Associate Justice David Souter, 69, has announced that he will retire from the Court after 18 years. The announcement comes as a complete surprise because, at 69, Souter is one of the younger members of the Court and was not expected to retire before John Paul Stevens or Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He is twenty years younger than Stevens, who appears intent on remaining on the Court at least for the rest of this term.
Continue reading ‘Justice David Souter To Retire’
Archive for April, 2009
Justice David Souter To Retire
Published 1, April 30, 2009 Congress , Constitutional Law , Courts , Lawyering , Politics , Society , Supreme Court 57 CommentsCondoleezza Rice Asserts a Nixonesque Defense That Nothing the President Ordered Could Be a War Crime
Published 1, April 30, 2009 Bizarre , Congress , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , International , Justice , Military , Politics , Society 45 Comments
There is an interesting exchange that has surfaced between a Stanford student and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who is a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford. The student confronted Rice about whether waterboarding is torture. She responded with a Nixonesque argument that, if the president ordered it, it cannot be a war crime. It sounds a lot like Nixon’s 1977 statement: “When the president does it, that means it is not illegal.” I discussed the Rice comment on this segment of Hardball.
D.C. Lawyer Mark Levy Reportedly Dead By Suicide at His Kilpatrick Stockton Office
Published 1, April 30, 2009 Lawyering , Society 6 Comments
There is some more bad news for the D.C. bar this afternoon. Legal Times is reporting that Mark Levy, a well-known lawyer who headed the Supreme Court and Appellate Practice section of Kilpatrick Stockton has killed himself in his office — reportedly by a gunshot of a .38 calibre handgun to the head. The firm had told Levy that he was about to be laid off with a number of other lawyers due to the economy.
The Eight-Year-Old Divorcee — Husband of Child Bride in Saudi Arabia Accepts a Settlement and Grants Divorce to Child Sold to Him by Father
Published 1, April 30, 2009 Bizarre , International , Media , Politics , Religion , Society 9 Comments
Its official. Saudi Arabia has its newest eight-year-old divorcee, but not due to any problem in Saudi Arabia with a man over 50 marrying an eight-year-old child. The girl’s lawyer reached an out-of-court settlement with the man who finally agreed to the divorce. A Saudi court twice rejected the mother’s effort to get a divorce for her daughter after the father effectively sold her to the older man as a bride for cash.
Continue reading ‘The Eight-Year-Old Divorcee — Husband of Child Bride in Saudi Arabia Accepts a Settlement and Grants Divorce to Child Sold to Him by Father’
Biden: Avoid Trains, Airplanes . . . And Interviews
Published 1, April 30, 2009 Bizarre , Congress , International , Media , Politics , Society 22 Comments
Vice President Joe Biden’s office has had to issue a type of retraction after Biden advised people to avoid airplanes, subways and confined spaces due to the Swine Flu. Of course, you cannot just retract a vice presidential statement, so Biden’s office simply denied what Biden said and offered a new statement that he did not make.
Continue reading ‘Biden: Avoid Trains, Airplanes . . . And Interviews’
Scalia Slams Fordham Law Professor For Privacy Invasion
Published 1, April 30, 2009 Academics , Bizarre , Constitutional Law , Courts , Justice , Media , Politics , Society , Supreme Court 52 Comments
Associate Justice Antonin Scalia publicly lashed out at Fordham Law Professor Professor Joel Reidenberg who having his students compile a 15-page dossier on his private life. For civil libertarians, Scalia’s objections to a lack of privacy is analogous to Rep. Jane Harman’s outrage over being intercepted as part of the NSA warrantless program that she helped approve.
Continue reading ‘Scalia Slams Fordham Law Professor For Privacy Invasion’
Oxycontin and Old Lace: Two Elderly Women Arrested in Large Heroin Bust in Pennsylvania
Published 1, April 30, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society 8 Comments
Two elderly sisters — Elizabeth Marie Grube, 70, and Elaine Volkert, 65 — have been arrested for selling heroin in a type of AARP-certified drug enterprise. Pennsylvania Police seized 400 bags of heroin from Grube home and 988 bags from Volkert’s home. Police also seized quantities of Oxycontin and marijuana in the raids.
Obama Calls Waterboarding Torture, But Refers to Bush Policies as “Mistakes” and Bad “Techniques”
Published 1, April 30, 2009 Congress , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , International , Justice , Lawyering , Media , Military , Politics , Society 30 Comments
Civil libertarians were a bit disappointed again in President Barack Obama’s press conference on Wednesday. While he reaffirmed that he views waterboarding to be torture (a well-established legal fact), he repeatedly referred to what the Bush Administration did as a “technique” of interrogation and a “mistake.” I discussed the Obama press conference and the torture issues on this segment of Rachel Maddow. I will be discussing these issues again on tonight’s Hardball.
TB or Not TB: Lawyer Involved in 2007 TB Scare Sues CDC
Published 1, April 30, 2009 Congress , Courts , Environment , International , Media , Politics , Society , Torts 2 Comments
Andrew Speaker, the lawyer to cause an international health panic by getting on an international flight with tuberculosis, has filed suit against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for invasion of privacy. In his complaint, he blames the CDC on the breakup of his marriage, claiming that the couple went through with the wedding but then broke up after the wedding and never turned in their marriage license. He insists that he never had the worse form of TB, though critics insisted that he did not know that until after he was quarantined.
Continue reading ‘TB or Not TB: Lawyer Involved in 2007 TB Scare Sues CDC’
Bybee Defends Torture Memos While Ranking Republican Says He Should Be Given Medal
Published 1, April 29, 2009 Congress , Courts , Criminal law , Lawyering , Politics , Society 34 Comments
Ninth Circuit Judge Jay S. Bybee responded yesterday to critics about his infamous role in writing some of the torture memos. Notably absent is his earlier denial of being the author of the memos that he signed, according to close friends. He now stands by the torture memos and Rep. Peter King (R., N.Y.) says that Bybee should be given a medal for rationalizing torture. I discussed the Obama press conference and the torture issues on this segment of Rachel Maddow.
Continue reading ‘Bybee Defends Torture Memos While Ranking Republican Says He Should Be Given Medal’
Bacon Lung? U.S. and Israel Object to the Use of “Swine” Flu As Name of Current Outbreak
Published 1, April 29, 2009 Bizarre , Environment , International , Politics , Religion , Society 11 Comments
The Obama Administration is finally getting ahead of this health care crisis: Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack have told reporters to stop calling this virus the “Swine” Flu — suggesting the ever-so-hip “H1N1′ virus. While it was the pork businesses that led to the change in nomenclature, Israel is moving to drop the reference due to religious objections to pork. It appears that even catching a swine-based flu is religiously problematic. The Obama Administration appears to have rejected “the virus formerly known as Swine Flu.”
Continue reading ‘Bacon Lung? U.S. and Israel Object to the Use of “Swine” Flu As Name of Current Outbreak’
Imam Declares Swine Flu Proof of Koran’s Truth
Published 1, April 29, 2009 Bizarre , Politics , Religion , Society 17 Comments
Imam Amadia Rachid has declared in Salerno, Italy that the swine flu virus is proof that the Koran is correct in its view of pigs. He noted that “We believe that what is happening shows the truth of our faith.” I still think a good solid Divinity School paper would be more user friendly on establishing the superiority of one’s faith.
