been disclosed that Prosser and three of his fellow conservative justices voted to rejected an ethics rule barring them from hearing cases of major campaign contributors and then reportedly adopted a rule drafted by corporate lobbyists.
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Bizarre, Criminal law, Lawyering

Billing for Briefs: Nacchio Sues Law Firm Over “Excessive” Fees and “Negligent” Defense

Former Qwest Communications CEO Joseph Nacchio is suing Herbert Stern and his New Jersey law firm, Stern & Kilcullen LLC for overbilling and a “negligent” defense. Stern’s partner, Kevin Kilcullen, also was named as a defendant. Nacchio includes the allegations that the lawyers charged him for underwear. Please tell me this is a misunderstanding over the meaning of the term “briefs.”

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Bizarre, Lawyering, Media, Science

Nancy Grace Attacks The Weather

CNN’s Nancy Grace has long been an embarrassment for many lawyers as a type of legal Glenn Beck. As noted in this column and prior blogs, Grace (who often refers to her work as a prosecutor) was repeatedly sanctioned for abuses and was viewed as something of a scandal in Alabama. Even in the face of lawsuits, CNN has kept her snarling, abusive show for the same reason Fox has kept Beck — in a blind pursuit of ratings without consideration for decent or journalistic values. This clip, however, shows that Grace not only can attack guests and savage constitutional rights — she feels equally competent to attack meteorologists over weather and science.
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International, Military, Politics

Tchau: Germany Pulls Out of Libyan Campaign as Brits Call To Assassinate Libyan Leader

As the costs of the latest military campaign in Libya reaches hundreds of millions of dollars for the United States, Germany is pulling out of the operation out of concern over being pulled deeper in the conflict. In the meantime, Britain is expanding the mission to call for the assassination of Gaddafi — the leader of a sovereign nation in the midst of a civil war.

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Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Politics, Society

Ninth Circuit (En Banc) Affirms Earlier Ruling Striking Down Stolen Valor Act

The Ninth Circuit has handed down a decision affirming the earlier decision striking down the Stolen Valor Act. Passed in 2005, the Act has been criticized by civil libertarians as an attack on free speech. Here is a prior column on the Act. Now, Chief Judge Alex Kozinski has added his own voice to this debate — finding such lies protected under the first amendment. In a concurring opinion, Kozinski notes “Saints may always tell the truth, but for mortals living means lying.”

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