Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting two underage followers he took as brides in what his church deemed "spiritual marriages." In all fairness, he's not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (aka "the Mormon Church"), but an offshoot of that church: the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of … Read More
What Citizens United Hath Wrought
Last year's Citizens United case was, for most court watchers, one of the worst-decided case in Supreme Court history. Worse even, some say, than Bush v Gore. That case allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts on political advocacy (but mostly corporations since they had the $$$$). What we have now is a huge infusion of money into politics, and … Read More
HBO Documentary Looks At The “Hot Coffee” Case
You've all heard about the klutzy woman who sued McDonald's because her coffee was hot when she spilt it on herself? And how she won? That story is used repeatedly to show that lawyers are bad people who create frivilous and stupid lawsuits. A couple of years ago, I discussed the "McDonald's coffee" case, exposing it for what it actually … Read More
Patterico Guest Blogger Shows His Ass And Can’t Understand Why He Can’t Get People Interested
COMMENTS CLOSED: The ankle-biters seem to think that repeating the same fallacious argument over and over again amounts to moving the ball forward in some way, and I don't have the time or inclination to respond to the same bad arguments five or six times. (This will be viewed as a "victory" by the ankle-biters, but rest assured, it's merely … Read More
The Constitution Is Optional Apparently
Miss Tennessee Ashley Durham was asked if burning religious books is protected by the same First Amendment free speech rules that cover burning an American flag. Her answer: "I know that some people view it as a freedom of speech, however, burning the American flag is not patriotic at all. No American citizen should do that, and you should also … Read More
Breaking: Walker Opinion On Prop 8 Upheld
WSJ: SAN FRANCISCO—A federal judge has upheld a gay judge's ruling to strike down California's same-sex marriage ban. Chief U.S. District Judge James Ware said Tuesday that former Chief Judge Vaughn Walker did not have to divulge whether he wanted to marry his own gay partner before he declared last year that voter-approved marriage ban was unconstitutional. Lawyers for backers … Read More
Today in Prop 8 News
Just to recap. Prop 8 was a California ballot initiative that banned same sex marriages in California. Well-funded by out-of state bigots (like the Mormons), it narrowly passed in 2008. But then Prop 8 was challenged in state court for being unconstitutional. But the California courts upheld Prop 8. After the California Supreme Court upheld the voter initiative, another suit, Perry … Read More
Letter Of The Day
Reprinted in full: Dear Representative Bachmann, My name is Amy Myers. I am a Cherry Hill, New Jersey sophomore attending Cherry Hill High School East. As a typical high school student, I have found quite a few of your statements regarding The Constitution of the United States, the quality of public school education and general U.S. civics matters to be … Read More
The Changing Legal Face Of Music
Once upon a time, you heard a song on the radio, you liked it, and you went to the brick-and-mortar store and bought it. You bought it on vinyl, or cassette, or on CD. And you owned it. Those days are all but gone now, and the music industry is trying to adapt to the new technology. And as … Read More
Free Stem Cells For All!
Not really, but a federal appeals court has lifted last year's ban on stem cell research — a ban by some conservative D.C. judge with a stick up his butt. UPDATE: Opinion here (PDF) ADF keeps losing…..
Shortest Deposition Ever
[H/T: Above The Law]
A Worthy Benchslap
A trial was scheduled for June 14, 2011. Defendants requested a short continuance because “one of their counsel, Bryan Erman, along with his wife, is expecting their first child due on July 3.” Plaintiffs’ counsel objected — strenuously. This took Judge Eric Melgren (D. Kansas) by surprise. Judge Melgren granted the continuance — and took the opportunity to benchslap the … Read More