Continue reading ‘Imam Declares Swine Flu Proof of Koran’s Truth’
School Never Tells Parents of the Abuse of Their Children — Then Fires Aide Who Told the Parents
Published 1, April 29, 2009 Academics , Society , Torts 12 Comments
Teachers at Plain City Elementary School in Utah are under fire after two mothers — Debbie Veldhuizen and Jamie Doak — discovered that their sons were abused in their severe disabilities unit but never told by the school due to privacy concerns. Then, when a teacher’s aide told them, the school fired the aide. They have filed a lawsuit against the school and officials.
D.C. Personal Injury Lawyer Charles Schulze Dies Rescuing Two Drowning Boys
Published 1, April 29, 2009 Lawyering , Society 22 Comments
The torts bar lost a hero this week. Washington personal injury lawyer Charles Schulze, 73, of Schulze & Pederson died in his rescue of two drowning boys off Pompano Beach, Florida.
Continue reading ‘D.C. Personal Injury Lawyer Charles Schulze Dies Rescuing Two Drowning Boys’
UAE Royal Sheik Issa Caught on Tape Torturing Man
Published 1, April 29, 2009 Constitutional Law , Criminal law , International , Justice , Politics , Society 5 Comments
Sheik Issa bin Zayed al Nahyan, the brother of the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, Prince Mohammed, has been caught torturing a man that he accused of cheating him in a grain deal. Issa is shown shooting at the man who is bound in the sand and, with the help of a police officer, beating the man and forcing him to eat sand. The torture occurred at the royal ranch and was over a $5000 disagreement — for one of the world’s wealthiest individuals.
Continue reading ‘UAE Royal Sheik Issa Caught on Tape Torturing Man’
Erin Go Blasphemy: Ireland Considers Creation of New Crime For Insulting Religion
Published 1, April 29, 2009 Constitutional Law , Criminal law , International , Politics , Religion , Society 18 Comments
The West appears undeterred in its rush to embrace prosecutions for criticizing religion. This week Ireland is considering creating its own blasphemy law to allow for criminal prosecution — the same week as Finland began prosecuting a politician for blasphemy.
Continue reading ‘Erin Go Blasphemy: Ireland Considers Creation of New Crime For Insulting Religion’
Shudderfly II: Administration Knew Fly-Over Would Cause Panic For Some New Yorkers But Still Barred Public Warning of “Classified” Operation
Published 1, April 29, 2009 Bizarre , Military , Politics , Society 16 Comments
A memo has surfaced showing that the Administration expected some New Yorkers would panic at the low-level fly-over of a 747 and F16 in New York. However, they still barred the public release of the “classified” information. It also turns out that the photo op cost the taxpayers $328,835, though no one seems particularly upset about the costs of such a frivolous project at a time when people are being crushed by a recession. President Obama has said that he is furious and has demanded an investigation.
Specter Goes Blue — Democrats Now Have 59 With Potential of a 60 Filibuster-Proof Majority
Published 1, April 28, 2009 Congress , Politics , Society 86 Comments
Faced with dim prospects for reelection in Pennsylvania, Sen. Arlen Specter has announced that he will switch parties. The question is how democrats in Pennsylvania will feel about Specter who supported Bush on critical issues. After eight years under George W. Bush, Specter has come to the conclusion that he is really a Democrat and does not share the same GOP values as his former party.
Illinois Bar Considering Disbarment of Lawyer For Inflating Grades from University of Chicago
Published 1, April 28, 2009 Academics , Lawyering , Society 16 Comments
Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission is considering disbarment of attorney Loren E. Friedman, a 2003 graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, who is accused of whiting out his C grades to increase his GPA. Friedman worked at Sidley Austin for a summer and the hearing board recommended a three-year suspension.
Continue reading ‘Illinois Bar Considering Disbarment of Lawyer For Inflating Grades from University of Chicago’
Suspended Phillies Players J.C. Romero Sues Supplement Manufacturer Over Suspension
Published 1, April 28, 2009 Lawyering , Society , Torts 6 Comments
There is an interesting lawsuit by Phillies reliever J.C. Romero who was suspended after testing positive for a banned substance. Romero is suing the manufacturer of 6-OXO Extreme supplement because it did not specify that it included androstenedione, which is prohibited by the Major League Baseball. He is suing Proviant Technologies and Ergopharm.
United States Diverts French Flight Due to Presence of a “No-Fly” Passenger: An Author Critical of the United States
Published 1, April 28, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , International , Politics , Society 11 Comments
The “No Fly” list of the Transportation Security Administration has long been ridiculed for showing little sense or scrutiny in putting people on the list. Despite years of criticism, the TSA shows little concern about the use of the list for arbitrary or capricious actions. That seems to be the case in a story this week of how the TSA allegedly refused to allow a French flight to pass through (not land but pass through) U.S. airspace on the way to Nicaragua because one of its passengers was Hernando Calvo Ospina, who is an author and journalist critical of the past policies of the U.S. in Latin America. He is not the first journalist to find himself on the list.
George W. Bush: “War crimes will be prosecuted, war criminals will be punished and it will be no defense to say, ‘I was just following orders.’”
Published 1, April 28, 2009 Constitutional Law , Criminal law , International , Justice , Military , Politics , Society 30 Comments
There is an interesting copy of George W. Bush’s speech to the nation where he gave the position of the United States on the prosecution of war crimes — before Americans were accused of war crimes. Back then, Bush gave a standard that showed that he and his Administration knew that there is no “good faith defense” in committing war crimes. He insisted “War crimes will be prosecuted, war criminals will be punished and it will be no defense to say, “I was just following orders.”
Continue reading ‘George W. Bush: “War crimes will be prosecuted, war criminals will be punished and it will be no defense to say, ‘I was just following orders.’”’
Shudderfly: White House Terrifies New Yorkers With Fly-Over Stunt
Published 1, April 28, 2009 Bizarre , Media , Military , Politics , Society 9 CommentsIn one of the most uniquely stupid acts committed recently by our government, Louis Caldera, Obama’s Director of the White House Military Office, approved an operation where a 747 flew low over New York and the Statue of Liberty with a fighter jet in pursuit. New Yorkers panicked, fleeing buildings and running in the streets — only to be told it was a White House photo op stunt. What they succeeded in getting was pictures of New Yorkers fleeing and screaming what they believed was another attack.
Continue reading ‘Shudderfly: White House Terrifies New Yorkers With Fly-Over Stunt’
McCain: Bush Administration Violated Geneva Conventions and Convention Against Torture
Published 1, April 27, 2009 Congress , Constitutional Law , Criminal law , International , Justice , Lawyering , Politics , Society 100 Comments
On Face the Nation this morning, Sen. John McCain became the latest figure to publicly state that the Bush Administration violated the Geneva Conventions and the U.N. Convention Against Torture. It is not clear how many international and domestic figures will have to publicly acknowledge these crimes before Attorney General Eric Holder will appoint a special prosecutor. I discussed the torture issue last night on this segment of MSNBC Countdown.
Continue reading ‘McCain: Bush Administration Violated Geneva Conventions and Convention Against Torture’
No Spinning Zone: Saudi Female Athletic Clubs To Be Shutdown
Published 1, April 27, 2009 Bizarre , International , Politics , Religion , Society 6 CommentsIt appears that women in Saudi Arabia will soon be denied the right to work out in athletic clubs. Saudi officials have decided that there is only authority for men’s clubs to be operated and regulated in the Kingdom. Due to the strict separation of men and women, various clubs have started to tailor to women and those clubs now appear close to a shutdown.
