Elderly Man Arrested At Florida Walmart After Confrontation Over Two Items Above The Express Line Limit

williamgollawayIn Florida, two elderly men got into an argument that led to an arrest over two items at an express lane. When John Malherbe, 67, drove his motorized shopping cart into the express 20 or under lane at Walmart (yes, it appears that the “express” lane has 20 items at Walmart), he found himself being monitored by William Golladay, 77, behind him in the line. Golladay counted each of Malherbe and discovered, heavens to Betsy, that Malherbe had two whole items over the limit. That’s right, 22 items in the 20 item line. Golladay then lost it and things went from bad to worst. He is now facing an interesting felony charge.

Continue reading “Elderly Man Arrested At Florida Walmart After Confrontation Over Two Items Above The Express Line Limit”

Nigeria Unleashes Crackdown on Gays and Gay Associations in the Wake of a New Criminal Law

125px-Flag_of_Nigeria.svgRainbowFlagThe situation is getting worse for homosexuals in Nigeria by the day. The country has been taken over by a violent homophobia that led a few years ago to the enactment of a draconian law criminalizing homosexuality. Police recently have been arresting homosexuals and torturing them to name others for prosecution under the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, which allows for ten years in jail. The law is not just about marriage. Called the “Jail the Gays” bill, it criminalizes homosexuality and threatens AIDS programs in the country. The question is that, as the recipient of a great deal of U.S. aid, why is it appropriate for us to indirectly support a nation that is abusing, and in some cases killing, gays and lesbians?

Continue reading “Nigeria Unleashes Crackdown on Gays and Gay Associations in the Wake of a New Criminal Law”

LAPD Officers Accused Of Handcuffing Woman, Assaulting Her, And Tossing Her From Moving Car

nguyen11n-2-webnguyen11n-1-webThere is an ongoing controversy in Los Angeles where pharmacist Kim Nguyen, 27, has charged that she was picked up for no reason by police, handcuffed, sexually assaulted, and then thrown out of a moving police car. A video shows the scene as Nguyen is left bleeding on the road.

Continue reading “LAPD Officers Accused Of Handcuffing Woman, Assaulting Her, And Tossing Her From Moving Car”

New York Judge Reprimanded For Using Employees For Personal Tasks And Holding Prayer Sessions During Court Hours

judge_1621New York State Supreme Court judge Mary Brigantti-Hughes has been reprimanded in a case that many might view as a case of light discipline. Brigantti-Hughes has been found to have used staff as personal servants and using court resources for personal purposes. She has also been cited for pressuring staff members to participate in prayer sessions. For those acts, she has been given a reprimand.

Continue reading “New York Judge Reprimanded For Using Employees For Personal Tasks And Holding Prayer Sessions During Court Hours”

Pay To Play: Seventh Circuit Upholds $30 Booking Fee For All Arrests — Regardless Of Later Acquittal

200px-disneyqueenheartsWoodridge, Illinois, outside of Chicago, has a curious way of meting out justice. You may have a presumption of innocence under the Constitution, but if police arrest you, you still have to pay for the pleasure of the arrest. Starting this year, anyone arrested in a Chicago suburb must pay a $30 booking fee . . . even if they are found innocent.

Continue reading “Pay To Play: Seventh Circuit Upholds $30 Booking Fee For All Arrests — Regardless Of Later Acquittal”

The Meat of the Matter: Minnesota Lawyer Under Fire For Comments Regarding Client’s Killing and Cooking Of Pet Cat

1389213184000-Cody-Mann-mug-cooked-catIf a criminal defense lawyer is supposed to take heat of a client, Cody Mann (left), 28, has found the right attorney in Jenny Chaplinski. Chaplinski is under fire for comments that she made regarding her client’s torture, killing, and cooking of his pet cat. Chaplinski dismissed the outrage over the crime as involving just “meat.” Cat meat to be sure but “it’s meat.”

Continue reading “The Meat of the Matter: Minnesota Lawyer Under Fire For Comments Regarding Client’s Killing and Cooking Of Pet Cat”

Supreme Court Takes Up Challenge To Obama’s Appointment Authority

Supreme CourtPresident_Barack_ObamaRecently, I testified on the concentration of authority in the Executive Branch and an array of unconstitutional acts committed by President Barack Obama in the circumvention of Congress. For prior columns, click here and here and here and here. One of the key areas discussed in my testimony was the President’s abuse (in my opinion) of his recess appointments power. I have two law review articles out on the issue. See Jonathan Turley, Recess Appointments in the Age of Regulation, 93 Boston University Law Review ___ (2013) and Jonathan Turley, Constitutional Adverse Possession: Recess Appointments and the Role of Historical Practice in Constitutional Interpretation, 2103 Wisconsin Law Review ___ (2013). Now the issue is to be heard today by the Supreme Court in Noel Canning v. NLRB, No. 12-1115.

Continue reading “Supreme Court Takes Up Challenge To Obama’s Appointment Authority”

Supreme Court Rejects Arizona Appeal of Abortion Restrictions

Supreme CourtThe United States Supreme Court on Monday turned aside Arizona’s appeal to reinstate its law banning most abortions after 20-weeks. In Horne v. Isaacson (13-402), the state asked the Court to review the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. It declined to do so.

Continue reading “Supreme Court Rejects Arizona Appeal of Abortion Restrictions”

Alabama State University Board Requires New President To Agree Not To Have Lovers Stay At Presidential Mansion For Extended Period

image.aspxThere is a bizarre contract controversy involving the new president Alabama State University, Gwendolyn Boyd. She is entitled to live in the presidential residence, which is pretty standard. What is not standard is the condition placed in her contract by the board: she cannot have lovers stay overnight for any extended period of time. Boyd, you see, is unmarried.

Continue reading “Alabama State University Board Requires New President To Agree Not To Have Lovers Stay At Presidential Mansion For Extended Period”

Indianapolis Judge Suspended Pending Possible Removal After Finding Of Dozens Of Violations

-tckbrown25.381458.jpg20061020The Indiana Supreme Court has suspended Marion Superior Judge Kimberly J. Brown pending a decision on final disciplinary action on misconduct charges. The suspension with pay could be followed by an order to remove Brown from the bench after a three-judge panel found clear and convincing evidence against her on 46 out of 47 counts of judicial misconduct. That is quite a record since Brown has yet to finish her first term.

Continue reading “Indianapolis Judge Suspended Pending Possible Removal After Finding Of Dozens Of Violations”