Legal Commentary

India Family Shot and Beheaded in ?Honor Killings?

Posted on February 13, 2009
There is yet another terrible crime associated with India’s caste system. In Patna, eight members of a maily where shot, beheaded, and thrown into a river after Ratan Mandal, 21, a poor villager, married Kanchan Kumari, 18, above his caste in secret...

No Charges in Case of Man Dragged 19.8 Miles Under Van

Posted on February 13, 2009
In Queens, New York, a pedestrian was struck by a van and dragged 19.8 miles without the driver realizing that he had a body beneath his vehicle. The van was the second vehicle to hit the man and what is most remarkable is that it does not appear that either the first car or [...

Mississippi Judge Bobby DeLaughter Indicted

Posted on February 13, 2009
With the recent sentencing of Richard “Dickie” Scruggs on mail fraud charges, there was great speculation as to the fate of Mississippi Circuit Judge Bobby DeLaughter, who was the alleged recipient of a bribe. The speculation is now over with the indictment of the judge with conspiracy, mail fraud and obstruction...

Thirteen Angry Men: Mistrial Declared After Texas Man Convicted by Vote of 13-0

Posted on February 13, 2009
Now, coming from Chicago, I find nothing curious about this story. However, District Judge Mark Kent Ellis was a bit concerned when a jury returned a conviction against Charles Mapps in only 45 minutes by a vote of 13 jurors. Some would say that would make him really really guilty, but there is [...

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Right-Wing Dutch Politician Geert Wilders Challenges British Ban Over His Writings

Posted on February 12, 2009
England continues to use criminal laws and travel bans to punish individuals for controversial speech. One such controversial writer, Dutch politician Geert Wilders, now says that he is going to try to get into the country despite a ban to contest the use of such laws to punish free speech...

Florida Judge Thomas Stringer Resigns Over Dealings With Stripper

Posted on February 12, 2009
Florida Judge Thomas E. Stringer Sr. has resigned after the disclosure of his dealings with a stripper, Christy Yamanaka, 48. Stringer was accused of helping Yamanaka of hiding assets from their creditors. The allegations were previously discussed on this blog...

Siren Song: Pennsylvania Woman Arrested for Arson After Allegedly Being Taped Singing About the Crimes

Posted on February 12, 2009
Amanda Gessner, 19, may have the shortest singing career in history. Police in Drexel Hill say that a surveillance camera caught Gessner signing “The fire department is going to be mad at me” before she started seven fires. Gessner is now being held on $100,000 bail, charged with arson and related offenses...

Editor and Publisher Arrested for ?Hurting the Religious Feelings? of Muslims in India

Posted on February 12, 2009
In yet another crackdown on free speech over criticism of a religion, the editor and publisher of The Statesman has been arrested for running an article that contains material insulting to Muslims. The Statesman’s editor Ravindra Kumar and publisher Anand Sinha were arrested in Calcutta...

Baseball Star Roberto Alomar Sued For Allegedly Giving Girlfriend AIDS From Unprotected Sex

Posted on February 12, 2009
Former New York Mets player Roberto Alomar has been sued by his former girlfriend, Ilya Dall, 31, who says that Alomar gave her AIDS from unprotected sex. Once rare in torts, claims of negligent or intentional exposure to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) has become much more common in American courts under theories of [...

Beating Beaty: Video Shows Fresno Police Repeatedly Hitting Homeless Man

Posted on February 12, 2009
The Fresno Police Department is investigating two officers videotaped beating a homeless man during his arrest. In the video below, the man, Glen Beaty, 52, is shown on the ground receiving hits to the head. Police Chief Jerry Dyer acknowledged that ‘the initial reaction of people that view this video will [...

No Nut: Peanut Company President Parnell Takes the Fifth Before Congress

Posted on February 12, 2009
Peanut Corporation of America owner Stewart Parnell has invoked his privilege against self-incrimination to refuse testimony before Congress. It was the smart move. Parnell is in the same position as Roger Clemens and other baseball players accused in the steroid scandal...

With Friends Like This . . . : Stephen Colbert Endorses Turley Testimony

Posted on February 12, 2009
Turley bloggers we have arrived. Stephen Colbert last night embraced my testimony against the D.C. voting rights bill with the type of clinging and infectious hug not seen since the Sadie Hawkins dances at the French Leper Colony. Unfortunately, Colbert promptly sold out his opposition to the bill after being offered a key to the [...

Texas Lawyer Sues Judge Over Stalking Comment

Posted on February 12, 2009
There is an interesting case filed in Dallas, Texas where attorney Evan Lane “Van” Shaw has sued 193rd District Judge Carl Ginsberg (left) after the judge alleged that Shaw was stalking him. He is suing the judge for libel and slander. The case raises provocative questions about not just recusal but defamation...

Top Obama Aides Embrace Bush?s War on Terror Rhetoric and Enemy Combatant Policy

Posted on February 11, 2009
This has been a uniquely bad week for civil libertarians. The Obama Administration appears to be rushing to dispel any notions that Obama will fight for civil liberties or war crimes investigations. After Eric Holder allegedly assured a senator that there would be no war crimes investigation and seemed to defend Bush policies, [...

The Real Thing: Indian Company Introduces Cow Urine Soft Drink

Posted on February 11, 2009
Indian newspapers are reporting that an Indian company is about to introduce a rival to Coca Cola: Cow Urine soda. This ultimate un-cola (or ungulate cola) is made with a base of gau ark (cow urine) though they prefer to call it gau jal (cow water). My doubts about the authenticity of this [...