Continue reading ‘No Spinning Zone: Saudi Female Athletic Clubs To Be Shutdown’
Feith Calls for Prosecution of Any Crimes But Will Holder Answer?
Published 1, April 27, 2009 Criminal law , International , Justice , Lawyering , Society 7 Comments
In a true sign of the apocalypse, civil libertarians have something to agree on with Doug Feith (the former Bush Under Secretary of Defense for Policy) who is universally ridiculed for his role on some of the most disastrous policies of the Bush Administration. The Wall Street Journal ran an opinion editorial from Feith virtually daring the Obama Administration to investigate and prosecute any crimes related to the torture program. Obviously, Feith is widely viewed as a bit of a clown, but it is time for Holder to stop trying to find a way out and call the bluff of Cheney, Feith and others. He needs to appoint a special prosecutor to allow a neutral prosecutor to determine if crimes were committed.
Continue reading ‘Feith Calls for Prosecution of Any Crimes But Will Holder Answer?’
Reli Bad Idea: Berliners Reject Substitution of Religious Classes for Civics Classes
Published 1, April 27, 2009 Constitutional Law , International , Politics , Religion , Society 15 Comments
The citizens of Berlin rejected calls from the Pope, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and others to allow religious classes to be substituted for compulsory ethics classes. It is a victory for those of us who have decried the loss of civics education and the increasing integration of religious training in public education. The campaign was led by a group called Pro Reli — “Reli” is the street name for religious classes.
Continue reading ‘Reli Bad Idea: Berliners Reject Substitution of Religious Classes for Civics Classes’
Son Allegedly Beats Father With Flashlight and Then Cuts Pacemaker Out of His Chest With Pocketknife
Published 1, April 27, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society 1 Comment
Criminal cases have often involved a modern problem for killers: the ability of pacemakers to keep victims alive. In Manchester, Iowa, Jesse Fierstine, 32, seems to have realized this when he allegedly beat his sixty-three year old father with a flashlight and firewood — and then cut out Charles Fierstine’s pacemaker out of his chest with a pocketknife.
Continue reading ‘Son Allegedly Beats Father With Flashlight and Then Cuts Pacemaker Out of His Chest With Pocketknife’
Former Klan Leader David Duke Arrested in Czech Republic for Holocaust Denial
Published 1, April 27, 2009 Constitutional Law , Criminal law , International , Justice , Lawyering , Politics , Society 40 Comments
Former Klan leader David Duke has been detained by police in Prague on suspicion of denying the Holocaust. Despite the universal loathing of Duke and other Holocaust deniers, the arrest hits a difficult issue for civil libertarians. Criminalizing a viewpoint is a fundamental denial of free speech and allows prosecution for unpopular thoughts or views.
Continue reading ‘Former Klan Leader David Duke Arrested in Czech Republic for Holocaust Denial’
Michigan Verdict Overturned After Judge Gives Jury No Option For a Finding of Not Guilty
Published 1, April 27, 2009 Bizarre , Courts , Criminal law , Society , Torts 8 Comments
Wayne County Circuit Judge Annette Berry had a jury form that only a prosecutor would love: it had not option for a verdict of “not guilty.” The error has resulted in the Michigan Court of Appeals overturning the conviction of Michael Jess Wade, 50, a former security guard who was convicted of shooting and killing a suspected thief.
Continue reading ‘Michigan Verdict Overturned After Judge Gives Jury No Option For a Finding of Not Guilty’
Bush Officials Surface To Answer Torture Claims
Published 1, April 26, 2009 Bizarre , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , International , Justice , Lawyering , Media , Military , Politics , Society 72 Comments
In light of the recent defenses made recently on behalf of Judge Jay Bybee, John Yoo, and Steven Bradbury, this picture appears to capture their sudden emergence into the public debate.
Continue reading ‘Bush Officials Surface To Answer Torture Claims’
Finland Prosecutes Politician for Blasphemy in Calling Mohammad a Pedophile
Published 1, April 26, 2009 Constitutional Law , Criminal law , International , Justice , Politics , Religion , Society 39 Comments
Recently, I wrote a column on how the West has used hate crime laws to create a Western version of blasphemy prosecutions in the Middle East. Finland has now added to the list of countries charging people with blasphemy. Helsinki city councilman, Jussi Halla-aho was charged with blasphemy and incitement of an ethnic-group for publishing on his blog that Islam’s prophet was a pedophile. Mohammad is often accused of being a pedophile due to his marriage to 6-year-old Aisha, which was consummated when she was 9.
Continue reading ‘Finland Prosecutes Politician for Blasphemy in Calling Mohammad a Pedophile’
New York Murder Trial Ends With a Flurry of Religious References
Published 1, April 26, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Religion , Society 5 Comments
The trial of Mazoltuv Borukhova and Mikhail Mallayev end with criminal sentences of life without parole for the gunning down of Dr. Borukhova’s estranged husband, Daniel Malakov, 34, in front of their 4-year-old daughter in a playground. The trial was filled with references to religion and the Jewish faith.
Continue reading ‘New York Murder Trial Ends With a Flurry of Religious References’
The Alberto Gonzales Defense: Judge Bybee Reportedly Denies That He Wrote Infamous Memo
Published 1, April 26, 2009 Academics , Congress , Criminal law , International , Justice , Lawyering , Media , Politics , Society 51 Comments
According to close friends, Judge Jay S. Bybee appears to have adopted the Alberto Gonzalez defense: he is now claiming that he did not write his infamous memo and only signed it. This is similar to the defense that Democrats allowed Gonzales to make on the first torture memo at his confirmation hearing for Attorney General, to wit, he did not read an important policy memo on the commission of a war crime, he just signed it. It is the empty suit defense: I really am not to blame when I sign orders or memos because I just sign things. Bybee has not spoken directly on this matter to the public, but there are now various friends saying that he would like to repudiate the memos and even denies writing the memos.
Continue reading ‘The Alberto Gonzales Defense: Judge Bybee Reportedly Denies That He Wrote Infamous Memo’
Jewish Professor in California Accused of Anti-Semitism
Published 1, April 26, 2009 Academics , International , Media , Politics , Religion , Society 9 Comments
A Jewish professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara has been accused of anti-Semitism for material that he shared with his students in a course on sociology and globalization. The material critical of Israel led to two students dropping the course and charges filed against Professor William I. Robinson.
Continue reading ‘Jewish Professor in California Accused of Anti-Semitism’
Professor Sought As Suspect in Murder of Three People in Georgia
Published 1, April 25, 2009 Academics , Criminal law , Society 18 Comments
University of Georgia Professor George Zinkhan is being sought by police in connection with the shooting deaths of three people at an off-campus murder scene. Zinkhan is a professor in the department of marketing and distribution at the Terry College of Business. His website entry lists him as the Coca-Cola Company Professor at the school. Zinkhan’s ex-wife is among the victims: Marie Bruce, 47; Tom Tanner, 40; and Ben Teague, 63. All were members of a theater group.
