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Today's New York Times reports that Iran's Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri has become one of the most effective critics of the current Iranian regime. Montazeri, the most knowledgeable religious scholar in the country, attacks the government as not Islamic. The ailing cleric in his mid-80's issues stinging criticisms online and elsewhere. In one, he said: "A political system based on force, oppression, changing people's votes, killing, closure, arresting and using Stalinist and medieval... Posted on November 22, 2009 at 06:25 am by Howard Friedman

Maldives parliament, the People's Majlis, is considering a bill to outlaw building of places of worship for non-Muslim religions and to prohibit the practice of other faiths in public. (Minivan News, Nov. 18). The bill will allow non-Muslim foreigners to worship in the privacy of their homes, but they could not invite Maldivians to participate. Violations of the law would carry jail terms of up to five years and fines of up to $4600 (US). Maldives constitution already prohibits non-Muslims from... Posted on November 22, 2009 at 06:15 am by Howard Friedman

A lawsuit has been filed in state court in Akron, Ohio seeking to prevent the Cleveland Catholic Diocese from moving ahead with its plans to close some 50 of its churches in eight counties. The closures and parish mergers are designed to save money and make better use of the Diocese's limited number of priests. According to yesterday's Cleveland Plain Dealer, Nancy McGrath, head of the newly formed group Code Purple, alleges in her lawsuit that under Ohio law, the Bishop needs consent of... Posted on November 22, 2009 at 06:05 am by Howard Friedman

Here's what I did this afternoon: More details at Soul of Miami and Sex and the Beach. It was a good party - met Mustang Bobby and saw the Miami Beach 411 crowd - always the life of the party. Plus I met the Genius of Despair (but not, alas, Gimleteye, with whom it seems I may have a few things in common. There was a loud band, which I would enjoyed more under other circumstances. The folks at Graziano's were pouring lethal rum-and-cokes; I haven't seen ratios like that since college. One glass... Posted on November 21, 2009 at 08:07 am by Michael

Jonathan Simon writes that California's protesters should Strike Against Prisons not Education. (Note: Jon wrote this before the latest round of protests.) Posted on November 20, 2009 at 08:01 pm by Michael

Advocates of a 'plain meaning' approach to constitutional interpretation may have to conclude that Texas accidentally banned all marriage, as described in this McClatchy report, Texas' gay marriage ban may have banned all marriages Barbara Ann Radnofsky, a Houston lawyer and Democratic candidate for attorney general, says that a 22-word clause in a 2005 constitutional amendment designed to ban gay marriages erroneously endangers the legal status of all marriages in the state. The amendment,... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 07:38 pm by Michael

Interesting look at Danny Pang. Posted on November 21, 2009 at 09:55 pm by Mike

Kurt Greenbaum, a director of social media for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has answered an important question. Namely: "What happens when someone that knows very little about social media gets a job as a director of social media?" In answering the question, Greenbaum reveals himself as unethical and hypocritical. Kurt Greenbaum blogs at STL Social Media Guy, and is the online news director and now director of social media. On his hard-hitting blog, Greenbaum asked readers: "What's the craziest... Posted on November 19, 2009 at 02:50 pm by Mike

Years ago Tom Kirkendall had an insight that no one had before - or since, it seems - about Warren Buffett. Called "The Buffett Rule," Kirkendall explained the media's reporting of Buffett thusly: "A folksy and media savvy businessman involved in complicated structured finance transactions is given a pass [when others go to jail and receive negative press for the same conduct]." &#xc2&#xa7&#xc2&#xa7&#xc2&#xa7 The Buffett Rule is in full effect today. A story getting major attention reads: "Goldman Sachs, Buffett to... Posted on November 17, 2009 at 05:30 pm by Mike

Jennifer S. Hendricks (University of Tennessee College of Law) has posted Pregnancy, Equality, and U.S. Constitutional Law on SSRN. Here is the abstract: This chapter will be part of a collection on international feminist constitutionalism, forthcoming from Cambridge University Press.... Posted on November 21, 2009 at 01:04 pm by Reproductive Rights

Omaha World-Herald: Right Now: Stem cell meeting, by Jeffrey Robb: LINCOLN -- Omaha.com is providing live online updates as the University of Nebraska regents' decide whether to restrict embryonic stem cell research. Four regents are co-sponsoring a resolution to restrict... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 10:45 am by Reproductive Rights

