It appears that neither judges nor police officers in Douglasville, Georgia have heard of the use of a scarf for religious purposes or, more likely, didn’t care about the religious practice. Lisa Valentine was arrested after she was ordered to remove the scarf, or hijab. Valentine, who goes by the Muslim name Miedah, refused and tried to leave the courthouse when she was barred by officers who took her to appear before Judge Keith Rollins who appears to have a little judgment as training as a jurist. He jailed her for 10 days.
Lillo Brancato Jr. has been acquitted in the 2005 killing an off-duty New York City police officer but found guilty of attempted burglary. The actor from The Sopranos and A Bronx Tale could still be sentenced to 15 years in prison for the lesser offense.
There is an interesting tort case in Iowa where Jeffrey Tigges of Dubuque, was found by his wife to have secretly mounted cameras in their bedroom and filmed them in private. A court awarded Cathy Tigges (now divorced) $22,500 for invasion of privacy.
Continue reading “Iowa Rules Against Husband Who Secretly Videotaped Wife in Bedroom”
Former Chief U.S. District Judge Edward W. Nottingham Jr. has not filed a response to misconduct allegations that may lead to him losing his bar license. Nottingham resigned after a long scandal involving prostitutes and strip joints.
Continue reading “Judge Nottingham Silent on Bar Charges Threatening His License”
The Iranian regime celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in true Iranian fashion: they shutdown the respected Center for Defenders of Human Rights in Tehran. The group was planned a celebration of the Universal Declaration when the police raided their office and charged it with such unspeakable crimes as “publishing statements, writing letters to international organizations, and holding press conferences.”
Continue reading “Happy Anniversary: Iran Raids Leading Human Rights Organization”
A Saudi court has refused to annul the marriage of an eight-year-old girl who was married off by her father to a 58-year-old man. The Unayzah court says that it would prefer the girl to remain married to the man until she reaches puberty — a curious solution to child abuse. The girl’s divorced mother has been trying to annul the marriage.
Continue reading “Saudi Court Refuses to Annul Marriage of 8-Year-old to 58-Year-Old Man”
If nationalists in Iraqi have Muntadar al-Zeidi, environmentalists in the United States have found Tim DeChristopher, 27. DeChristopher didn’t throw hiking boots recently to stop the controversial Bush lease-off of public lands for drilling. He used a bidding paddle. DeChristopher went to the bidding and intentionally drove up prices and actually bought 10 parcels for $1.8 million to protect thousands of acres of land near Utah’s national parks. The only problem is that he is short $1.8 million. Oil and gas people are now calling for his prosecution and rebidding to get the public lands at a steal at a new U.S. Bureau of Land Management lease auction. Being a “nuisance bidder” could now result in jail time.
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chool officials in Celina, Texas have not only decided to violate federal law but they have decided to flaunt their refusal to comply with constitutional rulings of the Supreme Court. The school continues to incorporate Christian prayers into its games. In a recent game, Celina coach Butch Ford said: “Our goal (against Liberty Hill) was to play with the joy of the Lord in our heart so we’d play excited all of the time, and we wouldn’t be down no matter what happened….” They might not be the only ones “excited all of the time” that they play.
Continue reading “Pray to Play: Texas School Defies Supreme Court on Prayer at Games”
An interesting decision by an Ohio Municipal Court was just posted in State of Ohio v. Bontrager, (OH Munic. Ct., June 24, 2008). The court explored a free exercise challenge by Adam Bontrager who refused to install a septic tank because the use of electricity would violate his Amish beliefs. In the end, sewage treatment trumped free exercise.
Continue reading “Ruling: Amish Man Loses Religious Challenge to Septic Tank”
This is what happens when mice see The Tale of Despereaux. The Durham Region Humane Society was recently gutted in a fire that killed 100. The culprits were mice which chewed through electrical wires.
Continue reading “Mice Kill Over 100 Cats in Fire in Ontario”
Attorney Damon Rossi, 38, was arrested last week for a curious crime: giving candy to his client in a Prescott, Arizona courtroom. Rossi had asked if he could give his client the candy and was told no. Seeing that his client was hungry, Rossi gave it to him anyway, asking “what are you going to do, arrest me?” The answer came the next day when he was arrested at his home.
Continue reading “Mr. Goodbar: Attorney Arrested for Giving Client Candy in Court”
Sandra Howery may not be the most popular homecoming queen candidate but she is certainly the most litigious. Howery is suing Sacramento State University after it failed to make her Queen despite what she alleges was more points in favor of her selection.
Continue reading “Royal Mess: Sacramento Student Sues Over Rejection as Homecoming Queen”
Planned Parenthood of Indiana is reeling from the disclosure of an undercover video showing a counselor telling a woman posing as a 13-year-old girl that she doesn’t care about the age of the man who impregnated her — a violation of state law. The video below was shot by an anti-abortion group called Live Action.
In a surprising reversal, California Attorney General Jerry Brown asked the California Supreme Court on Friday to overturn Proposition 8 on the grounds that it violates basic rights guaranteed in the state Constitution. Brown had said that he would be duty bound to support the initiative in the courts. Traditional marriage advocates are now moving to retroactively invalidate the marriages of same-sex couples married before Proposition 8 passed in a the new round of litigation. Continue reading “Brown Seeks to Overturn Proposition 8 as L”
It appears that, just as O.J. Simpson proved a bonanza for Bruno Magli shoes, Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi has triggered a run on brown, thick-soled “Model 271” shoes — the type that he hurled at Bush. Istanbul-based producer Baydan Ayakkabicilik San. & Tic. is rushing to fill orders for the shoes which will be renamed “The Bush Shoe” or “Bye-Bye Bush.” No stylish anti-American or anti-Bush male would be caught dead without a pair.
Continue reading “Classic Model 271: Turkish Company Struggles to Meet Demand for “Bush Shoes””