Continue reading ‘Professor Sought As Suspect in Murder of Three People in Georgia’
Senior Police Officer Overheard on Police Radio Threatening Criminal Act Against Daughter-in-Law — Police Discipline Man Who Disclosed Recording
Published 1, April 25, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Politics , Society 7 Comments
Gloucester Massachusetts police have a curious way of dealing with potentially criminal threats. Lt. Michael O’Hanley accidentally broadcasted a threat toward his estranged daughter-in-law over the department radio. However, it was the person who disclosed the threat to the media was that disciplined. An internal affairs investigation also revealed that police Chief John Beaudette knew about O’Hanley’s hreat days earlier than he stated. Beaudette has announced his resignation and retirement. O’Hanley has also retired. Both men were close friends on the force.
Continue reading ‘Senior Police Officer Overheard on Police Radio Threatening Criminal Act Against Daughter-in-Law — Police Discipline Man Who Disclosed Recording’
Pastor Pushia Confesses to Using Church Funds to Hire Hitman to Kill Blind, Disabled Man for Insurance Money
Published 1, April 25, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Religion , Society 17 Comments
There is double indemnity and then there is double depravity. Baltimore Pastor Kevin Jerome Pushia, 32, is accused in a shocking criminal conspiracy. He allegedly befriended a blind and disabled man, Lemuel Wallace, as part of his work with developmentally disabled people at his church, The Arc of Baltimore. He then allegedly used church funds to hire a hit man to kill him and collect on life insurance money. Police say that he has confessed to the conspiracy.
Continue reading ‘Pastor Pushia Confesses to Using Church Funds to Hire Hitman to Kill Blind, Disabled Man for Insurance Money’
White House: No Special Prosecutor on Torture
Published 1, April 25, 2009 Bizarre , Congress , Constitutional Law , Criminal law , Justice , Lawyering , Politics 64 Comments
It is getting rather difficult to follow the line of logic at the White House on the torture investigation. For months, President Obama has been speaking about his intentions as to any investigation into the torture program. Then, this week, he suddenly declared that he should have no role in such decisions. Then the next day, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs declared that Obama did not want to see a special prosecutor. I discussed this statement last night on this segment of Hardball. In the meantime, it appears that new pictures of detainee will be released — though obviously not the videos of torture that were destroyed by CIA officials to prevent their being used against themselves.
Continue reading ‘White House: No Special Prosecutor on Torture’
Pittsburgh School Suspends Kids for Making Pencil Slingshots
Published 1, April 25, 2009 Academics , Politics , Society 10 Comments
Pittsburgh schools have added another loony example of zero tolerance policies resulting in zero judgment. Five fourth-grade students at Fawn Elementary School have been suspended on weapons charges for making pencils into little sling shots to see who could shoot a paperclip the farthest. Principal Kathi Shirey (left) stands by the decision.
Continue reading ‘Pittsburgh School Suspends Kids for Making Pencil Slingshots’
Jordan’s King Abdullah: Evidence of Torture By United States Is Obvious
Published 1, April 25, 2009 Congress , Criminal law , International , Justice , Politics , Society 12 Comments
Jordan’s King Abdullah II joined the ever-lengthening list of people saying that the United States tortured detainees in an interview to air on NBC Meet the Press. He joins a long list of Bush officials, the International Red Cross, countless NGOs and experts who have come forward in the last few weeks. I discussed this evidence last night on this segment of Hardball.
Continue reading ‘Jordan’s King Abdullah: Evidence of Torture By United States Is Obvious’
Texas Supreme Court Overturns Verdict Based on Nine-Word Note From Foreperson
Published 1, April 24, 2009 Bizarre , Courts , Lawyering , Society , Torts 28 Comments
The Texas Supreme Court has overturned the verdict in a major torts case based on a nine-word note from a juror. During the second-day of jury deliberations in a rollover cases against Ford, a note was sent to the judge from forewoman Cynthia Cortez of the jury asking, “What is the maximum amount that can be awarded?” Cortez even put a smiley face on the note which sent Ford’s attorneys into a panic to settle the case. They quickly agreed to a settlement of $3 million. It was not until after the jury was dismissed that they learned that Cortez allegedly sent the note without the approval of the jury and that the jury was siding with Ford in its deliberations.
Continue reading ‘Texas Supreme Court Overturns Verdict Based on Nine-Word Note From Foreperson’
New York City Council Votes to Evict Animals From Bronx Zoo Due to Budget Shortfalls
Published 1, April 24, 2009 Bizarre , Environment 11 Comments
While New Yorkers continue to enjoy a rent control system, animals at the Bronx Zoo will be soon sent packing in the search of zoos due to the economic downturn. Hundreds of animals may soon be put out on the curb, including deer, bats, foxes, and antelopes.
Report: Condoleeza Rice and John Ashcroft Approved of Torture Program
Published 1, April 24, 2009 Congress , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , International , Justice , Lawyering , Politics , Society 34 Comments
A Senate Intelligence Report shows that Condoleeza Rice, then national security adviser, approved of the torture program as early as 2002. One week later, Attorney General John Ashcroft signed off the the legality of the torture by finding that the “proposed interrogation techniques were lawful.” It was also revealed that torture was used on Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the first person charged in the United States in the 2000 attack on the destroyer USS Cole in Yemen.
Continue reading ‘Report: Condoleeza Rice and John Ashcroft Approved of Torture Program’
Rotten Apple: Company Pulls Baby Shaking Application for IPhone
Published 1, April 24, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Media , Society 8 Comments
As an IPhone and a longtime Apple user (I got the first Apple and never have used anything other than Apple and Mac computers since), I am positively disgusted by the decision of someone at Apple to feature an application where people can have fun shaking a baby to stop it from crying. After international outcry, the company has withdrawn the product.
Continue reading ‘Rotten Apple: Company Pulls Baby Shaking Application for IPhone’
It Depends What “Know” Means: Pelosi Admits That She Was Briefed on Torture But Claims Ignorance on its Actual Use
Published 1, April 24, 2009 Congress , Constitutional Law , Criminal law , International , Justice , Military , Politics , Society 20 Comments
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is trying to fend off criticism over her knowledge of the Bush Administration’s plan to torture detainees. Pelosi has adopted a highly lawyered exclamation that she was briefed on the plan but never told that they were implementing the plan. It is a distinction lost on civil libertarians. She was still briefed on a war crime and did not act to stop it.
Continue reading ‘It Depends What “Know” Means: Pelosi Admits That She Was Briefed on Torture But Claims Ignorance on its Actual Use’
U.S. News and World Report has released its 2010 law school rankings after they were first leaked by an industrious blog. There appears to be a change in methodology that affected the ranking in the top 25 (George Washington took a big hit in overall ranking while coming in second for its part-time program).
Continue reading ‘New Law School Rankings’
Report: Bill Nye “The Science Guy” Exposed as Godless, Soulless Blasphemer in Texas
Published 1, April 23, 2009 Academics , Bizarre , Politics , Religion , Society 109 Comments
There is an interesting account out of Waco, Texas where Bill Nye “The Science Guy” was booed for saying that the Moon does not generate it own light — in contradiction to the Bible. This will likely end any dream of Nye to open a new Bill Nye “The Religion Guy” line of products. The speech reportedly occurred in 2006 but the controversy was rekindled after critics cried foul at the removal of the story from the local newspaper’s online archive.
