In the Orwellian world that is the People’s Republic of China, one has to often reverse the meaning of terms to understand their true meaning. That is the case again this week when China announced a new crackdown on journalists to “protect” the public from “fake journalists and news.” In modern Chinese, that means protecting the public from real journalists. The crackdown is being carried out by he General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP).
Continue reading “Credibility Gapp: China Cracks Down on “Fake Journalists” In Further Denying Freedom of Press and Speech”
If any of our regular readers received the Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly, they would have spotted a familiar name in a recent notable case. Mark Esposito, one of our esteemed Guest Bloggers, featured prominently in the case — showing that he is as talented in the legal sphere as he is in the blogosphere. He won in the clever use of the doctrine of quod approbo non reprobo. It might be easier in the future for court to just call it “a Mespo” claim. The case is Womack v. Yeoman (VLW 011-8-207)
Continue reading “Mespo’s Approbo Non Reprobo: Virginia Court Reaffirms Approbating and Reprobating Rule In Victory For Turley Blogger”
This story struck me as relevant to the discussion that we just had in class about strict liability for wild animals. The common law makes a possessor of a wild animals strictly liable for any bites or injuries. This liability is often based on the lack of animus rivertendi, or habit of return — the notion that you cannot completely domesticate a wild animal. That is a lesson that Marius Els, 41, learned too late in keeping his pet hippopotamus, Humphrey.
Continue reading “Humphrey The Hippo and the Wisdom of Strict Liability For Wild Animals”
First we saw how the cats convinced dogs to give up their beds. Now they are training puppies to be masseurs and indentured servants.
Continue reading “Puppy Love”
EXCLUSIVE. Loyola University Professor Ralph Braseth in Chicago has shared with me a complaint alleging another incident of police ordering a citizen to delete videotape of an arrest taken in public. I have previously written about this worrisome trend. The difference is that Braseth is a journalism professor. The complaint raises some extremely serious allegations of censuring a journalist and violating core constitutional rights. If true, it is a telling retort to the taunting remarks of Judge Richard Posner recently about the “snooping” of citizens on police.
Continue reading “Chicago Journalism Professor: Chicago Police Department Detained Him and Deleted Video of Arrest”
We have previously discussed the question of recusals involving Justice Clarence Thomas and his violation of reporting rules on the Court. Now, a similar debate is likely to start over the participation of Justice Elena Kagan in any review of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The loss of Kagan could be determinative in a close vote on the Court, but that is always the danger in selecting your Solicitor General as a nominee. While Kagan used the announcement of cases on Monday to recuse herself for other cases, she notably did not include the Florida case.
Continue reading “Should Kagan Recuse Herself From The Health Care Case?”
Tennessee state Rep. Rick Womick has gone public with his view of a necessary reform of the U.S. military to make our country safer: bar all Muslims from military service. The openly bigoted proposal was accompanied by equally bigoted rhetoric and insulted not just all Muslims but dishonored the many Muslims serving honorably in our armed forces. His website proclaims that “[o]thers may regard politics as a basis for gaining power and influence, but Rick sees politics as a chance to provide conservative leadership that will uphold our state’s slogan and ensure, ‘Tennessee…America at its Best!'” You can judge if Rep. Womick represents America at its best.
Continue reading “Tennessee Legislator Calls For All Muslims To Be Removed From The Military”
Michael Avery, a professor at Suffolk University Law School, has found himself at the center of a raging storm after he sent the four-paragraph email below to colleagues complaining about the “shameful” program at the school to send care packages to U.S. troops abroad. Avery, a constitutional law professor, objected to send such packages to people “who have gone overseas to kill other human beings.” As you might imagine, the response has superheated with even Senator Scott Brown (R., Mass.) attacking the professor.
Continue reading “Suffolk University Law Professor Triggers Firestorm With Criticism of Care Packages To U.S. Troops”
This just on the wire: The Supreme Court has accepted cert in the health care litigation. The resulting decision could have sweeping implication for the future of federalism in this country.
Continue reading “Cert Granted: Supreme Court Accepts Health Care Challenge”
For people who value the Rule of Law, the last Republican debate reached a new low. One would think that the promise of war and torture has now replaced work and taxes as the main issues for voters. To their great credit, John Huntsman and Ron Paul stood against torture as “unAmerican.” However, as noted in prior blogs, Herman Cain and Michele Bachmann called for the use of torture in the resumption of the waterboarding program. In the meantime, Gingrich called for yet another war: this time against Iran unless it yields to our demands. He and Santorum appeared to add promises of the murder of scientists as part of their package of promised presidential acts. I will be moderating a debate on torture this week organized by Ralph Nader’s “Debating Taboos” program.
Continue reading “War and Torture: The Platform of the Future?”
Now this is an interesting negligence case. An estimated 33,000 people in Rhode Island have been left without medical records after Dr. Nomate Kpea, a dermatologist, left for Nigeria to run for political office — leaving their files in foreclosed properties in the state.
Continue reading “Rhode Island Doctor Accused of Abandoning 33,000 Patients To Run For Office In Nigeria”
Scientists have announced that they have invented a super strong mouse. One could debate whether we really need a super-strong mouse. However, those concerns would appear magnified for the Swiss with their copious amounts of cheese to protect. Yet, Swiss scientists believe that they have created a faster and stronger mouse.
Continue reading “Scientists Invent Mighty Mouse: Medical Breakthrough or Swiss Conspiracy?”
In Ramsgate, England, police are looking for this man shown outside of a pub swinging a cat by its tail. It is reminiscent of the earlier search of the woman shown dumping a cat in a dumpster. In this case, the cat, called Mowgli, survived and was not left injured.
Continue reading “British Search For Cat-Swinging Man”
There is an interesting controversy out of the Republican debates where Rep. Ron Paul was given just 90 seconds to speak during a 90 minute debate. I have never hidden my admiration for Paul for his courageous positions on issues like torture and his opposition to the various wars. What is particularly troubling is that Paul used his limited time (as did John Huntsman) to speak out against torture. We have previously discussed whether the mainstream media is actively marginalizing the candidate. On this occasion, however, it appears to have been an intentional decision by CBS in the South Carolina debates.
Continue reading “Ron Paul Get 90 Seconds in 90 Minute Debate”
This week, as a Chicago native, the euphoria of the Bears continuing their resurgence on the field with a win over the Detroit Lions yesterday is being dampened by this video from the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). On the video, a young man knocks out an elderly man as others laugh and cheer.
Continue reading “Video Shows Chicago Youths Laughing After Elderly Man Is Knocked Out on CTA Platform”