Bizarre, Congress, Constitutional Law, Politics, Society

Scalia Agrees To Speak To New Conservative Members on the Constitution

Associate Justice Antonin Scalia is again in the midst of controversy with his decision to accept an invitation from Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) to speak to incoming conservative members about the Constitution as part of their training. Bachmann, the founder of the House’s Tea Party Caucus, is leading efforts to repeal health care and seek new legislation based on a more conservative view of the Constitution. The decision to participate in such an event shows exceedingly poor judgment.

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Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Politics, Society

California Supreme Court Allows Warrantless Searches of Cell Phones

The California Supreme Court has handed down an important ruling that allows police to search an arrested person’s cellphone without a warrant — a ruling that will allow police access to a wide array of information now kept on modern cellphones.
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Academia, Bizarre, Media, Politics, Society

Publisher Announces Intention to Edit Huckleberry Finn To Remove N-Word

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are widely viewed as an American classic. However, the editors of NewSouth Books have decided that they need to do some editing. The editors have decided to remove the “n” word from the book and replace it with “slave.” The editing of a classic raises very troubling questions from the right of an author to have his works remain unchanged to the integrity of literary and historical works. Like all great works, the book must be read with an understanding of the mores and lexicon of its time.
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Bizarre, Criminal law, Lawyering, Politics, Society

Vermont Supreme Court Decides Not To Disbar Former Traffic Court Judge Who Caused Accident with Biker, Left Scene of Accident, Falsely Blamed Wife, and Gave False Statement To Police

Vermont lawyer Melvin Neisner Jr. has been suspended but not disbarred after he caused a car accident in September 2007 and then had his wife falsely claim that she was the driver — even watching as she was arrested and charged with the accident.

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Animals, Bizarre, Environment, International

Happy Feet, Unhappy Landing: Penguin Chooses Poor Escape Route From German Zoo

A penguin in Germany has learned the meaning of “out of frying pan and into the fire.” The penguin named Leona succeeded in escaping from her enclosure only to find itself in the Lion’s den with a bunch of sleeping lions. I am not sure what passes for swearing among African Penguins, but I am sure if you listened real hard you could hear a few choice words upon the landing of this particular bird.

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Bizarre, Courts, Lawyering

Uncivil Action: Florida Lawyers Sanctioned for Email Exchanges

I just saw this story on ABA Journal as a cautionary warning to those lawyers who allow their emotions to get ahead of their judgment. Two Florida lawyers — Nicholas Mooney and Kurt Mitchell — have been sanctioned for an exchange of emails that included such notable comments as one calling the other a “scum sucking loser.” The state supreme court was not amused.

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Bizarre, Society, Torts

Toddler Left in ER for Hours Until Her Feet and One Hand Are Amputated

We have another case of an alleged horrific injury due to the ever-present delays at emergency rooms in the United States. Malyia Jeffers, 2, was left for hours in the ER at the Methodist Hospital in Sacramento as her Strep A devoured her body. She ultimately lost both of her feet and one of her hands to amputations and she is fighting for her life at Stanford University’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.
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Courts, International, Military, Politics

Why Doesn’t Senator Graham want to ever leave Afghanistan?

SUBMITTED BY LAWRENCE RAFFERTY, GUEST BLOGGER

I had a very peaceful Sunday afternoon watching my beloved Bears take it on the chin against their biggest rival, the Green Bay Packers.  It was sadly peaceful until I read a story that quoted Sen. Lindsey Graham on Meet the Press as stating that he wanted the United States to maintain permanent military bases in Afghanistan even after all NATO forces are transitioned out by the year 2014.  I thought the Bears had done enough to tie my stomach in knots, but Lindsay Graham’s statements forced me to find the last remaining antacid in the house!

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Academia, International, Society

Heroes Rush In Where Police Fear To Tread

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

We’ve read several times on this blog about police reluctance to help drowning victims and even to prohibit family members from leaping into the water to save their loved ones (here) when authorities refuse to help. Seems the policy is now international. Scottish police stood idly by, keeping back onlookers, as a 37 year-old woman thrashed about in the water near Glasgow’s  Albert Bridge  and repeatedly called for help.

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Politics, Society

The Bieber Boycott

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

Construction worker and Brooklyn native Andy Sullivan is one of the most vocal opponents of Park51, the mosque and cultural center near ground zero. Sullivan has appeared on the Fox Business channel touting his efforts to enlist other construction workers to sign a petition that states they won’t work on the Park51 site. Now, Sullivan has set his sights on Justin Bieber, the Canadian pop sensation. Sullivan is encouraging a boycott of all things Bieber.

Sullivan cites a Bieber interview from Tiger Beat.

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Bizarre, Courts, Criminal law, Justice, Society, Things That Tick Me Off

Pa. Man Steals Video Game From Teenager’s Coffin

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Pittsburgh area police have arrested 37-year-old Jody Lynn Bennett on suspicion that he stole a hand-held video gaming system  from the coffin of 17-year-old Bradley McCombs, who died in a Christmas Day SUV crash. Seems the respectful, but sticky fingered mourner, attended the viewing to pay his respects. In exchange for his “payment,” he stole the electronic device and three games  from the decedent’s coffin. Bennett fled the funeral home after being confronted by family members.

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