It’s Jama v. United States (W.D. Wash. Mar. 2, 2010): This controversy stems from a July 2006 raid of Plaintiff’s residence by federal and local law enforcement authorities. Officials were searching for evidence relating to the importation and distribution of khat, a leafy herb indigenous to the Horn of Africa and the lower Arabian Peninsula, […]
Archive | 2010
Matthew Berry for Congress
I share Orin’s enthusiasm for Matthew, and just donated to the campaign, at berry2010.com. I urge you folks to do the same. Here’s Orin’s post: My friend Matthew Berry recently announced that he is running for Congress in Northern Virginia. Specifically, he is presently running in the GOP primary in the Virginia 8th District that […]
“John Patrick Bedell: Did Right-Wing Extremism Lead to Shooting?”
So asks the Christian Science Monitor, saying that “John Patrick Bedell, whom authorities identified as the gunman in the Pentagon shooting on Thursday, appears to have been a right-wing extremist with virulent antigovernment feelings.” But — unless I’m missing something — none of the facts given in the story actually support the claim that he […]
“Divine Gift for Editing”
OK, the actual story (in the Columbus Dispatch) contains some pretty serious allegations about religious discrimination against government employees. But I did like this passage: One worker also complained that [Virginia McInerney, director of the Ohio Workers’ Compensation Council,] said the source of conflict in the office was an “inability to recognize her ‘divine gift […]
Arbitration and Class Actions
My post a month ago on AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion, a case that my Mayer Brown LLP colleagues are working on, drew some interest. I therefore thought I’d also note that four amicus briefs have been filed supporting the cert petition, from CTIA–The Wireless Association (filed by former Solicitor General Paul Clement, known to […]
Scott Matheson – Excellent Nomination for the Tenth Circuit
On Wednesday, President Obama nominated University of Utah law professor Scott Matheson for the Tenth Circuit. This is the kind of kind consensus nominee for a judgeship that deserves wide support. Matheson (a colleague of mine at the law school school) has a resume that makes him a extremely well qualified for the federal bench. […]
Tales of OLC Opinions Foretold
As the Washington Post is reporting today (on page A16 in the print edition), Office of Legislative Affairs AAG Ron Weich has sent a letter to Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairperson Nydia Velazquez assuring her that the information-gathering and information-sharing provisions of the PATRIOT Act do not override the preexisting confidentiality requirements of the Census Act. […]
“Wild Sign Right Wing Christian Matte”
An oldie but goodie headline, with thanks to commenter KevinM.
Will KSM Be Tried in a Military Tribunal After All?
Today’s Washington Post reports that White House advisors are likely to recommend that Khalid Sheikh Muhammed be tried before a military commission, rather than in a civilian court as had been planned.
“A Shameful Attack on the U.S. Legal System”
Walter Dellinger has an op-ed in today’s Washington Post decrying the “shameful” attack on lawyers who represented Guantanamo detainees. It begins: It never occurred to me on the day that Defense Department lawyer Rebecca Snyder and Lt. Cmdr. William Kuebler of the Navy appeared in my law firm’s offices to ask for our assistance in […]
Keisler Calls Out Attackers of “Al Qaeda 7”
The New York Times reports that former Bush Administration Assistant Attorney General Peter Keisler has criticized conservative attacks on Obama Administration appointees at the Justice Department who performed pro bono legal work for Guantanamo detainees. Good for him. From Charlie Savage’s report: Peter D. Keisler, who was assistant attorney general for the civil division in […]
Political Ignorance and the Proliferation of Elected Offices
Prominent political blogger Matthew Yglesias recently wrote an interesting post arguing that the proliferation of elections increases the difficulty of acquiring enough information to vote in an informed manner. He quotes a post by Jonathan Bernstein, which expresses bewilderment at the range of offices he voted on in a recent Texas election: Yesterday was election […]
Emoticons and the Law
From Lenz v. Universal Music Corp. (N.D. Cal. Feb. 25, 2010), “Stephanie Lenz’s lawsuit against Universal Music over the ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ dancing baby takedown” (emphasis added): Plaintiff Stephanie Lenz (“Lenz”) moves for partial summary judgment … with regard to six affirmative defenses asserted by Defendants Universal Music Corp., Universal Music Publishing, Inc., and Universal […]
Anatomy of a Rumor
How did the folks at Radar Online ever get the idea Chief Justice Roberts was going to retire? It appears the folks at ATL have found the answer [UPDATE: link fixed].
Not Exactly the Most Trusted Source In News
Which one of these recent headlines of the tabloid site “RadarOnline” is not like the other? VIDEO: Jersey Shore’s “The Situation” Co-Stars with Sandra Bullock in Re-Enactment WORLD EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Shocking Violence Inside Jackson Home EXCLUSIVE: Tiger Woods Wife Moving Back In With Him EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Considering Stepping Down […]