One of the least discussed aspect of the killing of cop-killer Micah Xavier Johnson is that it appears to be the first police killing via a robot. Rather than risk officers in a further fire fight, the police used an explosive ordnance disposal robot to carrying a small amount of C4 explosive into the room and detonate the C4 on an extension next to Johnson. The robotic killing raises some interesting questions under Tennessee v. Garner.
Continue reading “The Rise Of The Machines: Killing of Cop Killer Johnson May Be The First Lethal Use of Robot”
Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell, 23, is under fire for a grotesque image posted on Instagram showing a man dressed in all black slitting the throat of a police officer. It is a disgusting image that few of us would have even contemplated showing to another person, let alone posting on social media. Yet, Crowell posted the image with a statement “Mood: They give polices all types of weapons and they continuously choose to kill us…(hashtag)Weak” After an immediate outcry, Crowell removed the image and insisted issued a long statement that sounded like it was the product of a room of panicked NFL and Browns lawyers. The question is now the response of the NFL to the posting. Update: Notably, the first black Miss Alabama was suspended on Tuesday for calling Micah Johnson a “martyr” for killing the five police officers.
Warning the image below is graphic and disturbing.
I have long been a critic of the Supreme Court justices engaging in public appearances where they hold forth on contemporary issues and even pending matters before the Court. I have been particularly critical of the late Justice Antonin Scalia and Associated Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who clearly relished appearances before ideologically supportive groups. I have called this trend the “rise of the celebrity justice.” Now, Justice Ginsburg has started another firestorm over public comments where she joked that she would move to New Zealand if Donald Trump is elected. Canon 5 of the judicial ethical rules expressly states that judges shall not “make speeches for a political organization or candidate, or publicly endorse or oppose a candidate for public office.” The problem is that the Court has long maintained that ethical codes are not enforceable against its members as opposed to every other jurist in the country. This absurd position has continued because Congress has failed to act, something that I have previously criticized. Ginsburg’s statements this week reflects the continued sense of impunity enjoyed by justices who violate the core maxim that “no man shall be the judge of his own case.” The justices are the judges of their own ethical cases and they show vividly why that is a dangerous and corrupting power.
Continue reading “DID JUSTICE GINSBURG VIOLATE JUDICIAL ETHICS IN HER CRITICISM OF DONALD TRUMP?”
We have previously discussed cases involving the view of many Muslims that dogs are unclean. Now, Saudi Arabia has again taken Islamic values to a far extreme by arresting two men for simply organizing a dog pageant in Jeddah. That’s it. They simply wanted to pick the 10 best dogs in the Kingdom so they were arrested for an “un-Islamic” act .
Continue reading ““Best In Show”: Saudi Arabia Arrests Two Men Organizing A Dog Pageant”
Police in Urbana, Illinois appeared to throw well-established constitutional law to the curb with an abusive arrest of Bryton, Mellott, 22, who filmed himself burning the American flag. The Wal-Mart employee was charged with flag desecration despite two Supreme Court cases clearly saying that such an act is constitutionally protected. Now, after various experts (including myself) said that the arrest was unconstitutional, the police have dropped the charges. However, there remains the question of any discipline against the officers and supervisors involved in such a facially unconstitutional case.
Continue reading “Illinois Police Drop Charges Against Man For Burning American Flag”
If you guessed spraying gasoline on a woman who criticized her for smoking at a gas pump, you are a genius. Kimberly Brinton, of Meshoppen, Pa., was arrested for aggravated assault and other charges at the Mehoopany Dandy Mart, about 30 miles northwest of Scranton.
Continue reading “Can You Guess What This Person Was Charged With?”
We finally boarded our delayed Delta flight after midnight and began our long flight home. I took this and the pictures below out of the plane window as we said goodbye to Alaska and all of the new friends that we made there over the two weeks. We left as we had arrived: enthralled by the immense beauty and wildness of this place. We want to come back as soon as possible. There is no place on Earth like Alaska and Alaskans are some of the most unique and interesting people that you will ever hope to meet. We packed a huge amount into these two weeks and only scratched the surface of things to do in Alaska.
On our final day in Alaska, we woke up in Girdwood and went out for our final hike. We chose Winner’s Trail which we expanded by adding a few miles on the Upper Winner’s trail. It was a wonderful way to cap off so many hikes and sites in Alaska. We then drove to Anchorage to take a late flight.
The tenth day of our trip to Alaska was spent in Girdwood where I spoke to the Alaska Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys (AKACDL). I spent much of today at the speeches, but Jack and I joined AKACDL members on the top of the mountain at the beautiful Glacier restaurant. It was a spellbinding night to take the tram to the top of the mountain for our final evening in Alaska.
We spent the night at the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood and went out on the eighth day to hike in the wonderful mountains around the resort. We chose to do the more demanding North Face hike, which we made even more challenging by going off trail. It was incredible because on the top of the mountain we literally hiked through the clouds.
The highlight of the day (and perhaps the trip) was our kayaking to the Blackstone glacier. Once again, we followed the advice of our Alaska fairy Godmother, Judy White of RaftDenali, who suggested the Alaska Sea Kayakers. It was a truly religious experience as we kayaked through ice flows and visited various glaciers as they calved ice. We paddled around seals and hundreds of arctic birds in cold, steel blue waters. This is a very pricey trip (around $375 each) because you are transported with your kayaks to the glaciers and guided for the day. However, if you can cut corners on other expenses and swing the cost, this is very worth it. It was an experience that neither Jack nor I will forget. The beauty of this place is very hard to describe and should ideally be experienced from inside of a kayaking. While we were dead tired at the end (neither of us are kayakers), we were left in awe of the Prince William Sound and the glaciers.
Continue reading “DAY EIGHT (PART II): THE BLACKSTONE GLACIER”
Our eighth day in Alaska was, in a word, a wonderment. We drove from the Chugach Outdoor Center (after an awesome day white water rafting) to the secluded town of Whittier. After spending the night, we went on a full day of rafting with the Alaska Sea Kayaking company to the Blackstone glacier area (which I will discuss in a second posting). Whittier itself however deserves its own posting.
Our seventh day in Alaska brought us back to the Alaska rivers with a wonderful adventure with Chugach Outdoor Center in Hope, Alaska. Chugach is an outstanding company that is owned by Jay Doyle and is associated with RaftDenali. They have an incredible program for running Class III-V rapids through the canyons in the gorgeous Chugach National Park. After the rafting adventure, Jack and I drove to Whittier — a tiny town of 200 that is one of the most remote and one of the most interesting places that I have ever visited. The drive to Hope is incredible as the immense grandeur of the Kenai Peninsula area opens up in front of you.
I wanted to wish everyone as wonderful and safe Fourth of July. This holiday has particular meaning for many of us as we fight those who wish to destroy liberty and to terrorize people into submission. However, it is also a holiday to remember dangers closer to home from those who would deny free speech and due process from colleges to Congress.
Our sixth day in Alaska, Jack and I drove and stayed overnight in the tiny town of Talkeentna. While we intended to take a flight around Denali and land on a glacier, a huge weather system moved in and, while we waited in Talkeentna to see if it would clear, we finally bailed and drove to Anchorage. However, the drive was wonderful with stops in some unique Alaskan spots, including one of the most unique individuals that I have ever met: Mike Carpenter.