Broken Heart, Empty Head: Florida Man Admits to Staging Robbery to Woe Ex-Girlfriend
Published 1, April 23, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society 6 Comments
Derick A. Culberson, 22, is accused to moving beyond the normal roses and dinners to win back a girlfriend. Culberson has been charged with making a false police report that he was robbed at gunpoint in order to get his girlfriend feel guilty for leaving him
Continue reading ‘Broken Heart, Empty Head: Florida Man Admits to Staging Robbery to Woe Ex-Girlfriend’
Former Columbia Professor Sues University for $200 Million
Published 1, April 23, 2009 Academics , Bizarre , Society , Torts 6 Comments
Madonna Constantine, the former professor of the Teachers College of Columbia University who reported a noose found on her door, has filed a lawsuit against Columbia for $200 million after she was fired for plagiarism.
Continue reading ‘Former Columbia Professor Sues University for $200 Million’
Holder Promises to Follow the Law on Any Torture Investigation But Fails to Mention Special Prosecutor
Published 1, April 23, 2009 Congress , Constitutional Law , Criminal law , International , Justice , Lawyering , Politics , Society 93 Comments
Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday that he will “follow the law” in deciding whether to pursue criminal charges against Bush officials for the torture program. While first reported as a major advance, the statement conspicuously does not mention the appointment of a special prosecutor, an essential component to any investigation since the Justice Department featured heavily in these allegations.
Continue reading ‘Holder Promises to Follow the Law on Any Torture Investigation But Fails to Mention Special Prosecutor’
The Wedding Plaintiff: New York Woman Sues Guest Over Wedding Outburst
Published 1, April 23, 2009 Bizarre , Society , Torts 14 Comments
This may make for a better movie than a torts case, but Sandrina Purdum, 31, alleges that Jennifer Angevine ruined her wedding in Queens, New York, by telling guests that she had been sleeping with her new husband, Harold Purdum, 31. She is alleging slander, infliction of emotion distress, and battery.
Continue reading ‘The Wedding Plaintiff: New York Woman Sues Guest Over Wedding Outburst’
New York Lawyer Arrested For Throwing Kids Out of Car
Published 1, April 23, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Lawyering , Society 9 Comments
Madlyn Primoff, 45, a partner at Kaye Scholer specializing in international financial matters spent the night in jail and is facing criminal charges after she allegedly throw her two daughters, 10 and 12, out of her car on the side of the road. One daughter succeeded in catching up with the car and jumping back in while the ten-year-old was found by another adult. Primoff reported the second daughter missing and was arrested when she went to the police station. She was carried with a misdemeanor count of endangering child welfare.
Continue reading ‘New York Lawyer Arrested For Throwing Kids Out of Car’
Israeli Foreign Minister: The United States Does What Israel Decides Should Be Done
Published 1, April 22, 2009 Congress , International , Politics , Religion , Society 20 Comments
At a time when the Harman scandal is focusing attention on the power of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Congress, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is quoted in his very first interview on foreign policy as saying “Believe me, America accepts all our decisions.”
Continue reading ‘Israeli Foreign Minister: The United States Does What Israel Decides Should Be Done’
Leahy Calls for Judge Bybee’s Resignations and Others Call for Impeachment
Published 1, April 22, 2009 Congress , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , Justice , Lawyering , Politics , Society 26 Comments
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has called for Judge Jay Bybee to resign in light of his central role in the torture program and memos. Leahy declared that “[t]he fact is, the Bush administration and Mr. Bybee did not tell the truth. If the Bush administration and Mr. Bybee had told the truth, he never would have been confirmed.”
Continue reading ‘Leahy Calls for Judge Bybee’s Resignations and Others Call for Impeachment’
Harman Refuses to Confirm Conversation With Suspected Israeli Spy and Calls Interception of Her Calls an “Abuse of Power”
Published 1, April 22, 2009 Congress , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , Justice , Lawyering , Media , Politics , Society 25 Comments
Rep. Jane Harman, D-California, has called the alleged interception of her calls with a suspected spy “an abuse of power” and has called for the transcripts of the call to be given to her. As suggested in an earlier blog, she has promised to make the transcript public if given to her. However, she would not confirm the conversation while denying any quid pro quo arrangement to help accused American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) lobbyists — Steve Rosen and Keith Weissman — in exchange for AIPAC’s help in securing the House Intelligence Committee Chairmanship. While Harman is reported as ending the call with the statement that “This conversation doesn’t exist,” she now denies that the conversation existed as reported in the media.
Notably, the same week that this conversation was revealed, the Administration is reportedly considering dropping charges against the AIPAC lobbyists — precisely what the AIPAC contact reported demanded from Harman in her help to reduce or dismiss charges.
Gilded Cage: Jailbird Contractor Sentenced to Live in the $5 Million Mansion That He Upgraded Through His Tax Evasion Scheme
Published 1, April 22, 2009 Courts , Criminal law , Lawyering , Society 8 Comments
Now this is a sentence that most of my clients would relish. Pittsburgh contractor William G. Tomko Jr. was convicted of using his $5 million mansion as part of a tax evasion scheme where he avoided $228,000 in taxes by having work on the mansion disguised as payments for work done at five area schools. U.S. District Judge Gary L. Lancaster sentenced Tomko to have to live in the mansion as his punishment under a sentence of three years’ probation with one year to be spent on house arrest. Tomko’s cell will be a 8,000-square-foot mansion on eight acres and with $1.8 million in furnishings and $81,000 in fine art. I hope that he can hold up under the pressure of living in this particular cellblock. A divided court of appeals panel has upheld the sentence.
President Obama Leaves Open Possibility of Prosecutions for Torture While His Intelligence Director Affirms That the Torture Program Was Successful
Published 1, April 22, 2009 Congress , Constitutional Law , Criminal law , International , Justice , Lawyering , Media , Military , Politics , Society 32 Comments
President Obama reversed earlier statements statements made as late as this weekend from Raum Emmanuel and others that he did not want anyone — low level or high level officials — prosecuted for torture. In a clear break from his past statements, Obama insisted that the matter had to be left to Attorney General Eric Holder. We discussed this latest development on this segment of MSNBC Countdown. In the meantime, the Administration leaked a memo from Intelligence Director Dennis Blair that said that the torture program yielded new information — part of a new emerging argument that torture works that was also recently advanced by former Vice President Dick Cheney.
Monumental Shakedown: Cashing in on Martin Luther King, Jr.
Published 1, April 22, 2009 Academics , Bizarre , Columns , Congress , Media , Politics , Society 9 Comments
Below is today’s column from the Los Angeles Times on the demand of the family of Martin Luther King that the King Center be paid roughly $800,000 for the right to use his image and words in the planned memorial to the late civil rights leaders on the Washington Mall.
Continue reading ‘Monumental Shakedown: Cashing in on Martin Luther King, Jr.’
KBR Memos Reveal Knowledge of Dangerous Conditions Before Sending Drivers Into Fire Fight
Published 1, April 21, 2009 Constitutional Law , Criminal law , International , Lawyering , Military , Society , Torts 10 Comments
The lawsuit against KBR by the families of civilian drivers killed in an ambush in Iraq in 2004 have been strengthened by internal memos showing that KBR officials knew of the insurgent activity and high level of danger before sending them into harm’s way.
Feinstein Accused of Self-Dealing in $25 Billion Legislation for FDIC
Published 1, April 21, 2009 Congress , Criminal law , Lawyering , Politics , Society 23 Comments
Sen. Diane Feinstein (D., Ca.) is embroiled in an expanding controversy over her introduction of legislation to give $25 billion to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp that awarded a highly generous contract to her husband. Feinstein is notably not on any committee with jurisdiction in this area and this legislation was unusual for her. The scandal, once again, shows the calculated decision of Senators to preserve loopholes that allow them to invest or have interests in areas where they legislate and vote.
