Law Students

Another Man Released in Texas on DNA Evidence

Posted on June 27, 2008
These stories are too depressing to write about. Today, the Dallas County District Attorney?s (DA) Office announced that Patrick Waller, 38, is the County?s latest wrongfully convicted citizen. Waller, who is represented by Gary Udashen, has spent the past 16 years in prison and was serving a life sentence for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, along with two 30-year sentences for aggravated kidnapping which arose from the same incident...

Just Released a Terrorist!

Posted on June 27, 2008
Oh, nope. Just finally getting around removing Nelson Mandela from the U.S. terror watch list. On this one, Condi and I agree completely (from RawStory): US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently said it was "embarrassing" to still have Mandela's name on the watch list...

Heat Burst

Posted on June 27, 2008
When I read about the "heat burst" that hit Nebraska yesterday, it was the first time I had heard of the phenomenon and thought I'd pass the strangeness along. It seems that these would be especially dangerous in cities like Phoenix. "Cozad residents woke this morning to a weather phenomenon as a heat burst rolled through town...

The Absurdity of the Marriage Amendment

Posted on June 27, 2008
I read lots of news stories which I find to be absurd or completely unbelievable, but I've never quite seen a story that is so completely open to ridicule. It appears that Senator Craig, (yes, the gay bathroom Senator), and Senator Vitter, (yes, the D...

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Justice Sleeping on the Job

Posted on June 27, 2008
Jim Lindgreen at Volokh seems to be surprised that Justice Ginsburg fell asleep while on-the-job, and even more surprised that she had done so before. Really? Are any of you surprised?

Facebook Settlement to be Enforced

Posted on June 27, 2008
From Jurist: A judge in the US District Court for the Northern District of California [official website] Wednesday granted a motion [order, PDF] to enforce a previous settlement agreement between two social networking websites, Facebook [corporate backgrounder] and ConnectU [corporate website]...

RFID is Dangerous

Posted on June 26, 2008
Looks like they are going to need to revise the way that RFID is being placed in everything. (Go here to read an abtract from the Journal of the American Medical Association here.) From redOrbit: Dutch researchers reported Tuesday that radio frequency identification chips (RFID) used by many hospitals to keep track of medical products and equipment could cause the breakdown of critical medical care devices such as ventilators, pacemakers and kidney dialysis machines...

Senator "Big Bad John" Cornyn

Posted on June 26, 2008
I just saw this ad for Senator Cornyn's reelection campaign.

A Testament to Stupidity

Posted on June 26, 2008
My favorite crazies have declared that George Carlin is in hell. I think he would have enjoyed being called a "pottymouth." I'm really not sure why Carlin is put in the same catagory as "fellow filth-monger Jerry Seinfield," and really not sure why Fred Phelps signs off by telling the listener that he/she is going to hell as well, but it is rather amusing...

Breaking: You have a Right to a Gun

Posted on June 26, 2008
The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditional lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home. The opinion in District of Columbia v. Heller is here...

KENNEDY V. LOUISIANA

Posted on June 25, 2008
You would have to be hiding under a rock not to have heard that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the death penalty for rape of a child violates the 8th Amendment.Majority opinion here.Dissent here.Transcript of oral argument.Brief for Petitioner...

We Got a Terrorist!

Posted on June 25, 2008
Ok, not really. What we got was a sick man who was committed to a phychiatric unit when he made threats against the president. I'm sure that crazy people rarely threaten to kill famous people.Way to go.From Raw Story:A mentally ill homeless man will serve 57 months in federal prison for threats he made against President Bush...

Marijuana is Anti-Cancer

Posted on June 25, 2008
Who would have thunk it? There maybe actual medical uses for marijuana although our government would probably prefer that you never hear about it.This is a freakishly sad commentary on politics in the U.S. We would rather punish people for recreational drug-use than try and help people dying of cancer...

Ignoring Email the New Ostrich Metaphor

Posted on June 25, 2008
It used to be that we woul say you were "hiding your head in the sand" if you just tried to ignore the problems that you are facing. Nw we'll have to use a new term; how about "ignoring your email"?Apparently this is a good way to ignore the U.S. Supreme Court...

Polygraphs Still Used by Defense Attorneys

Posted on June 25, 2008
Someone emailed me this link today and I foud some of the information quite interesting. Seems that the polygraph has become the tool of the defense bar.Probably the most interesting thing is the fact that pre-trial negotiations can turn on the polygraph...

