Every lawyer knows — because it’s drilled into us — that it is unethical to have sex with a client. It violates the Rules of Professional Conduct in every state bar, and can lead to fines or suspension of your legal license. The rationale is that having sex with a client creates a conflict of interest. Also demeans the profession, … Read More
Naughty Crissy
Ah, such a bright future ahead. From a local Utah newspaper, dated September 1, 2004: Crissy Morris is just starting her career as a teacher at HHS and will be teaching geography, sociology and PE. She hopes to make learning enjoyable for the students and make an impact in their lives. Crissy was born to John and Carol Thorpe and … Read More
Illegal Government Surveillance Was In The Offing BEFORE 9/11
9/11 changed everything? Hardly… A former Qwest Communications International executive, appealing a conviction for insider trading, has alleged that the government withdrew opportunities for contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars after Qwest refused to participate in an unidentified National Security Agency program that the company thought might be illegal. Former chief executive Joseph P. Nacchio, convicted in April of … Read More
The Ed Brown Standoff Ends
A follow-up to something I blogged about in August — Ed Brown and his wife have been finally taken into custody, after a five month standoff with police: They were convicted of evading $1.9 million in taxes — a crime punishable by up to five years in prison. The Browns were sentenced in absentia in April. But they refused to … Read More
Phoenix Airport Death
Accident? Suicide? Whatever it is, it’s tragic. I don’t know why, but I’m fascinated by this story. The new video doesn’t help much. It looks like the police may have been a little quick to tackle and cuff her (she certainly didn’t attack them), and probably could have spent more time trying to calm her down. But with no audio … Read More
“Legal”
George W. Bush, January 26, 2006 (in response to a question regarding the legality of the "Terrorist Surveillance Program"): The terrorist surveillance program is necessary to protect America from attack. I asked the very questions you asked when we first got going. Let me tell you exactly how this happened. Right after September the 11th, I said to the people, … Read More
The Final Word On Sex Toys In Alabama
A footnote a post I wrote way back in February regarding the constitutional challenge to an Alabama law forbidding the sale of sex toys: The U.S. Supreme Court refused to take the case yesterday. So the law stands. Which means you cannot sell sex toys in Alabama. (You can use them, though).
Supreme Court Preview
This blog actually was originally an outgrowth of legal writings I did on the Supreme Court and the Constitution. I used to prepare Continuing Legal Education materials on constitutional issues, and that whetted my appetite to express my views on the Supremes and upcoming highlights in the law. Hence, this blog. Sadly, I don’t do that kind of work and … Read More
Stupid Computer Thief Uploads Pictures Of Himself
From Boing Boing: Last week a number of computers were stolen from our office in Vancouver, BC. One of those computers was a shared iMac with Flickrbooth, an app that automatically uploads photo booth shots to our flickr account, installed on it. Just this morning a friend called to tell us that there are photos of whoever has the computer … Read More
Biden Does Political Seriousness
Sen. Joe Biden, on the GOP’s successful filibuster of legislation restoring habeas corpus for enemy combatants: “As I’ve said before, the terrorists win when we abandon our civil liberties. The way we win is to show them that we can fight this war without changing our character as a nation. I hope the Senate reconsiders this issue once again.” . … Read More
Two Important Bills
I’ve sort of noticed that I’m not as political on this blog lately, and I think that is for three reasons. First of all, there’s the burnout factor. I mean, when you’ve seen all the outrages by this Adminsitration over the past several years — from Iraq to Katrina — then the smaller outrages (which would have been big ten … Read More
About The Juice
Well, as you know, O.J. is at it again. He was arrested Sunday and faces multiple felony charges in an alleged armed robbery of collectors involving the former football great’s sports memorabilia. Professor Volokh asks (and answers) an interesting question: If O.J. is convicted, can the sentencing judge take into account his past "crime" — the one for which he … Read More
Chemerinsky Is Back As UC Irvine Dean
I had a feeling that L’Affaire Chemerinsky would end this way: UC Irvine Chancellor Michael V. Drake and Erwin Chemerinsky have reached an agreement that will return the liberal legal scholar to the dean’s post at the university’s new law school, the university announced this morning. With the deal, they hope to end the controversy that erupted when Chemerinsky was … Read More
Noise Violators Sentenced To Barry Manilow
Ouch: Violaters of the city of Fort Lupton’s noise ordinance were in for a big surprise this past Friday. The city’s judge sentenced citizens who have been busted for being too loud to 1 hour of listening to unpopular or unusual music. In a courtroom with mostly young adult offenders, Dolly Parton’s "I Will Always Love You" played loudly on … Read More