Continue reading ‘Feinstein Accused of Self-Dealing in $25 Billion Legislation for FDIC’
Torture Works: Cheney Unrolls New Campaign to Justify War Crimes
Published 1, April 21, 2009 Congress , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , International , Justice , Lawyering , Politics , Society 324 Comments
After refusing to release even unclassified materials as Vice President, former Vice President Dick Cheney is now calling for the release of all interrogation reports to show that torture works. This is the same Cheney who supported the denial of such evidence to courts and criminal defendants and Congress. However, now that calls for prosecution for war crimes are increasing, Cheney suddenly believes in transparency in government. In the meantime, Obama has reversed earlier statements and indicated that he will not rule out prosecutions of Bush officials. We discussed this latest development on this segment of MSNBC Countdown.
Continue reading ‘Torture Works: Cheney Unrolls New Campaign to Justify War Crimes’
Waddling Into Controversy: Harman Reportedly Intercepted in Quid Pro Quo Deal With AIPAC For the Chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee
Published 1, April 21, 2009 Congress , Criminal law , International , Justice , Politics , Religion , Society 11 CommentsFor civil libertarians, this story is proof of a divine being. Rep. Jane Harman has long been criticized for her knowledge of the unlawful warrantless surveillance program and torture program. The democrats have blocked any investigation into the unlawful programs in part to protect democratic members like Harman who would be implicated. Now, it has been reported that Harman was captured on an NSA surveillance allegedly cutting a deal with a suspected Israeli agent to help reduce charges against two officials of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee. Harman allegedly offered the help in exchange for AIPAC securing her the position as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. According to CQ, Harman offers to “waddle into” the AIPAC case in exchange for help securing the Chairmanship. Harman reportedly ended the call with the suspected spy with the warning “This conversation doesn’t exist.”
Texan Criminally Charged For Using Bad Word In Front of Teenager
Published 1, April 21, 2009 Bizarre , Constitutional Law , Criminal law , Politics , Society 21 Comments
Texas authorities continue their criminal crackdown on potty mouths. The latest criminal is Joseph Loflin, 48, who was charged with using the word “shit” in front of a 13-year-old girl in Texas City, Texas. Loflin used the word to describe cat droppings left in his garden.
Continue reading ‘Texan Criminally Charged For Using Bad Word In Front of Teenager’
Lockdown High: Zero-Tolerance Policies and Authoritarian Learning
Published 1, April 21, 2009 Academics , Bizarre , Columns , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , Justice , Lawyering , Media , Politics , Society , Supreme Court , Torts , USA Today 27 Comments
Here is today’s column in USA Today concerning the argument today before the United States Supreme Court in the case of April Redding.
Continue reading ‘Lockdown High: Zero-Tolerance Policies and Authoritarian Learning’
Simple Truth Revealed On Tombstone
Published 1, April 20, 2009 Congress , Constitutional Law , Politics , Society 33 Comments
You really can’t say it better than this.
Mother Shot By Firing Squad After Children Refuse to Ask for Pardon
Published 1, April 20, 2009 Criminal law , International , Politics , Religion , Society 9 Comments
Aisha al-Hamzi, 40, was executed by firing squad in Yemen for the murder of her husband. She insisted that she killed her husband after he molested their oldest daughter, who is now 14. Notably, she would have been spared if any of her seven children asked for a pardon. Critics blame the husband’s family for pressuring the children in their control not to ask for a pardon. In the meantime, another woman was executed by beheading in Saudi Arabia.
Continue reading ‘Mother Shot By Firing Squad After Children Refuse to Ask for Pardon’
Supreme Court to Rule on Free Speech Claim Over Animal Cruelty Films
Published 1, April 20, 2009 Congress , Criminal law , Environment , Politics , Society 12 Comments 
The Supreme Court today accepted U.S. v. Stevens, which will decide whether Robert Stevens of Pittsville, Virginia can be prosecuted for selling videos of pit bull fights. The case could decided the broader question of animal snuff films, crush films, and other disturbing images being sold on the Internet. This case focuses on a federal law criminalizing sale or possession of such images.
Continue reading ‘Supreme Court to Rule on Free Speech Claim Over Animal Cruelty Films’
Oscar Special: Father of Slumdog Millionaire Child Actress Accused of Trying to Sell Daughter
Published 1, April 20, 2009 Bizarre , Courts , Criminal law , International , Justice , Media , Society 3 Comments
A British tabloid is reporting that it conducted an undercover sting and confirmed that the father of Rubina Ali (one of the child star’s from the movie Slumdog Millionaire) is trying to sell the girl for £200,000.
Continue reading ‘Oscar Special: Father of Slumdog Millionaire Child Actress Accused of Trying to Sell Daughter’
On Point Debate With Professor Robert Turner
Published 1, April 20, 2009 Academics , Congress , Constitutional Law , Criminal law , International , Lawyering , Media , Politics , Society 27 Comments
I just completed the discussion below on NPR’s On Point with Professor Robert Turner of the University of Virginia. It shows the flood of different rationales being put forward from every quarter to excuse not investigating war crimes.
Continue reading ‘On Point Debate With Professor Robert Turner’
Two Leading Lawyers Face Shoplifting Allegations in Two Separate Cases
Published 1, April 20, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Lawyering , Politics 2 Comments
This week involved not one but two leading lawyers nailed for shoplifting. In Wichita, Troy Ellis the former chief counsel at Invista was forced to resign after filmed allegedly stealing food from the company cafeteria. In the meantime, in Utah, former prosecutor Gary Guymon (left) was arrested for stealing a necklace from a jewelry shop at a resort.
Continue reading ‘Two Leading Lawyers Face Shoplifting Allegations in Two Separate Cases’
Video: Police Officer Shown on Drunken Video Joking About Murder and Tasering Suspect — Later Assigned to His Own Investigation
Published 1, April 20, 2009 Criminal law , Politics , Society 7 Comments
Erie Police Chief Steve Franklin has a remarkably distorted view of good police work. After Erie Police officer James Cousins II, 40, in Pennsylvania was shown on a video joking about a murder and tasering someone in an unrelated case, Franklin said it was entirely appropriate to assign Cousins to participate in his own investigation and to find the person who posted his drunken boasting on the Internet.
Continue reading ‘Video: Police Officer Shown on Drunken Video Joking About Murder and Tasering Suspect — Later Assigned to His Own Investigation’
Chicago Attorney Convicted of Smuggling Contraband into Prison
Published 1, April 20, 2009 Criminal law , Lawyering , Society 12 Comments
Chicago attorney Nathan Billmaier, 35, was convicted of smuggling drugs and paraphernalia in legal briefs and materials to a client, Donald Jordan, in prison. He is the second attorney in Chicago to be nailed for smuggling in contraband.
Continue reading ‘Chicago Attorney Convicted of Smuggling Contraband into Prison’
Synchronized Sleeping — The New Olympic Sport
Published 1, April 19, 2009 Academics , Bizarre , Environment , Lawyering , Media , Politics , Society 25 Comments
Finally, an Olympic event in which I could compete.
