Author Archive | Jonathan H. Adler

Micahel Isikoff reports in Newsweek that the FBI raided the home of Thomas Tamm, a former attorney in the Justice Department’s Office of Intelligence Policy and Review (OIPR), seizing several personal computers and some of his personal files. According to Isikoff, “two legal sources who asked not to be identified talking about an ongoing case […]

At Balkinization, Marty Lederman has a collection of “Helpful FISA Posts.” How Appealing also has a round-up of news coverage here.

Marcy Playground is best known for their single “Sex and Candy.” Reader Alan Stern thinks some of their other songs are worth a listen. In particular, he suggests “The Vampires of New York”: The music itself is half the fun because it provides the atmosphere (counterpoint) for the lyrics. It’s a very light, sing-songy vibe […]

Lyle Denniston has a thorough discussion of the D.C. Circuit’s decision here. How Appealing has a round up of news coverage here.

A new study in the British Medical Journal confirms prior research indicating that abstinence-only education has no effect, positive or negative, on sexual behavior. As critics have long maintained, this review of available empirical research indicates that abstinence-only education does not prevent teenagers from having sex or reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases. At […]

Last night the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously agreed to the formation of a special committee to investigate alleged parliamentary shenanigans that may have altered the outcome of a vote, the Washington Post reports. The move capped a remarkable day that started with Republicans marching out of the House in protest near midnight Thursday, was […]

Four varsity football players were dismissed from the Jefferson County (Tennessee) high school football team after organizing a petition against their coach. The students sued, alleging the punishment violated their First Amendment rights. The District Court denied the defendants’ motion for summary judgment on the grounds of qualified immunity. Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals […]

This morning a three judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled Rep. William Jefferson’s challenge to the FBI’s seizure of material from his office. The opinion for the Court, written by Judge Rogers and joined by Judge Ginsburg summarizes: This is an appeal from the denial of a motion, […]

Yesterday a federal district court judge in Illinois rejected John Lott’s motion for reconsideration of its dismissal of portions of his defamation suit against Steven Levitt, the Chronicle of Higher Eduction reports. But the litigation is not over. As the Chronicle further reports Lott’s lawyers have fired yet another salvo, asking the court for permission […]

Today the Ohio Supreme Court issued its opinion in the “Sunday Suit,” siding against Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. The suit arose out of a dispute over whether Strickland could still veto a bill on his first day in office that had been passed at the end of the legislature’s term, and that his predecessor, Bob […]

Ingmar Bergman, one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, died yesterday at the age of 89. Here is the New York Times obit and a collection of Bergman-related stories. Libertas’ Jason Apuzzo has a remembrance here. An index of his work is available on IMDB here. UPDATE: Michelangelo Antonioni died too. Daniel Drezner sees […]

Germany has decided to phase out subsidies for the domestic coal industry over the next decade. For decades, German lawmakers have propped up the industry, unwilling to risk massive layoffs and reluctant to eliminate a reliable energy source as gas and oil supplies become scarcer. But after spending more than $200 billion in subsidies since […]

Stuart Taylor thinks that Senate Democrats are being short-sighted on judicial nominations, and that their actions may come back to haunt a President Clinton or Presient Obama: Imagine that two years hence, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, or Sen. Barack Obama, or former Sen. John Edwards is president. She or he will be trying to fill […]

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports on a partial settlement in John Lott’s defamation settlement against Steven Levitt. In documents filed today in federal court, the two parties outlined a settlement that requires Mr. Levitt, who is a professor of economics at the University of Chicago and a co-author of the best-selling book Freakonomics: A […]

What would happen if there was another Supreme Court vacancy before January 2009 and Senate Democrats followed Senator Schumer’s counsel and successfully blocked the confirmation of another Bush nominee? One possibility is that President Bush would make a recess appointment. Such action is hardly unprecedented. According to C-Span, there have been 15 recess appointments to […]