Torture

Torture

Sketches of Torture

Torture doesn’t work. It might elicit information, but by its nature, that information is suspect. Meanwhile, our humanity and values have been compromised for questionable, if any, gain.

4th Circuit

Morning Docket: 01.24.12

* First the Jones verdict, then the Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Jose Padilla’s torture lawsuit. It’s enough to make ACLUers develop bipolar disorder. [Washington Post] * Release the Kagan! The Supreme Court rejected Freedom Watch’s motion for time to argue that Justice Elena Kagan should recuse herself from the Obamacare case. [CNN] * […]

English Grammar and Usage

In Today’s New York Times

If you happen to be on the frigid East Coast today, currently experiencing the coldest temperatures of the season, grab yourself a cup of cocoa and a copy of the Sunday New York Times. The NYT often has articles of interest to a legal audience, but this weekend’s edition has an especially high number of […]

Eavesdropping / Wiretapping

Morning Docket: 02.14.08

* House Democrats oppose Senate spy bill’s telecom immunity. [Washington Post] * Justice Scalia approves of “so-called torture” under some circumstances. [MSNBC] * Just a few months later, Senate committee gets around to admonishing Sen. Craig. [CNN] * Clemens and McNamee go head to head before Congress. [ESPN] * City’s scantily clad cowboy sues candy-coated […]

Department of Justice

Gay at DOJ? Hip Hip Hooray!

Not everyone likes Attorney General Michael Mukasey. At Boston College Law School, students are protesting Dean John Garvey’s decision to invite Attorney General Mukasey to deliver the school’s 2008 Commencement address. See here (Facebook group: “Waterboarding IS Torture”), here, and here. Why are liberals so unhappy about Mukasey? We’d expect the AG to receive a […]

Deaths

Morning Docket: 01.30.08

* “T.Owes.” [ESPN] * Rebates to $500? [CNN] * AG Mukasey won’t label waterboarding. [MSNBC] * Sen. McCain wins Florida, Rudy to bow out. [New York Times; Washington Post] * Federal inquiry into stolen artifacts expands. [New York Times] * Margaret Truman, only child of President Truman and author of mysteries set at the Supreme […]

Crime

Kumari, We Hardly Knew Ye

Time for an update on everyone’s favorite law student cum beauty queen cum accused kidnapper, Kumari Fulbright. If you’re not familiar with her story, click here, and read through the ATL archives. First, from an observant reader, some sad news for those of us who were her Facebook friends: It looks like Kumari finally realized […]

Crime

Brief Reflections on the Facebook Profile of Kumari Fulbright

As we mentioned in our earlier post about Kumari Fulbright, the former beauty queen and current law student indicted on charges of kidnapping her ex-boyfriend, we poked her today on Facebook. She has not yet returned our poke. But, surprisingly enough, she did add us as a friend. (We also asked her, via Facebook message, […]

Judge of the Day

Judge of the Day: John Hagler

Last month, Judge John B. Hagler, a state court judge in Tennessee, stepped down from the bench. Here’s why, from the AP: A Tennessee judge resigned last month after making a recording of fantasies so lurid that when the tape fell into the hands of the police and FBI, they thought they were listening to […]

Death Penalty

Morning Docket: 12.14.07

* So, it’s gonna be illegal now, which means the CIA can’t do it, right? [Washington Post via How Appealing] * New Jersey gets rid of the death penalty; now if they could just tackle that disgusting odor. [BBC] * Prosecutors go 0-1-6 in Sears Tower trial. [CNN] * Hey, look everybody! International law! They’ve […]