Morning Docket: 04.15.08

Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:06 AM - By David Lat

* China and Iran lead the world in executions, according to Amnesty International’s annual report on the death penalty. The U.S. comes in fifth worldwide. [AP]

* Gun control efforts build momentum at the state level. [New York Times]

* Some women return to the Texas polygamist ranch; judge seeks lawyers to represent children in upcoming custody battles. [CNN]

* Author J.K. Rowling holds her own while testifying before a crowd of Manhattan muggles. (Hopefully she won’t sue us for using the word “muggle.”) [WSJ Law Blog; WSJ Law Blog]

* Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, a past Lawyer of the Day, remains in a bitter impasse with the Detroit city council. [New York Times]

* Supreme Court justices tap their former clerks to pick up “orphaned” arguments — arguments in cases where “the respondent abandons the lower court decision that the petitioner is challenging.” [Legal Times]

* Legal restrictions on gifts to universities can generate quirky results years later. [New York Times]

(12) Comments

Posted in: Death Penalty, Education / Schools, Guns / Firearms, Kwame Kilpatrick, Morning Docket, Politics, SCOTUS, Supreme Court

Comments

1 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:09 AM

How much do you get paid to execute a 13-year old? How would you do it?

2 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:13 AM

Lat,

Let me tell you something, homedawg. Your posts have always been fairly clever and your occasional forays into investigative journalism have been good and useful. But that's not where you've made your money. The strength of this site has always been the comments section. The reason it has been the strength is accessibility - very easy to use - both for posters and readers. People click refresh because the comment threads tend to grow quickly. They used to, in any case. You did some serious damage to the comment-friendliness of ATL.

Realize the error of your ways!

3 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:16 AM

Second 10:13 - this site (and all the page views associated with forum watching) will die with the comments...

4 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:36 AM

I can comment. What's the problem?

5 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:46 AM

Don't listen to the haters, Lat. These are likely the same people bashing Obama because he wants change.

6 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:53 AM

Someone should do what the xoxohth kids did when Princeton Review changed their message board -- create a site that looks the old ATL. Then just post summaries or excerpts from here (maybe along with additional content), and have everyone go there instead of dealing with this crappy site.

7 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:58 AM

10:46 = subtle, seeking to test the resolve of the anti-comment commenters.

8 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:31 AM

10:09 - you get Susan Smith and/or Andrea Yates. They'll do it just for another opprotunity to get on TV

9 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:46 AM

Fifth place? That's it? The America I know isn't a fifth-place kind of country. Come on, America...we have the ability to be #1. Step it up, states--Texas can't carry us forever.

YES, WE CAN!

10 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:46 AM

Fifth place? That's it? The America I know isn't a fifth-place kind of country. Come on, America...we have the ability to be #1. Step it up, states--Texas can't carry us forever.

YES, WE CAN!

11 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:58 AM

Fifth place? That's it? The America I know isn't a fifth-place kind of country. Come on, America...we have the ability to be #1. Step it up, states--Texas can't carry us forever.

YES, WE CAN!