Two leading Democrats, Jane Harman and Jay Rockefeller admitted that they knew that the CIA intended to destroy the tapes of interrogations of a leading al-Qaida figure, but never knew for sure that the destruction was carried out. The startling news raises serious questions of acts of malfeasance by the Bush Administration and nonfeasance by Democratic members. Continue reading “Democrats Admit Knowledge of the CIA’s Plan to Destroy Tapes”
As the Supreme Court deliberates on the most recent Guantanamo Bay cases and whether detainees can be denied of access to a real court, the Washington Post is reporting that American officials held a teenager for years despite their knowledge that he was innocent. Indeed, only months area the U.S. seized Murat Kurnaz in Pakistan, it concluded that he was not guilty. However, he sat for four more years in Cuba. Continue reading “U.S. Held on to Teenager at Guantanamo for Years After U.S. Concluded that He Was Innocent”
There is an extremely interesting case developing in California over the release of graphic photos ofNicole “Nikki” Catsouras, 18, who was decapitated in a two-car crash on a toll road near Lake Forest, California. Continue reading “California Parents Suing Police for Release of Decapitated Daughter Found on Internet and MySpace”
The Bush Administration is proceeding with its plan to train firefighters to help identify terror suspects in a move that could threaten not just civil liberties but the firefighters themselves. Continue reading “Homeland Security to Train Firefighters to Help Identify Terror Suspects”
The season for fights over holiday displays on government property has begun. In addition to the usual constitutional problems of separating church and state, there are more practical problems like the one in Long Beach, New York: avoiding a race to build the biggest or brightest symbol for one faith. Continue reading “New York Residents Demand Equality in Christmas Tree to Menorah Ratio”
Two attorneys have been criminally charged in novel cases charging theft of coercions and deception after Mary S. Roberts had affairs with men who were later allegedly shook down by her husband for hush money. Continue reading “Two Lawyers Criminally Charged in Bilking Wife’s Lovers in a Novel Pay-to-Play Scheme”
Below is the written testimony on prison and sentencing reform before the House Judiciary Committee scheduled for December 6, 2007. Continue reading “Testimony on Prisoner Reform and Older Prisoners before the House Judiciary Committee”
Given my testimony today in the House Judiciary Committee on prison reform and older prisoners, I thought this previous column may be of interest. Continue reading “Older Prisoners and Overcrowding”
One of the key lessons for avoiding prosecution for brutality is to avoid doing it in front of a camera or thousands of witnesses, or in this case, both. The Honolulu Police Department has opened a criminal investigation after an officer was videotaped beating a man who simply ran onto the field at Aloha Stadium field after a big win of the University of Hawaii football team over Washington. Continue reading “Shock Video: Honolulu Police Department Beat a Fan Who Ran on to Football Field”
Casselberry Police Chief John Pavlis has fired Sergeant Andrea Eichhorn for her lawsuit against a victim in a frivolous slip-and-fall lawsuit. Now, the termination raises additional interesting questions in this sordid affair. Continue reading “Cop Fired After Suing a Victim for a Slip and Fall”
Actor Dennis Quaid and his wife have sued the makers of heparin for the overdosing of their newborn twins after they were given massive doses of the blood thinner at an Indianapolis hospital. Strangely, they have not sued the hospital which clearly erred in selecting the dosage. However, the hospital is not likely to escape litigation since Baxter Healthcare may bring it in as a co-defendant. Continue reading “Dennis Quaid and Wife Sue Baxter Healthcare for Overdose of Newborn Twins”
Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney Todd Hollis is suing the popular website Dontdatehimgirl.com for defamatory entries made by women who claim that he is unfaithful and carried sexually transmitted diseases. Continue reading “Lawyer Sues DontDateHimGirl.com for Allegations of Unfaithfulness and Loathsome Diseases”
Frank Rusek, 69, is accused of killing his wife Erna Sue Rusek, 68, with a shotgun on Feb. 28 and gave two incriminating statements to police. His attorney is now seeking to have the statements suppressed due to the fact that his client was drunk when he waived his rights under Miranda. Continue reading “Pa. Murder Case: Drinking and Confessing Do Not Mix”
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) has put a criminal contempt vote on the schedule for Thursday in a move that could ultimately call for the prosecution of White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten, former White House political director Sara M. Taylor, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove and White House Deputy Political Director J. Scott Jennings in their failure to appear or turn over material on the U.S. attorney firings. Continue reading “Senate Judiciary Vote on Criminal Contempt for Rove and Others Set for This Week”
The Bush Administration has switched the government’s position on an important product liability question in a case that could have profound effects for all Americans. At issue in Riegel v. Medtronic Inc., No. 06-179, is whether citizens are preempted or barred from suing a company for a product that was approved for sale by the Food and Drug Administration. Continue reading “Supreme Court Hears Important Product Liability Case”