Juror No. 4 has been located. If you recall, the trial of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens was thrown into disarray by the death of the father of Juror No. 4. In the latter matter, efforts to locate Juror No. 4 were strangely unsuccessful. Now, Marian Hinnant has come forward and admitted that she lied about her dad dying and went to California for a horse race. Her dad is very much alive.
Continue reading “Stevens Juror Admits that She Lied About Dad — Went to Horse Track”
In Los Angeles, there is a case that raises both criminal and tort allegations of a doctor accused of hastening the death of a young man to harvest his organs. Dr. Hootan Roozrokh, a San Francisco transplant surgeon, is accused of the crime 2 1/2 years ago in the death of Ruben Navarro, 25.
Continue reading “California Doctor Faces Criminal Charges for Allegedly Hastening Death To Harvest Organs”
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is under fired after the disclosure of an allegedly embarrassing statement by President Bush during a telephone conversation. Nothing classified mind you. During the call over the global financial crisis, Rudd suggested a meeting of the G20 and Bush responded “What’s the G20?” The group represents the world’s leading economies.
This one is unbelievable. Fifth-grader Jordan Hood was asked to draw a Halloween mask last week at the Pooler Elementary School in Georgia. He did a classic vampire-dripping-blood-with-sharp-teeth picture (see on left). He even wrote “I Kill for Blood,” which is a nice touch. His art teacher thought it was fine and even helped him complete it. However, the picture pushed his homeroom teacher Melissa Pevey off the deep-end of Pooler. She pulled him from class and sent him for psychiatric evaluation. The school even suggested that he might be a member of the Bloods street gang.
Continue reading “Georgia Fifth-Grader Asked to Draw Scary Mask and Then Suspended For It”
I was struck today by a series of stories that caution people to be careful what they ask for. Three stories of men who had heart attacks at different triumphant moments, including one with a newly repaired heart.
The stoning death of Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow for adultery in Somalia was disturbing enough, particularly after the local cleric said that Duhulow asked for the stoning. Now, Amnesty International has reported that Duholow was not 23, as claimed, but only 13 years old and had been raped by three men. BBC reports that these grown men slowly stoned her to death as the little girl begged “Don’t Kill Me, Don’t Kill Me.” A signature moment for these Sharia courts.
Continue reading “Islamic Court in Somalia Orders Men to Stone to Death 13-Year-Old Rape Victim for Adultery”
Former Deputy Sheriff Chu Vue has been charged with the killing of state correctional officer Steve Lo. In a bail hearing, it was revealed that Vue allegedly had a classic motive for the killing: an affair between his wife and Lo.
Continue reading “Vue to a Kill: Police Officer Suspected in Murder of Correctional Guard”
In Virginia, one of the key swing states in the election, it has been well known for months that there would be a likely record turn out. However, early voting problems are being reported across the state. Much like Ohio in 2004, people are reporting what appears to be a knowing failure to properly staff election offices to accommodate the crowds, forcing people to either leave or wait for hours. I personally witnessed the problem this weekend.
Continue reading “Virginistan: Problems Begin to Appear with Early Voting in Key State”
Quentin Patrick, 22, an ex-convict in Sumter, South Carolina shot and killed a trick-or-treater T.J. Darrisaw who came to his home on Halloween — spraying nearly 30 rounds with an assault rifle from inside his home after hearing a knock on the door. T.J.’s 9-year-old brother, Ahmadre Darrisaw, and their father, Freddie Grinnell, were injured but were released after being treated at a hospital.
Continue reading “South Carolina Man Shoots and Kills 12-Year-Old Trick-or-Treater”
If SNL with McCain was not funny enough, many people are tuning into the tape below where Sarah Palin speaks to French President Nicolas Sarkozy in what turned out to be a prank call from a Quebec radio station. In the call, Sarkozy speaks about his sex life and shooting animals with Palin, who states that she might be president in eight years. (A curious statement since McCain will not run again in four years. The only person hoping for a two-term run in this election is Obama).
Continue reading “Palin Falls for Prank Call From Faux Nicolas Sarkozy”
John and Cindy McCain were hilarious last night on Saturday Night Live. In the video below, McCain teams up with Tina Fey in a QVC take-off that shows a much funnier side of McCain, who has always done surprisingly well on these shows, as the past clips below show.
Continue reading “Video: John McCain on SNL as “The True Maverick: A Republican Without Money””
Thank God the elections are finally heading to the courts — and legal commentators.
Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) has sued Democratic opponent Al Franken for defamation over Franken’s television ads claiming that Coleman is the fourth most corrupt senator in Washington. This would actually make for an interesting case.
Continue reading “Sen. Norm Coleman Sues Al Franken for Defamation”
Elections are rarely fun for constitutional law scholars to watch. Both Democrats and Republicans mutilate the Constitution to fit into neat political pitches and soundbites. However, Gov. Sarah Palin has reached a new low with her interpretation of the first amendment as threatened by criticism of her views in the media. Palinprudence is to Jurisprudence but Palintology is to Paleontology. Just as Palin believes man walked with dinosaurs, she appears to believe that free speech demands that people allow her to speak without contradiction.
Continue reading “Palinprudence: My First Amendment Rights are Threatened by Criticism”
Sarah Maple, 23, is a Muslim and an artist in London has triggered a firestorm within the Muslim community. She has been threatened and the front glass windows of the gallery smashed over her portrayal of her own religion. This includes a work showing a woman in a headscarf holding a pig.
Continue reading “Muslims Attack Attack Art Gallery and Artist Over Muslim Art Display In London”
Tara Miller, a teacher at the Faith Ringgold School of Arts and Science in Hayward, California is under attack this week after parents learned that she asked her kindergarteners to sign card pledging to support gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people. Putting aside how much a 5-year-old would know about transgender people, Miller wants the cards filled out as part of National Ally Week.