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Crime To Be Homeless In Santa Monica
Headline Legal News |
2009/07/17 09:08
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Courthouse News is reporting that one neighborhood in Los Angeles has made it a crime to be homeless.
Officers in Santa Monica have been instructed to arrest all of those who are homeless, calling it a "crime of presence." They are being forced to other neighborhoods, including Venice, Malibu and Skid Row.
The ACLU has filed a class action lawsuit that seeks damages for, according to Courthouse News, due process violations, cruel and unusual punishment, violation of equal protection, the right to travel and freedom of movement, and violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. They seek declaratory judgment, an injunction and costs. |
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Sotomayor Confirmation Hearing Day 3
Headline Legal News |
2009/07/16 10:12
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Judge Sonia Sotomayor faced day three of confirmation hearings today. Despite being more relaxed than the previous couple of days, Sotomayor tackled questions on hot topics such as abortion, gay marriage and gun control.
Courthouse News reports that Democrats continued to give her soft balls, while Republicans threw her some curves. One topic that will not go away is her "wise Latina" comment, something she has said has gotten more attention than anything she has ever said or written in the past.
In response to Texas Senator John Cornyn (R) questions regarding that her judicial records do not reflect her "wise Latina" statement, she said that it was meant to encourage Hispanics. She regrets if anyone misinterprets her statement as meaning that one judges better depending on their sex, race or ethnicity.
On a lighter note, newly sworn in Minnesota Senator Al Franken (D) jokingly asked her to name the specific "Perry Mason" episode that the fictional lawyer actually won. After admitting she did not remember, Franken responded, "Didn't the White House prepare you?"
Sotomayor has said the show inspired her career in law. |
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New Job For Alberto Gonzales
Headline Legal News |
2009/07/08 09:33
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The Statesman has reported that former attorney general Alberto Gonzales is expected to teach at Texas Tech University in the fall. He is signing on as a visiting professor in the political science department and will be teaching a "special topics" course on current issues in the executive branch.
Gonzales is known to many as a controversial attorney general for a number of reasons, including alleged perjury before Congress. It is rumored that he has had difficulties finding a job because of this, something he has disputed.
Since resigning two years ago, he has been working as a consultant, speaking in public and doing arbitration work as a lawyer.
He is also working on a new book on the highs and lows of his time as a part of the Bush Administration. "You serve and you move on," he has said. |
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Court Rules R.J. Reynolds Violated Ad Agreement
Headline Legal News |
2009/06/30 09:01
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According to Courthouse News, the Washington Court of Appeals has ruled that tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds violated their contract with 46 states to stop the use of cartoons in advertisements.
The four-page advertisement in question was featured in the Nov. 15, 2007 issue of Rolling Stone, but some, including courts in Ohio and Maine, are not convinced that the collage-style advertisement is actually a cartoon.
In line with the final court ruling, Judge Anne Ellington disagrees with the Ohio and Maine courts.
"Under a blue sky in a pastoral Eden, roosters hitch rides on floating tractors, speakers grow out of the ground and radios fly," Ellington wrote. "This is in a world where the natural laws do not obtain, where cancer and serious health problems can cease to exist."
R.J. Reynolds refutes liability because they did not know that the advertisement would containt cartoon images and they are not responsible for the editorial content.
While the court did agree with this, they still ruled that the advertisement had violated the master settlement agreement. The appellate court is now considering appropriate action against the company. |
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Mich. Judge has say in Dress
Court Watch |
2009/06/17 09:04
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The Michigan Supreme Court on Wednesday voted to give judges authority over how witnesses dress in court after a Muslim woman refused to remove her veil while testifying in a small claims case.
A statewide court rule letting judges regulate the appearance of witnesses — such as asking them to remove face coverings — was approved by a 5-2 vote. The dissenters said there should be an exception for people whose clothing is dictated by their religion.
Justices heard last month from a Muslim woman who sued because her small claims case was dismissed when she refused to remove her veil.
Hamtramck District Judge Paul Paruk told Ginnnah Muhammad he needed to see her face to judge her truthfulness. The 45-year-old from Detroit kept her niqab on during the 2006 hearing.
Some Muslim leaders interpret the Quran to require that women wear a headscarf, veil or burqa in the presence of a man who is not their husband or close relative.
After Muhammad sued the judge, the Michigan Judges Association and Michigan District Judges Association got behind a court rule giving judges "reasonable" control over the appearance of parties and witnesses to observe their demeanor and ensure they can be accurately identified. |
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