Academia, Free Speech, International, Media, Politics, Society

Cardiff and Tufts Universities: Two Divergent Paths On Free Speech

unknownunknown-3We recently discussed the courageous stand of the University of Chicago in favor of free speech (a position followed by schools like Purdue). We can now add the Cardiff University in Wales as a school standing with free speech principles over demands for censorship and “safe zones”. Conversely, student leaders at Tufts University unanimously voted against a measure protecting free speech by addressing the vague and fluid terms used to curtail free speech.

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Bizarre, Criminal law

The Elder Wand Goes Missing . . . Again

elderwand4It was bound to happen once He Who Must Not Be Named lost it in the duel with Harry Potter. Police in Bangkok are looking for the infamous Elder Wand. Natdanai Asavaruks went to see the latest Harry Potter movie, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” and let the Elder Wand in his car. When he returned, it was gone.
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Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Media, Politics, Society

Trump Calls For Punishing Those Who Burn The American Flag

495px-Donald_Trump_by_Gage_SkidmoreDonald Trump has set off a new controversy with a signature early morning tweet. Trump lashed out at those who burn American flags and said that they should be punished for their actions. The problem is that this question was already answered by the Supreme Court, which found that such acts (while despicable) are constitutionally protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

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Bizarre, Media, Politics, Society, Torts

Reporter Resigns After Receiving Threats Over Investigative Story

heidi-hemmat-two-youtubeThere is an interesting case out of Denver where Heidi Hemmat at KDVR Fox 31 has resigned after death threats tied to her investigation of a local business. The threat however was not made to her directly but reported by the psychiatrist treating the owner. It appears to be a direct application of the ruling in Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California, 17 Cal. 3d 425, 551 P.2d 334, 131 Cal. Rptr. 14 (Cal. 1976), requiring doctors to disclose threats made by patients to their potential victims.

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Bizarre, International

Putting Taste On Ice: Controversies Swirl Around Ice Rinks In Japan and Russia

screen-shot-2016-11-29-at-7-16-24-amBad taste on ice seems to be the theme this week. First, the wife of President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman faced a storm of criticism on Monday for performing a Holocaust-themed ice-dancing routine with striped costumes based on concentration camp uniforms. Then an ice rink in Kitakyushu, Japan, was shocked when skaters had objections to their arrangement of dead fish in frozen patterns under the ice for them to enjoy. For most skaters, Space World had them lost them at “hello.”

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Military

Ex-Marine Pleads Guilty to Stealing The Valor Of Fellow Marine To Secure A House and Other Benefits

3ad2feb100000578-0-image-m-7_1480341508768casey-owensI have previously criticized past prosecutions for stolen valor (here and here) as a threat to the first amendment. Such cases are deterred through social stigma and simple research. We have criminal laws allowing for the prosecution of those who use false claims to secure financial gain or benefits. Such is the case with former Marine Brandon Blackstone, who stole a combat veteran’s story of valor to secure a house and benefits. He is now facing 21 years in jail for his crimes in assuming the valor of Casey Owens, left, who lost both legs in combat. Blackstone served in the same unit as Owens.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Politics, Religion

Indonesia Sharia Court Orders The Flogging Of Woman Seen In Public With Male Non-Family Member And Others Deemed UnIslamic in Lifestyle

We have long discussed the abusive Sharia system and its use to impose medieval justice on whole populations in the name of Islamic justice.  The latest outrage comes out of our close ally, Indonesia.  Videotapes this week show a woman screaming in pain as she was flogged for merely being seen with a male who was not a family member.  Others were flogged for premarital sex  or gambling or drinking alcohol in the barbaric public spectacle in Banda Aceh.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics

THE RESURRECTION OF GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS

DCIA_David_PetraeusWe have long discussed the sweetheart deal given General David Petraeus, who violated core professional and national security rules only only to avoid any jail time. It is part of what I have called our Animal Farm system where some people are more equal than others. Now Petraeus is under consideration for the positions of Secretary of State. It is an ironic twist since his predecessor in such a position was accused of recklessly compromising national security — the very allegations raised with regard to Petraeus.

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Academia, Bizarre, Media, Politics, Society

GW Student Groups Denounce Campus Security Protection As “Act of Violence”

150px-GWUlogoGeorge Washington (where I teach at the law school) has become the focus of national attention due to a letter sent out by a collection of student groups that declared the security supplied by campus police to be an “act of violence” because police are viewed as supporting President-elect Donald Trump. It is an absurd and insulting position — part of a tirade by the groups calling for everything from providing sanctuary to undocumented immigrants to breaking down patriarchy, Islamophobia, and a myriad of other social ills.  The deep sense of community and societal concerns reflected in the letter is a good thing and something that this university has always fostered.  However, the gratuitous slap at our campus police is neither productive nor warranted.

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Animals, Bizarre, Criminal law, Environment

Georgian Man Allegedly Grabs Hammerhead Shark, Repeatedly Punches It, Takes Picture Of Child On It, and Leaves It To Die . . . But Is Only Charged With Misdemeanor

We have previously discussed outrageous acts by people passing around dolphins or other sea creatures for selfies — only to kill the animals (here and here and here). The latest alleged moron is Granger Ray Wooten, 21, who is accused of beaching a hammerhead shark, repeatedly punching it, and then taking photos of it.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Media, Religion, Society

Beauty in the Eye Of The Abuser: Morocco Television Shows Women How To Cover Up Bruises From Domestic Violence

screen-shot-2016-11-27-at-12-31-45-pmThe beating of women in Islamic countries remains a serious concern, particularly after Islamic clerics advised men how to beat their spouses in Islamically correct ways (here and here and here). With the rise of Islamic parties in Morocco, women are particularly concerned. This concern was magnified recently with the airing of a state television program on how women can use makeup to cover bruises left by domestic violence.

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Constitutional Law, Free Speech, International, Media, Military, Politics

DEATH OF A DICTATOR: FIDEL CASTRO DEAD AT AGE 90

250px-fidel_castro_-_mats_terminal_washington_1959-1Longtime Cuban leader Fidel Castro is dead at age 90. While many around the world spoke highly of Castro’s success in greatly reducing illiteracy and proving basic services like health care, I have long been critical of his reign and his enablers in the West. Whatever success he achieved, he did so through a brutal dictatorship that denied freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and other basic civil liberties. For those of us who grew up in the 60s and 70s, he was a defining character of our generation. The menace across the border. When we were being taught to shelter under our desks in any nuclear attack, it was his image with that of the Soviet premier that would be flashed across the screen. It was a time of utter madness and mania — on both sides of the Iron Curtain.

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Bizarre, Society

Trump Supporter On Flight Yells Profanities At Passengers . . . Delta Allows Man To Take The Flight Anyway [UPDATED]

3ab98d4400000578-0-image-a-81_1480006785312Ok, what is wrong with this picture? A video taken by passenger Emma Baum shows an obnoxious man yelling support for Donald Trump on her flight and calling other passengers “Hillary bitches.” Delta proceeds to take the man off the plane but then returns the man to his seat and allows him to take the flight. Come again? A passenger yells profanities and abuses other passengers and Delta still reportedly allows him to take that flight with those passengers? Update: Delta has now banned the man from Delta flights for life.

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