Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Religion, Society

ISIS Plants Land Mines and Explosives Around Ancient City of Palmyra

Palmyra,_view_from_Qalaat_Ibn_Maan,_Temple_of_Bel_and_colonnaded_axisThe Islamic State terror group (ISIS) appears to be preparing to destroy one of humanity’s greatest treasures: the ancient city of Palmyra. The Islamic extremists want to destroy any Western or non-Islamic forms of architecture or art or culture in their total devotion to the Koran. We have written about the past destruction of cities like Nimrod and Hatra that have left the civilized world in shock. Now, the group appears to have it sights on Palmyra, one of the most extensive and beautiful of the ancient cities left in Syria.

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Academia, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Media, Society

Former Student Sues Amherst College Over The Denial Of Due Process In His Expulsion Over An Allegedly False Rape Charge

Amherst_College_Seal.svgA male student identified as “John Doe” has sued Amherst College for allegedly denying him due process and ignoring evidence that he says proved another students Sandra Jones, lied about an alleged rape at the college. This is the second such lawsuit accusing the school of stripping students of due process in the handling of sexual harassment or assault claims. I have previously written about my concerns over the heavy-handed measures that the Obama Administration has forced on universities over the objections of faculty and students alike in such cases.

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

Kuwait Sentences Female Activist and 21 Others For Reading From Speech Critical Of Emir

PrisonCell220px-Sheikh_Sabah_IVIn 1991, President Bush announced the start of military operations to free Kuwait from the ravages of dictatorship after the invasion of Iraqi forces. He promised to restore Kuwait and its people to freedom. In the years following the liberation however Kuwait’s government has repeatedly shown that real freedom was confined to its ruling family and not average Kuwaitis. The sentencing in absentia of Rana Jassem al-Saadun is only the latest example. The female rights activist was given three years in jail for simply repeating parts of a speech by an opposition leader that was critical of Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, Kuwait’s authoritarian leader.

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Animals, Bizarre, International, Society

Controversial Chinese Festival Goes Forward With Slaughter of 40,000 Dogs and 10,000 Cats

220px-Terrier_mixed-breed_dogDespite heroic efforts of Chinese animal rights activists, the controversial Yulin Festival in China’s southern Guangxi province occurred on Sunday with the slaughter of up to 40,000 dogs and 10,000 cats — a practice widely condemned for its cruelty. Thousands of cats and dogs have been slaughtered at the Yulin Festival despite government promises to end the practice which has been condemned internationally on grounds of animal cruelty.

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Uncategorized

The saddest case, but best decision, out of the SCOTUS last week

By Cara L. Gallagher
Weekend Contributor

Last week, six cases rained down on us in one day at the Supreme Court. While the church signs and “bath salts” opinions got our attention, as did the bizarre and tragic timing of the Confederate flag drivers license decision, none of those stayed with me the entirety of the weekend like Ohio v. Clark. This is a case that all teachers, administrators, and parents should know about. Last Thursday, the Supreme Court announced a critical decision about conversations between students and teachers in schools around the country. Continue reading “The saddest case, but best decision, out of the SCOTUS last week” →

Animals, Justice

Brave Cat Named “National Hero Dog” After Child’s Rescue

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

Tara
Tara

A hero cat gained international acclaim and interest for saving a six year old boy from a vicious attack by a marauding dog. She was thus awarded The Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ National Hero Dog prize.

Madeleine Bernstein, president of the local ASPCA chapter, stated: “We were so impressed by Tara’s bravery and fast action that the selection committee decided that a cat this spectacular should be the National Hero Dog.”

The cat, Tara, who lives in Bakersfield, CA received the 33rd annual award—presented to her family in a ceremony in Los Angeles.

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Uncategorized

Who should draw districts – politicians or independent commissions?

By Cara L. Gallagher
Weekend Contributor

GerrymanderArizona’s political civil war calls our attention back to the Supreme Court for another case about political elections. The dispute in Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission rests on the definition of who holds the power of a critical component of political agency in a state – the power to redraw districts. In 37 states, the legislatures have the power to redraw districts. Arizona used to be one of those states until, in 2000, voters changed the state Constitution redistributing that power from legislators to an independent, bipartisan commission. Continue reading “Who should draw districts – politicians or independent commissions?” →

International, Society

Blood Money Marriage Returns To Iraq

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

Flag of IraqThe vacuum brought forth by the absence of a strong state has led to increasing numbers of young women cast into forced marriages as compensation for perceived grievances between tribes. These marriages, called Fasliya Marriage for an Arabic word meaning marriages arranged for compensation, pose a serious threat to the civil rights of women in these tribes as they become pawns to be bartered between warring factions.

The increasing tribal tensions in areas of Iraq, and the absence of government law enforcement upholding federal laws banning the practice, has led to increases in frequency of these marriages through the resurrection of traditional tribal forms of conflict resolution.