Continue reading ‘Synchronized Sleeping — The New Olympic Sport’
United Nations Official Strongly Suggests That Obama Is In Violation International Law in Refusing to Investigate War Crimes
Published 1, April 19, 2009 Constitutional Law , International , Justice , Lawyering , Politics , Society 35 Comments
U.N. special rapporteur Manfred Nowak has gone public with a stinging indictment of President Barack Obama’s failure to investigate and prosecute officials for the American torture program, a clear war crime under existing treaties. Obama is in open violation of international law due to his failure to uphold the clear legal and moral obligations of this country.
Continue reading ‘United Nations Official Strongly Suggests That Obama Is In Violation International Law in Refusing to Investigate War Crimes’
Memo: Bush Administration Tortured Khalid Sheikh Mohammed 183 Times
Published 1, April 19, 2009 Congress , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , International , Justice , Lawyering , Military , Politics , Society 36 Comments
One of the more shocking revelation from the May 30, 2005 Bradbury memo, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was waterboarded 183 times in March 2003. Abu Zubaydah was waterboarded 83 times in August 2002. Unless I am missing something, that would mean that that KSM was tortured roughly six times a day.
Continue reading ‘Memo: Bush Administration Tortured Khalid Sheikh Mohammed 183 Times’
Headmaster at Religious School Admits Rape of Students — Prior Complaints of Teacher and Students Ignored by Police and Board
Published 1, April 19, 2009 Uncategorized 4 Comments
There are major question being raised about the failure of state authorities and police to respond to complaints by students at the St. Andrew’s Christian school. Sarah Johnson and Bec Gavan say that, not only were their complaints about St. Andrew’s Christian School headmaster Frank Bailey, but they were later expelled from the associated college. In late 2006, Hazel Bell, a science teacher, also raised the alarm to the board, but was terminated by Bailey. Bailey later pleaded guilty after being charged with drugging and raping a different teenage girl.
Continue reading ‘Headmaster at Religious School Admits Rape of Students — Prior Complaints of Teacher and Students Ignored by Police and Board’
Sikh Teenager Cleared in School Assault With Kirpan and Long Pin
Published 1, April 19, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Religion , Society 9 Comments
A Quebec judge has handed down a curious ruling is dismissing a 13-year-old Sikh boy who was charged with brandishing his ceremonial dagger or Kirpan and a large pin in school. Youth court judge Gilles Ouellet ruled that, while there was evidence to convict the boy, “If the three boys had the same nationality, and the same faith, this case would not have ended up before the court.” What exactly does that mean?
Continue reading ‘Sikh Teenager Cleared in School Assault With Kirpan and Long Pin’
Divine Slip and Fall: Court Rejects Fallen Wire of Jewish Eruv as Dangerous Condition
Published 1, April 19, 2009 Courts , Religion , Society , Torts 9 Comments
There is an interesting slip and fall case out of New York. Peggy Egar alleged that injured on March 31, 2003 at 12:00 P.M., when she tripped and fell down at the ramp of the Hospital’s teaching center located at 327 Beach 19th Street, Far Rockaway, New York. Despite an incident the prior year, the court found that there was no constructive notice that the eruv constituted a dangerous condition.
Continue reading ‘Divine Slip and Fall: Court Rejects Fallen Wire of Jewish Eruv as Dangerous Condition’
American Journalist Roxana Saberi Given Eight Year Sentence in Iran
Published 1, April 18, 2009 Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , International , Justice , Lawyering , Media , Politics , Religion , Society 60 Comments
An American journalist Roxana Saberi, 31, has been convicted of spying and sentenced to eight years in prison after a closed door trial.
Continue reading ‘American Journalist Roxana Saberi Given Eight Year Sentence in Iran’
Dominos Workers Criminally Charged After YouTube Prank Video
Published 1, April 18, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society 19 Comments
There is a novel criminal case just filed against two Domino’s Pizza worker who filmed a prank in the restaurant’s kitchen and put it on the Internet with over a million hits on YouTube alone. Now, prosecutors have hit them with felony charges for delivery prohibited foods.
Continue reading ‘Dominos Workers Criminally Charged After YouTube Prank Video’
Yankee Fan Sues After Being Tossed Out of Stadium for Going to the Bathroom During the Singing of God Bless America
Published 1, April 18, 2009 Constitutional Law , Politics , Society 38 Comments
Bradford Campeau-Laurion is suing over his being ejected from Yankee Stadium for getting up to go to the bathroom during the singing of God Bless America. He is claiming political and religious discrimination.
The King Family Demands $800,000 to Use MLK’s Image and Words on National Monument
Published 1, April 18, 2009 Congress , Media , Politics , Society 25 Comments
The family of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. has long been criticized for treating King’s legacy as a private cash machine. The family members have been routinely seen in court fighting over money and suing others to give them a cut of any use of his name or likeness. Now, in a positively outrageous act, the King family is demanding $800,000 for the right of a foundation to use King’s image and words for a monument on the National mall. The solution is simple: stop the monument. If any money is paid to the King family, it would be a public outrage.
Man Urinates on Woman During Flights — Receives Only Three Weeks in Jail
Published 1, April 18, 2009 Bizarre , Criminal law , Society , Torts 11 Comments
Jerome Kenneth Kingzio, 28, received a remarkably light sentence for a truly disgusting crime of assault. On a Continental flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, a 66-year-old woman was watching an in-flight movie when Kingzio stood up in the seat behind her and urinated on her. For this assault, he received just three weeks in jail.
Continue reading ‘Man Urinates on Woman During Flights — Receives Only Three Weeks in Jail’
Second Autopsy Finds Ian Tomlinson Died Of Internal Bleeding, Not a Heart Attack — Attacking Officer is Now Under Investigation for Manslaughter
Published 1, April 18, 2009 Criminal law , International , Media , Society , Torts 8 Comments
The English police have beens struggling to explain a video by an American businessman showing a police officer attacking 47-year-old newspaper vendor, Ian Tomlinson, after denying that they had no contact with him. Now, a second autopsy has shown that Tomlinson did not die from a heart attack but internal bleeding. The officer is now under investigation for manslaughter.
You Deserve a Break Today: Elderly Couple Trapped in Car By Falling Golden Arches
Published 1, April 17, 2009 Bizarre , Society , Torts 9 Comments
For those lawyers seeking to establish that fast food is a dangerous product, they may have the perfect clients in Russell and Carolyn Janke, who had the Golden Arches literally land on them. The giant sign blew off its base on the Navajo Nation reservation and crushed their Chevy Trailblazer.
Continue reading ‘You Deserve a Break Today: Elderly Couple Trapped in Car By Falling Golden Arches’
New Torture Memos Reveal Details of America’s Torture Program
Published 1, April 17, 2009 Congress , Constitutional Law , Criminal law , International , Justice , Lawyering , Military , Politics 78 CommentsThe newly released torture memos reveal the comprehensive and premeditated character of America’s torture program. It also highlights the shameful role of now Judge Jay Bybee, who distorts the current law in the area to justify a clear war crime. In the meantime, former administration officials have called the release a danger to national security. I discussed the memos onthis segment of Countdown.
Continue reading ‘New Torture Memos Reveal Details of America’s Torture Program’
Father of His Church and Country: Paraguay President Sued in Paternity Action
Published 1, April 17, 2009 Bizarre , International , Justice , Politics , Religion , Society 6 Comments
The President of Paraguay Fernando Lugo is facing an interesting paternity lawsuit. It is bad enough when your country’s president is charged with fathering a child with a then 16 year old girl. It is even worse if you were the Catholic Bishop Fernando Lugo at the time.
