Jose Rodriguez, the man who ordered the destruction of the CIA torture tapes, has retained D.C. lawyer Robert Bennett and has demanded that he be given a grand of immunity by Congress before he testifies. It is a move that could practically cripple any prosecution, as shown by the Oliver North case. Continue reading “Visions of Oliver North: Jose Rodriguez Demands Immunity as Condition for Congressional Immunity in CIA Torture Scandal”
It was an extraordinary scene on the last day of campaigning for New Hampshire voters when two sexist men jumped up and started waving signs that said IRON MY SHIRT and chanting the same line. Clinton immediately seized on the moment, pointing out the sexism that still exists and ordering that the lights be brought up. It infuriated many woman and could well have secured the slim margin of victory in the state for Clinton. It now appears that the protest was a stunt by a radio program by Nick Gemelli and Adolfo Gonzalez — regulars on the “Toucher and Rich” radio show at WBCN in Boston. The question now is what WBCN will do about a shock jock show that may have determined — or certainly contributed to — the outcome of a critical primary. Continue reading ““Iron My Shirt” Protesters of Clinton May Have Been Plants By Radio Station”
As discussed in prior entries, Senator Larry Craig is arguing that his guilty plea is invalid because the underlying conduct cannot be a crime. While the odds are against him, the argument has merit. Continue reading “Craig Challenges Conviction Claiming Hand Signals are Protected Speech and Conduct was Victimless”
A federal grand jury is reportedly investigating possible criminal charges in the suicide case of 13-year-old Megan Meier. At the same time, the state is considering a new law to criminalize the conduct that led to the girl’s suicide after a mother faked the identity of a young boy on MySpace and then cruelly dumped the teenager after she became infatuated with him. The mother and neighbor, Lori Drew, has not been called, but could be a target for criminal charges. Continue reading “Grand Jury Reportedly Investigating Crimes in the Megan Meier MySpace Suicide Case”
The Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal from the decision of the Mississippi Supreme Court to uphold the alienation of affection tort and to award a man $750,000 to be paid by his wife’s lover. Sandra Valentine (yes, Valentine) was accused by her husband of having an affair with her wealthy businessman, Jerry Fitch, and having a baby with him. After divorcing Valentine, Johnny Valentine sued Fitch and won. In its ruling, the Mississippi Supreme Court rejected calls to reject the tort of alienation of affection as antiquated. Continue reading “Supreme Court Refuses Case of Cuckolded Husband Who Won $750,000; Mississippi Supreme Court Upheld Alienation of Affection Tort”
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) has been accused of trading a $2 million earmark in exchange for $30,000 in campaign contributions from Voyager Expanded Learning. Landrieu denies the allegations. However, at a minimum, the scandal should refocus attention on the utter failure of the Democrats to keep their pledge to clean up Congress. Regardless of the merits of these allegations, one obvious question should be why senators are forcing such contracts on the D.C. government or any governmental agency. at a fundraiser held by Voyager’s founder and chairman. Continue reading “Sen. Mary Landrieu Accused of Trading Earmarks for Campaign Contributions”
There has been a spate of recent defamation actions by and against celebrities from Roger Clemens to Tom Cruise and now Jerry Seinfeld. Seinfeld and his wife Jessica Seinfeld have been sued by Missy Chase Lapine over comments made on the David Letterman Show about her and her allegations of plagiarism of a cookbook by Jessica Seinfeld. This one could actually make some interesting new law if it goes the distance. Continue reading “Latest Celebrity Defamation Lawsuit: Jerry Seinfeld and Wife Sued for Defamation”
For those who vaguely remember promises that Democrats would clean up Congress, they might want to look at West Virginia which is dumping ground for $3 billion in earmarks by Sen. Robert Byrd. What is astonishing is that establishment politicians are still scratching their heads over why upstarts like Obama, Huckabee, and Paul are doing so well. They might want to look at the litany of broken promises made by those “with experience” in Washington. Continue reading “Byrd Racks Up $3 Billion in Earmarks — So Much For Budget Reform”
The Georgia Supreme Court is considering a basic law of physics: is a man is banished from the entire state except for a small county in a distant section: how can he get there and, if he does, how can he live. This is the intriguing question presented by a lower court’s sentence that Gregory Mac Terry is banished from all but one of the state’s 159 counties. Banishment has become the rage with state judges but there remains a question of constitutionality, if not impossibility. Continue reading “Georgia Supreme Court Considers the Limits of the Laws of Banishment and Physics”
Umatilla Fire Chief Richard Shirk has resigned after he took photos of a 26-year-old woman being treated by emergency workers, including seminude photos of the victim — who later died. The resignation may not end the controversy if the family sues, as did the family of Nicole “Nikki” Catsouras after pictures of her decapitated body were sent around the Internet by emergency officials. Continue reading “Fire Chief Resigns Over Emailed Photos of Seminude Victim”
Ok, this has absolutely nothing to do with the law or policy. However, there must be some deeper social question revealed from this photograph of a bride, Chidi Ogbuta of Texas, who had herself sculpted into a full-size wedding cake. Continue reading “Nuptials or Cannibals? Bride Serves Up Self to Celebrate Wedding”
In what seems to be a trend among celebrities, Roger Clemens has joined the ranks of celebrities filing defamation lawsuits. In a Texas complaint, Clemens is suing former trainer Brian McNamee for 15 allegedly untrue statements about use of steroids and human growth hormones. On the same day his interview about alleged steroid use was broadcast on “60 Minutes,” Roger Clemens beat Brian McNamee to court, filing a defamation suit against the former trainer who claimed to have injected him with performance-enhancing drugs. Continue reading “Roger Clemens Files Defamation Lawsuit Over Allegations of Use of Performance-Enhancing Drugs”
Not long after the scandal of officials sending pictures of a decapitated Nicole “Nikki” Catsouras to friends on MySpace and the Internet, a fire Chief in Central Florida is accused to sending pictures of an accident victim to friends by e-mail. Umatilla Fire Chief Richard has been suspended after he allegedly took (and later e-mailed) pictures of a 26-year-old woman being treated by emergency workers after she crashed her sport utility vehicle into a tree. The woman died later from her injuries. The pictures include nudity. Continue reading “Another Official Accused of Sending Graphic Pictures of Accident Victims to Friends”
In the latest of a series of interesting cases involving sperm donors and surrogate mothers, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that a sperm donor is not liable for child support. The decision in favor of Joel L. McKiernan reversed lower court decisions compelling him to pay child support despite a promise from Ivonne V. Ferguson, his former girlfriend and co-worker, that she would not ask for such support. Continue reading “Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules In Favor of Sperm Donor Against Mother Claiming Child Support — Despite Earlier Waiver”
In Oliver Twist, Mr Bumble said “If the law supposes that . . . the law is a ass.” It perhaps a lesson now understood by Judith Law who received an extra 90 days to telling South Carolina Circuit Judge Diane Goodstein to “kiss her ass” on a probation revocation order. Continue reading “Mr. Bumble’s Revenge: Judge Sentences Woman to Contempt for Telling Her to Kiss a Certain Body Part”