I returned yesterday from a wonderful visit in Philadelphia where I spoke at the ABA conference on Labor and Employment law. For a constitutional scholar, trips to Philly will always have a certain sacred feel. I never visit without stopping by Independence Hall and walking around that wonderful building. From the great food to the great history, Philly remains a fun city to visit. We often use this blog as a travel blog for our readers who travel on business or fun and I have a few recommendations to share.
I have previously written about how some attorneys continue to ignore bar standards encouraging firms to show basic professionalism and decorum in advertising, including truly bizarre pitches for clients. The vast majority of lawyers show great restraint in deference to the standards of our profession. But there remains a minority of lawyers to have joined a race to the bottom in creating juvenile, unprofessional advertisements like Bryan Wilson in Texas. Wilson has opted for an obnoxious advertisement showing himself screaming about being the “Texas Law Hawk.” While many relish lawyers demeaning themselves and find this type of ad funny, it is a disgrace to the profession and no doubt an embarrassment to Texas Tech University where he acquired his legal education. Apparently, the lessons on professionalism did not stick with young Wilson despite reportedly graduating at the top of his class.
Continue reading “Young Texas Lawyer Attracts Notoriety With Screaming “Texas Law Hawk” Ads”
This picture has caused a considerable outcry not just because it shows someone in blackface but who the person is. This is San Carlos Apache chairman Terry Rambler who two years ago joined President Barack Obama to denounce the “racially offensive” name of the Washington Redskins. For the purposes of full disclosure, I have been critical of the legal moves to force the team to change its name (though I have no problem with protests and efforts at a boycott for those offended by the team name).
Continue reading “Rambler Goes Reggae: Leading Critics of the Redskins Is Under Fire After Posting Pictures Of Himself In Black Face”
A tragic hit-and-run crime in California has rekindled the controversy over our porous borders after it was learned that Ramon Jaime Horta was not only driving on a suspended license but had been deported six times for criminal offenses from the country. Despite his serving time, Horta showed that he was able to move freely back into the country where he ultimately killed Marcello Bisarello in Santa Ana.
Continue reading “Man Arrested In Fatal Hit-And-Run In California Was Previously Deported Six Times”
By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
Nearly a year and a half ago we featured a story describing the plight of the “Kettle Falls Five” who were arrested by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency on charges relating to marijuana cultivation and firearms violations. I am reprinting here portions of my previous article which has many details of the original case. Now, three of these defendants were sentenced to federal prison.
The confusion as to what constitutes lawful medical marijuana grows with federal deference and ten year punishments for doing so, the United States Department of Justice prosecuted five rural Eastern Washington residents accused of growing seventy-four medical marijuana plants in a private collective. Washington State is a Medical Marijuana State. The accused include a seventy year old man who states he uses the medicine to treat pain from a job related injury, his wife for her arthritis, and their son. The patriarch of the family, the accused Larry Harvey, had the charges dropped but has since died of cancer.
While state law at the time permitted the cultivation of up to forty-five plants, federal law prohibits any cultivation. Originally confusion of the numbers of plants that might be permissible under state law (in aggregate) should take into consideration that multiple individuals had separate grows and this led to a misunderstanding. While the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office told the accused to remove those plants in excess of the amounts allowed, the DEA later arrived and raided their farms.
What compounds the severity for these five individuals is that within the thirty-three acre property, two of the defendants’ residence had inside several firearms, including rifles which are used by the family to hunt and for protection from wild animals. Firearms are very common in residences in rural Eastern Washington. Yet, the firearms in relation to the marijuana grow add an additional five year minimum sentence, adding to the defendants’ minimum of ten years imprisonment, something the senior defendant claimed to be a “death sentence.”
What is rather extraordinary in this effort by the department of justice, despite guidelines in not allocating resources to prosecute medical marijuana patients, the defendants claim it was a misunderstanding of Washington’s medical marijuana laws that caused them to go from legal users to being potentially imprisoned for ten years. Many viewed this case as necessitating jury nullification.
By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
On the 40th anniversary of the murder of two FBI agents, Washington State is honoring the art of the two agents’ killer. It is a shameful and dishonorable act that highlights the man who took the lives of two young law enforcement officers and an affront to their families who have for forty years endured resurrection of this killer in the news with little mention of the fallen officers.
Last Thursday I read of a Native American art exhibit being held at the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries headquarters in Tumwater, Washington. Being a fan of Native American art I travelled to the agency to review the artwork. To my dismay in the main rotunda of the state agency’s offices I saw four paintings from Leonard Peltier along with cards reading how to contact Mr. Peltier’s gallery for purchases of his works. I am familiar with his art and these works are consistent with his style of painting.
Leonard Peltier is currently serving two consecutive life sentences for the 1975 murder of FBI Agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams at the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Now, we have a situation where a government agency is promoting the art of this convicted cop killer, which is only certain to generate controversy in the Law Enforcement Community along with the families of those who have lost their loved ones. The State of Washington is sponsoring a murderer’s artwork and providing free advertisements toward its purchase. I view this as highly unethical and a strong conflict of interest. The State of Washington should not be in the business of helping convicted cop killers profit while in prison. It is an insult to the families of agents Coler and Williams and those who have served in the profession.
The great irony of this affair is that the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries is the agency charged with paying benefits to police officers injured on the job and to also administer the Washington State Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund.