The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life: Abortion Plays Small Role in Health Reform Opposition: While most Americans oppose government funding of abortion, a new Pew Research Center survey finds that concern about abortion funding plays only a small... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 10:41 am by Reproductive Rights

This week's Daily Record column is entitled "Is cloud computing really less secure than the status quo?" A pdf of the article can be found here and my past Daily Record articles can be accessed here. ***** Is cloud computing really less secure than the status quo? Cloud computing, defined at Webopedia.com as the "sharing [of] computing resources rather than having local servers or personal devices to handle applications," is a buzzword that has many lawyers up in arms. For an even better... Posted on November 16, 2009 at 07:30 am by NBlack

This week's Daily Record column is entitled "Does cloud computing compromise clients?" A pdf of the article can be found here and my past Daily Record articles can be accessed here. ****** Does cloud computing compromise clients? I predict that within about two to three years, lawyers in most jurisdictions will communicate and collaborate with clients using some type of an encrypted network. A number of states, including Massachusetts and Nevada, already have passed laws or regulations... Posted on November 9, 2009 at 08:49 am by NBlack

This week's Daily Record column is entitled "Tricks for efficient online interaction" A pdf of the article can be found here and my past Daily Record articles can be accessed here. ****** Tricks for efficient online interaction Many lawyers understand the importance of networking, but let's face it - running a law practice takes time and no one ever seems to have enough of it. In fact, the lack of time is one of the main reasons lawyers offer as an excuse to avoid online networking. If you use... Posted on November 2, 2009 at 01:30 pm by NBlack

Dear Reader,This is our last post to the Amnesty International Death Penalty Blog. We are discontinuing our issue-based blogs to launch one new Amnesty International Blog, Human Rights Now, that will cover all human rights news and opportunities for you to make a difference. Check it out today for the latest Death Penalty and human rights news and be sure to subscribe so you won't... Posted on November 5, 2008 at 08:31 pm

The recent execution of Gregory Wright in Texas reminds us that possible innocence will not always shield an inmate from the death chamber. Gregory Wright was convicted of murdering Donna Vick in 1997 along with accomplice John Adams. Mr. Wright consistently maintained his innocence, passed a polygraph test in which he stated that he did not murder Donna Vick, and Mr. Adams signed a statement... Posted on November 4, 2008 at 07:04 pm

A district attorney in North Carolina will seek the death penalty despite opposition to capital punishment by the victim and her family. Orange County District Attorney Jim Woodall announced in August that he would seek the death penalty for the murder of Eve Carson, former student-body president of the University of North Carolina. Woodall will do so in spite of evidence that Carson... Posted on October 31, 2008 at 07:36 pm

The New York Times today reported on a sad and worrisome situation in Vallejo, Calif. Though the community faces a financial crisis, much like the rest of the country, The Times asserts the town is also struggling because "its political system increasingly reflects the influence of evangelical churches." The story provides several examples where this influence can [...] Posted on November 20, 2009 at 01:22 pm by Sandhya Bathija

Remember all the talk last summer about the mysterious "C Street house" in Washington, D.C.? The structure, owned by a clandestine evangelical Christian organization known as "The Family," was in the news because some politicians tied to it got caught up in embarrassing sex scandals. A quick recap: After U.S. Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) admitted that he [...] Posted on November 19, 2009 at 09:31 am by Rob Boston

It's only a week away from Thanksgiving; the trees have all turned from green to vibrant shades of reds, yellows and browns and a crisp chill in the air puts me on pins and needles as I wait for the season's first snow. As we reach mid November, the end of the calendar year always [...] Posted on November 18, 2009 at 07:48 am by Ilana Stern

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most comprehensive treaty on children's rights. The convention has been ratified by nearly every country in the world, except for the United States. The convention would fill current gaps in U.S. laws, and provide all children in America with the same robust protections that children in 193 countries are already entitled to. Posted on November 20, 2009 at 01:58 pm by suzanne_ito

As I read those words at the end of the title of a newly issued case from a federal appeals court in California, my high school Latin came flooding back to me and I got teary-eyed. Black's Law Dictionary defines the term "Et uxor" as "And his wife." Except in this circumstance, the court used it (appropriately) to mean "And her wife." Times have changed, even for the federal judiciary. Posted on November 20, 2009 at 12:57 pm by suzanne_ito

Today marks the 11th Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to honor those among us whose deaths were a result of prejudice against transgender people. The day serves as a sad reminder that, as much as we are moving towards tolerance and societal acceptance of transgender people, physical violence continues to be a threat in our communities. Posted on November 20, 2009 at 12:44 pm by suzanne_ito