American Freestyle Motocross Champion Jeremy Lusk Dies After Trying a Backflip

Posted on February 11, 2009
Jeremy Lusk, an American freestyle motocross racer, died of head injuries this week after failing to complete the rotation in a “Hart Attack backflip.” The move caused severe brain damage and possible spinal cord injury. The accident follows complaints over the danger of such activities, particularly for kids trying to mimic their heroes...

The Phelps Eight: Richland County Rounds Up Bong Buddies of Olympic Swimmer

Posted on February 11, 2009
Word to the wise, don’t smoke dope with celebrities in Richland County, South Carolina. Media reports indicate that the Sheriff’s Department have arrested eight people in connection to the controversy. It would also indicate that criminal charges are being contemplated against Phelps since such arrests are often useful in coercing cooperation from witnesses...

Saudi Arabian Judge Sentences Pregnant Gang Rape Victim to Jail and 100 Lashes

Posted on February 11, 2009
A Saudi judge in Jeddah has again given the world a taste of law under the country’s medieval Sharia system. A 23-year-old pregnant woman who complained about being gang raped has been found guilty of adultery (even though she is not married) and ordered that she serve one year in jail and receive 100 [...

All A Twitter: Rep. Hoekstra Defends Himself Against Allegations of Disclosing Sensitive Information on Twitter

Posted on February 11, 2009
Peter Hoekstra of Michigan, the top-ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, is under fire for using Twitter to tell reporters that a group of officials were going to Iraq and Afghanistan. Anonymous sources have criticized Hoekstra for putting the entire delegation at risk by the security breach...

Lawnocrats: Michigan Man Loses Case to Grow Environmentally Friendly Lawn

Posted on February 11, 2009
Pittsfield Township likes its lawns uniform and is willing to use criminal law to enforce its lawnacratic rule. Stanislav Voskov thought that he was doing a good thing by growing an environmentally friendly lawn by allowing various natural plants to grow without mowing...

Texas Judge Accused of Failure to Pay Legal Costs in Daughter?s Manslaughter Case

Posted on February 10, 2009
Texas Judge Pat Shelton has already attracted a great deal of controversy over his role in the defense of his daughter, Elizabeth Shelton, who was convicted of drunk driving that led to the death of her boyfriend, Matthew McNiece. Not only did Shelton sue the car that she hit but Judge Shelton attacked the [...

English Diplomat Arrested for Shouting Anti-Israeli Comments At Gym

Posted on February 10, 2009
A top aide to British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has been arrested for shouting at the “telly” at his gym. The 47-year-old diplomat is accused of shouting “F***ing Israelis, f***ing Jews” while watching news reports of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza last month at the gym...

Y?All Come Again!: Town Accused of ?Highway Piracy? in Seizing Property Without Bringing Criminal Charges

Posted on February 10, 2009
The Town of Tenaha, Texas (population 1000) is accused of rising revenue the old fashioned way: by stealing it. Citizens who have passed through the town have complained that property has been seized by Tenaha police and never returned, even though they were never charged with a crime...

No Mondavi for Mugabe: Zimbabwe Demands Birthday Contributions of 2000 Bottles of Champagne, Lobsters and Other Delights

Posted on February 10, 2009
With unprecedented inflation making its currency worthless and rampant starvation and cholera, most people would have a hard time celebrating, but not the family and friends of President Mugabe, who have drawn up the list of items needed to celebrate his 85th birthday...

TRAVEL ALERT: Duck Scam Artists Fleecing Tourists

Posted on February 10, 2009
I just saw this picture and thought you should be warned about mother ducks using their ducklings as decoys. This brings a new meaning to being fleeced. Yet, all those animal rights people still defend these little drifters (the proper term of grifter ducklings)...

Ken Lawson to Be Sentenced for Drugs While Former Clients Sue Over Malpractice

Posted on February 10, 2009
Drugs appear to have claimed another leading lawyer — cautionary tale for law students and lawyers alike. Ken Lawson has assembled a reputation in Kentucky for his defense of celebrities and suing police departments. Various clients have sued Lawson for malpractice and Lawson, 45, will be sentenced on federal drug-conspiracy charge...

Police Tell Teenager to Lay On the Road or Be Tasered, The Boy Complies and Is Promptly Run Over Car

Posted on February 09, 2009
In Ipswich, Australia, a 16-year-old boy who was told by police to lay down in the street or be tasered by police. The boy complied and was then run over and killed by a car. It is a compelling case of negligence, even if the boy was acting “aggressive...

Schiavo Mediterranean Style: Italy Halts Effort to Terminate Woman in Vegetative State

Posted on February 09, 2009
Italy is in the midst of its own Terri Schiavo controversy. Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has intervened to prevent doctors from carrying out the wishes of Eluana Englaro and her family to discontinued life support. Englaro has been in a coma for 17 years after a car crash in 1992...

Texas Court Finally Clears Man of Rape . . . . Ten Years After He Died in Prison

Posted on February 09, 2009
You would think that Timothy Cole would be a happy man. Texas State District Judge Charles Baird has expunged his conviction of a 1985 rape in Lubbock, Texas of Texas Tech University student Michele Mallin. The problem is that he died in prison ten years ago...

Cutting a Deal with the Death Dealers: Soldier Attempts Suicide So Army Charges Him Criminally and Has His Mother Paint His Suicide Note On His Bedroom Wall

Posted on February 09, 2009
As Congress struggles to understand the shocking report of a massive increase in suicides in the Army, they might want to study the case of Army Pvt. Adam Lieberman to see how some officers treat soldiers in mental distress. Lieberman was experiencing severe mental problems after a year in Iraq qith the Ist Battalion, [...

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