Continue reading “WA State Agency Promoting Art Of Convicted Cop Killer Leonard Peltier”
My speech this week in New York allowed me the opportunity to return to my favorite haunts in the Big Apple like the Metropolitan Museum of Art. However, one uninterrupted tradition for decades was . . . well interrupted. As I have previously discussed, I love to go to Carnegie Deli. While touristy and over-priced, it still had my favorite corned beef and most importantly my favorite Matzo ball soup. As discussed in April, the deli closed after the discovery that it had been stealing gas for years with a dangerous illegal cut into the gas line – the same crime that resulted in the destruction of a building in New York last year with the loss of life. The deli remains closed and the scandals appear to be piling higher than its famous corned beef sandwich. On the bright side, the despicable conduct of the restaurant has led me to pursue a search for my next favorite deli. This trip brought me to the Second Avenue Deli.
I just returned from a speech in New York and a stay at the old classic New York hotel, The Waldorf-Astoria. As someone who loves architecture and old hotels, it is always a thrill to stay at one of the true great “Old Ladies” of Manhattan. Regrettably, I was distressed to find that New Chinese owners seem to be treating the Waldorf-Astoria more like an elderly aunt locked away in an attic while it slowly drains her estate. The Waldorf-Astoria has never looked so bad (and I have been going to the hotel for decades) and the owners appears to be relying solely on its reputation as it milks the clientele for high priced rooms. Service and the facility itself has declined considerably. Worse yet, I am told that the owners plan a renovation and will be replacing historic meeting rooms with retail shops.
I have often used this blog to offer travel blogs and hotel reviews for our many readers to travel, including business travelers who are fortunate enough to have the ability to stay at top hotels. I have reviewed hotels from a Courtyard in St. George, Utah to the Shard in London. Admittedly, I often prefer some of the lower end hotels which can offer great service at a fraction of the cost. Indeed, I once criticized the Waldorf Astoria for bilking guests for WiFi after charging huge amounts for a room. However, there is still a place for the great old hotels like the Waldorf and it would be a shame to lose this venerable property to neglect.
It is always surprising to me how some groups can snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. At a time when calls for a crackdown on illegal immigration have been largely ignored, Deportracism.com, a Latino political action committee (PAC), has succeeded in eradicating any moral high ground that it once claimed in the debate. The organization released a disgraceful advertisement using children who make obscene gestures and profanity against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. If they were seeking to diminish Trump, they succeeded in precisely the opposite: making him look very statesman in comparison to their insulting, profane use of these children.
There is an interesting controversy brewing in Chicago that few folks outside of the Windy City or perhaps Green Bay would understand. Like most of my family and friends in Chicago, I was shocked recently to see former Bears coach Mike Ditka putting on a Packers sweater to get free French fries for four whole weekends. Of course, Ditka was not doing it for French fries but another cash in on his relationship with the Chicago Bears. The problem is that there are some things that a Bears coach is never expected to do. There is the killing of a child. Then there is the bombing of a place of worship. And finally there is wearing a Packers sweater. To make matters worse, Ditka’s number was just retired and he has been honored repeatedly by fans. He is even put on television despite being truly dreadful in any conversational setting beyond monosyllabic responses. Ditka says that he has no problem is donning a Packers sweater if it will get him fries. That is hard to swallow for fans that have stuck with the team through both good and bad seasons. Making it worse is Ditka’s later response to the outcry where he seemed to blame the Bears for not getting him sufficient love. So, Ditka is dead to me. Enjoy the fries.
Continue reading “DITKA IS DEAD TO ME”
Just when you thought the tragic death of Fox Lake Police Lt. Charles Joseph “Joe” Gliniewicz could not get any sadder. It does. Police now believe that Gliniewicz staged his own death to avoid being exposed as an embezzler of thousands of dollars from a youth program. Police say it was a “carefully stage suicide” that led to a massive manhunt for the assailants. To make matters worse, his wife and son who appeared devastated by the murder of Gliniewicz by unknown assailants are now under investigation themselves. There is even an allegation that he might have sought out a hitman to kill the official who was close to uncovering the the embezzlement.
Ella Fishbough, 14, is now an eighth grader with a record. Ella was given suspension by Jackson Heights principal Sarah Mansur-Blythe (left) for a hug. That’s right. She hugged a friend who was having a bad day and was immediately reported for discipline under a hopelessly undefined prohibition on “inappropriate or obscene acts.” As with the other story today of the student suspended for playing Power Rangers, this is a case of blind application of rules without any sense of judgment or fairness. It is part of the zero tolerance culture that has taken hold in our schools.
Continue reading “Eighth Grader in Florida Disciplined For Giving Hug To Friend At School”
We have another absurd enforcement of the zero tolerance rule at our schools. This one occurred in Cincinnati, Ohio where Principal Joe Crachiolo, (left) at Our Lady of Lourdes School (a Catholic Elementary School) suspended a first grader who was caught playing a Power Ranger and used an imaginary bow and arrow in play. Just to repeat. This was a first grader and an imaginary bow and arrow.
This picture of actress Sadaf Taherian would seem like most any such photo appearing on social media (beyond the fact that she is obviously especially striking). However, the government in Iran immediately spotted something missing. That’s right, a veil or hijab. As a result, Taherian has fled to the United Arab Emirates to avoid an arrest. In addition, leading actress Chekame Chaman-Mah has fled Iran after committing the offense of defending the right of an actress to post an unveiled image. Iranian officials have declared both women to be in violation of Islamic morality and laws.
Paul Armand Rater, 53, is facing two counts of felony child abuse and one count of felony child endangerment after he gave a loaded and cocked .45-calibre handgun to his 5-year-old granddaughter and left her in the desert. I told her to “shoot any bad guys.”