Ignorantia Juris

John McCain delivered a speech advocating the use of Surge-style tactics to fight crime.

This is by far the scariest thing I’ve read in the last few months.  And I read World War Z in July.
You go into neighborhoods, you clamp down, you provide a secure environment for the people that live there, and you make sure that the known criminals are kept under control. And you provide them with a stable environment and then they cooperate with law enforcement.
And you frighten innocent people.   And you waste resources.  And you piss all over the concept … Continue Reading

That is the question posed by Esquire in a fascinating article on John Yoo.

Read the whole thing, it’s worth it.

But I’ll still climb out of my law school hole to mention it.

Border Agents Can Search Laptops (And Cameras, and Phones, presumably) Without Cause, 9th Circuit Holds (Threat Level).

Yes, I realize the Solomon Grundy reference has lost what little comedic value it had.  I’m committed until I run through it.

U.S. to expand collection of DNA (Washington Post via How Appealing).

Should internet access be cut off in the classroom (Volohk Conspiracy via Instapundit).

Overlawyered takes a look at a long, fascinating New Yorker article that juxtaposes the story of a man caught in an elevator for 41 hours with all sorts of intriguing details about the design and construction of elevators, then focuses on one line, which they twist to … Continue Reading

The Park Police apparently feel having a flash mob dance at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial is an arrestable offence, even though
The woman who was arrested was stone-sober, wasn’t aggressive or threatening, and the dancers weren’t trespassing—the Memorial is open to the public 24 hours.
I agree with this closing sentence:
In this post 9/11 world, whimsy, frivolity, and any straying from the routine will not be tolerated. Also, never question a cop’s authority.

Net Neutrality is a load of bollocks, according to the head of Virgin Media (TorrentFreak via /.).  I’m sure this has everything to do with providing superior service, and nothing to do with ipayolla, where some companies pay extra to make sure that consumers are inconvenienced away from their competitors.

Problems filling the jury box (the Denver post).  I like this excuse from the article: “I’m too darn good looking to serve on the jury.”

Apparently, Alberto Gonzales is having a difficult time finding someone to hire him, (NY Times via … Continue Reading

I got an email from the American Freedom Campaign, urging me to send a helpfully pre-printed letter to the University of California, Berkeley demanding that they fire John Yoo.

Welcome to the intersection of rule of law and freedom of speech.  I abhor Yoo’s theories and his memo of some repute, they are the antithesis of American jurisprudence and morality, in my humble opinion.  But to demand that a man be fired for expressing his deeply, deeply flawed opinions is equally beyond the pale.

Thankfully, I somehow doubt he is getting a lot of traction among the Berkeleyites.

EDIT:  … Continue Reading

Law professors suggest the formation of special “national security” courts for suspected terrorists, but not all are happy with the idea (WSJ Law Blog).

The Thomas Jefferson Center’s 2008 Muzzle awards for prevention of free speech (via Boing Boing).  I personally like the judge who banned all use of “rape” from a sexual assault trial, meaning that “sexual activity” served for both consensual and non-consensual.

50 Cent sued for pushing gangster lifestyle (AP via Digg).  A 14 year old was assualted by members of “Fiddie’s” entourage, and he is suing the rapper … Continue Reading