Continue reading ‘Father of His Church and Country: Paraguay President Sued in Paternity Action’
Textbook Lawsuit: Law Professors Sue West Publishing
Published 1, April 17, 2009 Academics , Criminal law , Society , Torts 16 Comments
Coming soon to torts and contracts text books: two law professors have sued West Publishing for releasing a supplement to their text book that wrongly listed them as authors. Professors David Rudovsky of the University of Pennsylvania and Leonard Sosnov of Widener Law School say that the supplement was a poor job and embarrassed them by association. They are demanding an injunction.
Continue reading ‘Textbook Lawsuit: Law Professors Sue West Publishing’
Model Teacher: High School Coach Fired for Posing for Playboy
Published 1, April 17, 2009 Academics , Constitutional Law , Media , Religion , Society 23 Comments
We have another teacher fired for her private lifestyle and activities. Carlie Beck was fired from her job as cheerleading coach at Casa Roble High School in the San Juan Unified School District after she posed nude for Playboy under the name Carlie Christine.
Continue reading ‘Model Teacher: High School Coach Fired for Posing for Playboy’
Obama Orders Release of Secret Memos But Strongly Signals That He Will Block Any War Crimes Investigation
Published 1, April 16, 2009 Congress , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , Media , Politics , Society 96 CommentsTo his credit, President Barack Obama has rejected efforts at the CIA and National Security Council to prevent the disclosure of memos detailing torture techniques. However, the statement below appears to lay the groundwork for a decision to block any investigation into war crimes. While insisting at we are a “nation of laws,” Obama seems to refer to enforcing those laws as acts of “retribution.” It is a position that is strikingly similar to the view of pro-Taliban leaders in Pakistan who have blocked war crimes prosecutions in that country. In the meantime, Attorney General Eric Holder has promised that no CIA employee who tortured detainees will be prosecuted. I discussed the memos on this segment of Rachel Maddow.
Continue reading ‘Obama Orders Release of Secret Memos But Strongly Signals That He Will Block Any War Crimes Investigation’
Video: Susan Boyle Shows There is Still No Substitute for Talent
Published 1, April 16, 2009 International , Media , Society 15 Comments
I have never watched American Idol (perhaps the last human being) or any reality show in my life (the God’s honest truth). However, this video has gone viral and I wanted to share Susan Boyle with anyone on this blog that has not seen her.
Continue reading ‘Video: Susan Boyle Shows There is Still No Substitute for Talent’
Regulating Pedophilia: Justice Minister Announces Intent to “Regulate” Child Brides to Avoid Abuse
Published 1, April 16, 2009 Criminal law , International , Justice , Politics , Religion , Society 7 CommentsSaudi Arabia has been hit with a torrent of criticism over the practice of arranged marriages involving children often ten or even younger. In a spasm of reform, Justice Minister Muhammad Issa has now announced a major reform: the government will “regulate” such marriages to avoid abuse. Of course, this is like saying that you will regulate pedophilia to guarantee that it is not abusive.
Report: NSA Violated Congressional Authorization in Intercepting E-Mails and Telephone Calls — Sought to Intercept Member of Congress
Published 1, April 16, 2009 Congress , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , Justice , Politics 20 Comments
A new report establishes that the National Security Agency’s violations of federal law are much broader in scope than previously known, including the interception without warrants of the emails and telephone calls of American citizens. Once again, the question is where the congressional intelligence committee were during these continued violations and why citizens should place any trust in members who are tasked with the oversight of these programs.
Rankings of Part-Time Law Programs: Georgetown and George Washington Take Top Honors
Published 1, April 16, 2009 Academics 21 Comments
US News and World Report has issued the national rankings of part-time JD programs, giving first place to Georgetown and George Washington in the top two spots.
Republic of Texas: Governor Raises the Prospect of Secession From the Union
Published 1, April 16, 2009 Bizarre , Constitutional Law , Politics , Society 79 Comments
Facing a tough challenge in his primary for reelection, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has taken up a curious new campaign slogan: Secession. In the audio tape below, Perry threatened that Texas reserved the right to secede from the Union in when it became a state in 1845. While Perry’s call for secession is likely to be echoed by many liberals across the country who have long criticized the state’s politics and politicians like George W. Bush, it may be a bit early to buy those Republic of Texas license plates and exchange your currency.
Continue reading ‘Republic of Texas: Governor Raises the Prospect of Secession From the Union’
Afghan Women Pelted With Stones During Protest of Law Legalizing Marital Rape
Published 1, April 16, 2009 Constitutional Law , International , Politics , Religion , Society 1 Comment
In a rare demonstration, 300 women marched in Kabul to protest a new law that legalized marital rape and restricts the ability of women to leave their homes. Over three times the number of counter-demonstrators formed in response and showered the women with stones. Some reportedly shouted “Death to the slaves of the Christians.”
Continue reading ‘Afghan Women Pelted With Stones During Protest of Law Legalizing Marital Rape’
Annie Hull: Company Challenges Value of Woody Allen’s Endorsement in Tort Case
Published 1, April 15, 2009 Courts , Media , Society , Torts 10 Comments
American Apparel over the use of his image in ads for the company. The company ran a picture of Allen from the movie Annie Hall where he is dressed as a Hasidic Jew. They are now claiming that he is entitled to little of the $10 million that he sought in the lawsuit because he already destroyed the value of his reputation. Instead, it is suggesting that he is trying to get an Annie “Hull” by overstating the value of the image from the movie. It appears that the company does not agree with Allen that “Eighty percent of success is showing up.”
Continue reading ‘Annie Hull: Company Challenges Value of Woody Allen’s Endorsement in Tort Case’
Leading the World by Example: Obama Legal Position on War Crimes Adopted for Taliban in Pakistan
Published 1, April 15, 2009 Congress , Constitutional Law , Criminal law , International , Justice , Lawyering , Politics , Religion , Society 47 Comments
After his recent trip to the Middle East to reach out to Muslims appears to have born fruit. A Pakistan leader has adopted the position of the Obama Administration on war crimes. Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi chief Sufi Mohammad has announced that Taliban murderers who have been accused of such crimes as burning schools, throwing acid in the faces of school girls, and killings should not be prosecuted because “[w]e intend to bury the past. These things will be left behind and we will go for a new life in peace.” It is the very logic that our President has been trying to advance as an excuse for not allowing an investigation into the torture program. Obama has insisted that “no one is above the law” while immediately guaranteeing that Bush officials are above the law by stating “My orientation’s going to be to move forward . . . getting things right in the future as opposed to looking at what we got wrong in the past.”
“Judge” Mathis Goes Video: Fun With Prison Rape and Other “Justice Issues”
Published 1, April 15, 2009 Courts , Criminal law , Lawyering , Media , Politics , Society 8 Comments 
I have long been a critic of the faux judges on television who turn criminal justice into a form of caricatured entertainment. Now, “Judge” Greg Mathis is opening his own video game to compete with such games as Grand Theft Auto. His game includes such fun risks as prison rape.
Continue reading ‘“Judge” Mathis Goes Video: Fun With Prison Rape and Other “Justice Issues”’
Recent Comments