DOJ Misconduct

Posted on June 24, 2008
The DOJ hired layers based on their conservative credentials.Is anyone really surprised by these findings? We all know that this type of bis exists. That is why I omit my Federalist Society credentials when applying for a position with a firm or judge that is "liberal" and omit my American Constitution Society credentials when applying for a "conservative" job...

Kozinski Videos

Posted on June 24, 2008
These videos are certainly not safe for work. Seriously. Don't look at them unless you are prepared to see what can only be classified as pornography. Mostly I get the impression that people want to see them for voyeristic reasons, but there are enough people out there that just want to see for themselves what all the fuss is about...

Water Powered Car

Posted on June 24, 2008
Ok, so if you haven't invested in water yet, it may be time. The price of water has been going up as the supply has dwindled due to contamination and population explosion.In fact, T. Boone Pickens has been investing in water for some time because he is sure that water is the new oil...

Nutri-loaf

Posted on June 24, 2008
Looking for the most unappetising thing on the planet in order to punish your children for not finishing their meals? Well, here you have it. Government tested and prisoner approved; nutri-loaf. This is the food they give to punsh prisoners for not behaving...

Supreme Court Rules Death Penalty Is 'Totally Badass'

Posted on June 24, 2008
This Onion video parody is pretty funny, but the language is probably NSFW. I particularly liked the part where Justice Kennedy says life without parole would be better because it is more brutal.Supreme Court Rules Death Penalty Is 'Totally Badass'

Juveniles Entitled to Jury Trial

Posted on June 23, 2008
Of all the stories I noticed over the weekend, the Opinion from the Supreme Court of Kansas, (In the Matter of L.M.), struck me as one of the most important decisions to come out of the courts in 2008.It isn't often that you see a state supreme court declare that they don't have to follow U...

McCain Strategist Says Terror Attacks Would be an "Advantage"

Posted on June 23, 2008
I'm not sure why everyone is getting so worked up about this statement. Of course it is incredibly stupid, but read in context it isn't all that controversial. Charlie Black is essentially saying that McCain has more knowledge about security issues and any event that allows McCain to show off that knowledge gives hm an advantage...

Judge Kozinski Hires Defense Lawyer

Posted on June 23, 2008
If you ever wondered who to hire if you need a defense attorney, this may make the decision pretty easy. When the Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit has decided to hire this guy you probably should as well.Congratulations Mark C. Holscher, you are likely to become the lawyer of the year...

RIP George Carlin

Posted on June 23, 2008
George Carlin, the frenzied performer whose routine "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television" led to a key Supreme Court ruling on obscenity, has died.

Water on Mars!

Posted on June 20, 2008
w00t w00t, whatever that means.From the laist:This just in from the Mars Phoenix Lander's Twitter at 5:15 p.m.: "Are you ready to celebrate? Well, get ready: We have ICE!!!!! Yes, ICE, *WATER ICE* on Mars! w00t!!! Best day ever!!" It was just two days ago that media outlets were reporting that there were no signs of water yet...

Reporter's Shield Bill

Posted on June 20, 2008
I thought that this was an interesting insight into the world of federalism in the U.S. So far, 37 state attorneys general have signed a letter urging the U.S. Senate to support a bill that would shield the media from having to report their sources.Of course, the President of the U...

Can Court Force You to Disobey Your Religion?

Posted on June 20, 2008
In Massachusetts you can! This is probably the correct result only because the plaintiff failed to list the judge who issued the order as a defendant. Of course, the judge states that it wouldn't have been a constitutional violation even if the judge were named, but I have a hard time believing that the issue is that cut-and-dry...

Oregon's Laws Aren't Copyrighted

Posted on June 20, 2008
Well, its official although there little doubt as to final outcome of all this. Oregon's Legislative Counsel Committeelaws unanimously voted to waive assertion of copyright on our statutes.You can go here to check out the details.

Military Murder or Friendly Fire?

Posted on June 20, 2008
As if it wasn't enough that this family lost their daughter in the war effort, that they lose her in a senseless murder suicide AND were lied to by the U.S. military is too much to fathom. Someone needs to get control of this military propaganda machine before the idiots in charge drive away the good men and women needed to protect our country...

Cuba to Join the Modern World

Posted on June 20, 2008
The EU has decided to stop punishing the entire population of Cuba for the sins of their leaders. (The EU sanctions have been around since 2003.)In related news, the U.S. is still to behind the times to realize that it might be a good idea to make friends with the Cuban people...

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