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Constitutional Law, Courts, Torts

Ninth Circuit Allows Department Of Corrections To Designate “Women Only” Job Categories

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

Washington Department of Corrections Shoulder PatchThe Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling permitting the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) to designate a number of open positions within its prison system that are available solely for female candidates.

The Court held that the DOC articulated a well-founded and researched interest in designating a specific number of female only positions to address issues related to privacy interests of women inmates and to reduce the number of sexual improprieties involving male employees, especially within the state’s prison facility for women located in Washington. The state also articulated successfully the need to employ female only positions for the normal and regular operation of its women’s prisons.

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Society

Blog Hits 26,000,000

200px-Crowd_in_streetJust last March, we passed the 25,000,000 mark and today we hit 26,000,000. We have used these moments to give thanks for our many regular readers around the world and give you an idea of the current profile of readers on the blog. We continue to rank in the top legal blogs in the world and we are continuing to see a growing international readership. As always, I want to offer special thanks for our weekend contributors: Mike Appleton, Larry Rafferty, Darren Smith, Kimberly Dienes, and Cara Gallagher. I particularly want to thank Darren who has continued to help manage the blog and help out folks who encounter posting problems. The increasing traffic on the site is gratifying and reaffirms that there are many people looking for mature and civil debate. While we have some who cannot resist personal attacks, we try to discourage such posters and this site remains remarkably civil for its size. Due to litigation demands, I appreciate all of the effort by the vast majority of posters to keep discussions civil and non-personal. Even among the top sites, I believe that we offer a unique forum of different views and backgrounds in the discussion of law and politics (and a few quirky items).

So here is our current profile:

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Environment, International, Politics, Science, Society

Scientists: Humanity’s End Is Now In Sight

earth-screensaver_largeThe same week as Pope Francis’s historic encyclical warning of the dire dangers posed to humanity over climate change , scientists have issue new warnings that we are likely past the point of no-return to save humanity from catastrophe and possible extinction. Famed Australian microbiologist Frank Fenner, a key figure in the elimination of smallpox in the 1970s, now believes that humans will be extinct in 100 years after making the planet uninhabitable. Others have pointed out that the United States and other nations continue to adopt insufficient targets from carbon reduction and that our passing the critical “3C” threshold now appears all but assured due to opponents and deniers of climate change or reforms.

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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Society

Policing For Dollars: Federal and State Officers Take Life Savings From College Student Despite The Dropping Of All Charges

150617_KentuckyForfeitureEMBED2We have previously discussed “policing for dollars” or “churning” where they seize cash, particularly on highways, as suspected drug money even without actually arresting or charging the drivers. It raises a huge amount of money for police departments and has been widely criticized as abusive. The latest victim of churning appears to be Charles Clarke, 24, who was on his way to take classes at the University of Central Florida. He was stopped at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Hebron, Ky. with his life savings that he was taking with him for safe keeping and to support his education. Since he could not “prove” the source of the money, agents seized the $11,000 and, despite dropping all charges against him, has thus far refused to return the money despite Clarke’s efforts.

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Constitutional Law, Courts, Lawyering, Politics

Kentucky Judge Suspended After Allegedly Threatening to Put “Bullet In the Head” Of Police and Name Calling

8087047_GKentucky Judge Steven D. Combs in Pike County has been temporarily suspended after an array of charges of bizarre comments and actions, including calling officials such names as “Fishface,” “cokehead,” and “Dumbo.” Worst yet, he threatened to put a “bullet in the head” of the next police officer who pulled him over. A temporary suspension until resolution of the 10 charges seems quite modest punishment but his counsel, Stephen Ryan, still conveyed Combs’ “disappointment” with the action taken by the Judicial Conduct Commission.

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Congress, Environment, Free Speech, International, Politics, Religion, Science, Society

Pope Issues Rare Encyclical On Climate Change That Demands Action To Curtail Carbon Emissions To Save Humanity

120px-Pope_Francis_in_March_2013_(cropped)earth-screensaver_largeAs widely rumored, Pope Francis has issued a historic papal encyclical that agrees with the vast majority of scientists that global warming is real, largely caused by mankind, and threatens the very future of humanity. He has called for emergency action to curtail carbon emissions by reducing fossil fuels and developing renewables.

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Bizarre, International, Religion, Society

Malaysian Gymnast Wins Two Gold Medals At Southeast Asia Games . . . Promptly Denounced For Wearing Leotard

Screen Shot 2015-06-18 at 10.11.21 AMWe have often discussed the plight of women in Muslim nations as they fight virtual chattel status in some areas and religiously based discrimination. However, even with this long history of abuse of woman, Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, 21, could be forgiven for being a tad confused. Hadi wowed the audience at the Southeast Asia games with an amazing performance that garnered her nation six medals, including two gold medals. She was then denounced by a chorus of clerics and others for wearing a “revealing” leotard.

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