The Bush Administration has released torture memos that reveal the extent to which officials laid the groundwork for a criminal defense in its torture program. The 2002 memos instructed interrogators in a good-faith defense for any claim that they were committing federal crimes.
Continue reading “The Bybee Memo: How to Torture and Avoid a Criminal Charge on Technicality”
Andrew Giuliani, son of Rudy Giuliani, has gone to court to fight for his right to golf on teh Duke University team. He was recently thrown off the team with little notice or explanation by its coach, O.D. Vincent. The filing is based on a loose theory of contract, even though decisions of eligibility are generally viewed as matter of discretion for university staff.
Formula One racing head Max Mosley has won a lawsuit in London alleging an invasion of privacy by News of the World for their release of pictures and a video of his sadomasochistic fantasy Nazi-themed party with prostitutes. He denied that the party had a Nazi theme, a view supported by the court. The newspaper was ordered to pay $120,000 plus his legal fees and costs.
Continue reading “Max Mosley Wins Privacy Action for Disclosure of Sadomasochistic Orgy”
A New Zealand judge, Rob Murfitt, has taken custody from parents of a nine-year-old girl so that he can chose a better name than Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii.” It is clear that these parents should be under psychiatric analysis, but there is an interesting question of whether you can lose custody, even briefly, for picking a bad name.
Continue reading “Plain Jane: Judge Orders Name Change for “Talula Does the Hula””
A very interesting decision has emerged out of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Former law school professor (and potential candidate for the Supreme Court) Michael W. McConnell wrote the opinion that the limitation to colleges other than those “pervasively sectarian” violates the Constitution as discrimination against certain religions.
Continue reading “Federal Court Strikes Down Colorado Law Limiting College Scholarships to Exclude “Pervasively Sectarian” Schools”
When Laslo Mujzer, 43, saw the donations in a Florida mall fountain, he clearly decided that he was a good candidate for charity. He took 42 cents before a woman alerted the mall security force. Now, Mujzer is facing a criminal charge of misdemeanor theft. Bail alone costs $500, leaving him $499.58 short.
Continue reading “Man Jailed and Criminally Charged for Theft of 42 Cents”
RoseMary Shell was not willing to become just another jilted bride. When Wayne Gibbs refused to be her husband, a personal injury lawyer was willing to say “I do.” Now a Georgia jury has awarded Shell $150,000 for the breaking of a marital contract by her former fiance. In the meantime, a Hindu family in Massachusetts is suing for a contractual breach in an arranged marriage when the girl proved unattractive.
Continue reading “Something Borrowed, Someone Sued: One Bride Wins $150,000 After Being Jilted While Another is Sued for Being Too “Ugly””
Columnist Robert Novak has a reputation for being an aggressive and fast driver. It may now have put him into legal jeopardy. He is accused of hitting a man in his black Corvette who was lawfully crossing in a pedestrian walkway in Washington and then speeding from the scene — only to be stopped a block away by an attorney who chased him on a bicycle. Novak joked in 2001 about his hatred for jaywalkers and the option of running them over. A video of the aftermath is linked below.
Continue reading “Columnist Robert Novak Accused of a Hit and Run in Washington”
Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac must be wondering why he bothered in 1701 to found the city. Detroit’s government continues its downward spiral toward collapse with new indictments, criminal allegations, and scandal. The federal prosecutors have introduced a superseding indictment alleging more lies from Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick about past affairs. In the meantime, city council members are now under criminal investigation for other crimes while they also engage in bizarre public arguments.
Continue reading “Detroit Descends into Chaos with New Criminal Charges and Investigations”
Dan Glass, a member of the appropriately named climate change pressure group Plane Stupid, unsuccessfully tried to superglue himself to Prime Minister Gordon at a Downing Street reception. He was unsuccessful and worse yet, the British allowed him to stay at the reception after laughing off the attempt.
Continue reading “Politics of Adhesion: PM Gordon Glued to Glass in Plane Stupid Stunt”
The FBI is accused of launching a coordinated effort to bury the results of a finding by an Arizona crime lab analyst, Kathryn Troyer, that individuals may have very similar DNA profiles. The finding throws into question the claims made in court about the unlikelihood of two individuals sharing such similarities. Where such matches have been portrayed as 1 in 113 billion — a virtual guarantee of conviction — it turns out to be more common. Rather than being concerned over past representations in court and the accuracy of its work, the FBI reportedly worked diligently to stop other analysts from performing the same tests and to discourage any citation to the study.
Continue reading “FBI Accused of Trying to Bury Findings That Raised Questions Over DNA Claims”
Oklahoma City may have the largest bestiality case in history — and without question the most disgusting. Diane Sue Whalen 54, and Donald Roy Seigfried, 55, are accused of training their dogs to have sex with Whalen and other women. Whalen was apparently busted by her own son who found 150 tapes of her performing sex acts with the dogs — including a mixed breed and labrador Lucky and Buddy and a blue heeler named Merlin owned by Seigfried. Seigfried allegedly filmed the events.
Continue reading “Oklahoma Couple Arrested in Massive Bestiality Case”
Over the years, various lawsuits have been filed against movie makers for the alleged influence that their films had on kids who acted out stunts or acts of violence. They have been entirely rejected, but there may be one more on the way. Eric Tavulares, 18, strangled his 18 year-old childhood girlfriend, Lauren Aljubouri.
John Hagee may be viewed by many as an antisemite, anticatholic, and virulent homophobe, but that did not stop Senator Joe Lieberman from proudly embracing him as a friend and kindred spirit during Hagee’s Christians United for Israel conference.
Continue reading “Lieberman Appears With Hagee and Embraces the Controversial Pastor”
Speculation is growing that President Bush may pardon those officials responsible for the unlawful programs under his Administration. It will be the subject (and possibly the Sunstein controversy) of my discussion on Countdown tonight.
Continue reading “Is President Bush Preparing a Preemptive Pardon?”