Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Justice, Politics, Society

Obama Administration Announces Appeal To Reverse Same Sex Marriage Victory

The Obama administration will appeal the Massachusetts ruling in favor of same sex marriage. The Justice Department will defend the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA. This action will further alienate civil libertarians and liberals — particularly at a time when the Administration is trying to preserve the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy in a California case. Now on both coasts, the Obama Administration is fighting to continue discrimination against gays and lesbians.

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Bizarre, Criminal law

Birth Before Booking: Ohio Woman Arrested After Trying To Steal From Walmart While In Labor

In Alliance, Ohio, Katurah L. Petty reached a level of fame or infamy among officers by allegedly stealing computer software from a Walmart while in labor. The Labor Day specials were long expired, so she was taken to jail after a visit to the hospital. Accounts differs as to whether she actually gave birth or was feigning labor.

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Academia, Bizarre, Congress, Politics, Society

Fed Nominee Blocked By GOP Senator As Unqualified Just Received The Nobel Prize

The Nobel Committee may think a lot about MIT economist Peter Diamond, but he is currently blocked as a nominee for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. Sen. Richard Shelby has objected that Diamond is not qualified for the Board because his specialty is not in monetary policy.
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Constitutional Law, Criminal law, International, Lawyering, Politics, Religion

Iran Reportedly Arrests Ashtiani’s Lawyer and Son

Iran has reportedly arrested the lawyer and the son of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, 43, as well as two “foreign nationals” who interviewed her family. Ashtiani is still set to be stoned to death for adultery. In the meantime, Iran continues to mix Sharia law with old-fashioned totalitarian repression.
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Bizarre, Criminal law

Goose Cooked: Man Arrested After Jumping Into River To Catch One-Legged Goose For Dinner

In Wausau, a certain one-legged goose is getting the last honk after a man jumped into the river to catch it for dinner only to end up in jail. Troy Kaczor, 40, got the free meal in jail after he was rescued by police who later discovered he was a wanted man.
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International, Military, Politics, Society, Torts

English Prime Minister Suggests U.S. Military May Have Killed Linda Norgrove

Prime Minister David Cameron told the public this week that British aid worker Linda Norgrove may have been accidentally killed by U.S. forces during a rescue mission in Afghanistan. He attributed the death to the possible use of a grenade by U.S. forces in the rescue effort.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Society, Torts

Can The Petkovs Be Charged or Sued in Their Alleged Harassment of a Dying Seven-Year-Old Girl?

There is a horrific story out of Michigan where a couple, Scott and Jennifer Petkov, are accused of a cruel campaign targeting a seven-year-old girl, Kathleen Edwards who is dying from Huntington’s disease. The Petkov’s allegedly posted pictures showing Kathleen’s mother (Laura Edwards, who died of the disease last year at the age of 24) in the arms of the grim reaper and photo shopped a picture of Kathleen with her face above a set of crossed bones. The story (which has gone viral internationally) raises questions over the possible civil and criminal liability for such actions.
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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, International

Indonesia Court Sentences Playboy Executive To Two Years in Jail for Indecency

Erwin Arnada, 47, former editor-in-chief of Playboy Indonesia, has begun a two-year sentence for publishing pictures of women in undergarments — photos that are less revealing than the standard ads found in the Subway.

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Bizarre, Politics, Society

The Reich Man For the Job? Ohio GOP Candidate Shown in Nazi Uniform

What is it about public officials and Nazi uniforms these days. We just saw a Portland police officer accused wearing a Nazi uniform and building a memorial to fallen German soldiers including a SS officer and a war criminal. Now, Rich Iott, Ohio Republican nominee for Ohio’s Ninth District (second from the right) has been shown in his World War II German uniform.

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Bizarre, Society, Torts

Dora Explores Liability: Voice of Cartoon Character Sues Nickelodeon

Caitlin Sanchez, 14, has filed a lawsuit against Nickelodeon alleging that the network denied her full compensation as the voice for “Dora the Explorer.” The New Jersey team says that she (and her parents) were taken advantage of by network lawyers who convinced them to sign an unfair and ambiguous contract.

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