2 Boys Found Dead; Mom Rips the Courts - March 31, 2009 - Illinois (Excerpts from the Chicago Tribune article:) Amy Leichtenberg worried this day would come, and she begged the judicial system to prevent it. In court documents dating back to 2005, she detailed her estranged husband's threats against her family and fought unsuccessfully to keep him from having unsupervised visits with their two sons. Michael Connolly violated the orders of protection against him six times, police records said,... Posted on March 31, 2009 at 10:29 am by Copper Cursive

Mad Magazine's "Clueless" Game Here's one I'll pass on this Christmas. At least in the old version Miss Scarlet was a likeable villain. Double click to enlarge so you can read the fine print. Posted on December 15, 2008 at 12:46 pm by Copper Cursive

Florida: Family therapist charged with domestic battery Florida: Miami Beach psychiatrist linked to prostitution bust Colorado: Psychotherapist lied about qualifications North Dakota: Former state mental hospital psychologist pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography Blogger's Note from the article: "Belanger often was asked to testify in court on whether convicted sex offenders were dangerous and should be confined indefinitely for psychiatric treatment. He was an expert witness in... Posted on December 5, 2008 at 05:44 pm by Copper Cursive

Anand GroverThe lawyer who led the team that succeeded in challenging India's anti-sodomy laws, Anand Grover, will be speaking in Sydney on 30 November at the annual John Marsden Lecture.Grover has since been appointed by the UN as a Special Rapporteur on Health.He will be introduced at the lecture by retired High Court judge, Michael Kirby.The lecture is named after the late John Marsden, the Posted on November 22, 2009 at 07:43 am by Stephen Page

Earlier this month, the ACT Legislative Assembly passed laws to allow for civil unions. This is the third time that it has gone down this path, this time on the initiative of the Greens with the support of the Labor government. The first time the then Howard Government vetoed the laws, then Rudd said that he would do the same.Rudd has been reported, again, as saying that if the ceremony mimics Posted on November 22, 2009 at 07:20 am by Stephen Page

Separation costs Aussie men $110,000 in happiness, women only $8900: researcher http://ow.ly/CHz9 Posted on November 16, 2009 at 01:05 pm by Stephen Page

Ian Barnard has written an essay on academic freedom and issues of sexual orientation, political views and the unwritten rules of academic discipline well worth reading: Academic Freedom and Me The complications of politics, culture, and academic freedom in one career. Posted on July 20, 2009 at 11:36 pm by Larry Catá Backer

The Times of India recently reported on a case before the Indian High Court challenging Section 377 of the Indian penal code criminalizing sodomy and the like. To bolster its case, the Indian government has asserted arguments long popular before U.S. courts of a generation ago: (1) that homosexuality is a disease, (2) that Indian society as a whole disapproves of homosexuality and that consensus ought to be enough to support its criminalization, (3) that sexual acts between same sex individuals... Posted on October 21, 2008 at 08:28 pm by Larry Catá Backer

For a little relief from the election rhetoric and to get a sense of your own political orientation you might find the self test for your political compass interesting. To access the test go to the following site of the political compass. Posted on October 2, 2008 at 03:24 pm by Larry Catá Backer

Guest: Linda OsmundsonCASA (http://casa-stpete.org/) Posted on April 28, 2007 at 04:17 am

Guest: Dave PlyerPinellas County Juvenile Justice Council (http://www.pinellasjjc.org/) Posted on April 28, 2007 at 04:17 am

Guests: Becky Steele and Pam HaengelACLU (http://www.aclufl.org/)Voting Integrity Alliance of Tampa Bay Florida (http://www.VIATampaBay.org) Posted on December 9, 2006 at 04:40 pm

What does a law professor look like? I have often asked this question of myself, especially when confronted with professed disbelief that I could be a legal academic. "But you don't look like a law professor!" At times I too participate in the aesthetic deception, avoiding disclosure of my employment from others. Discovery of my interest in family law and estates has triggered one too many unsolicited "story hours" about someone's friend's uncle's girlfriend's father in Terre Haute. It is then... Posted on November 1, 2007 at 07:51 pm

After an intense week of public reproval for making racist remarks. 1962 Nobel Prize winner, James D. Watson was suspended from his position as Chancellor and board member of the prestigious Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory as a censure for his remarks. The 79 year old Nobel winning scientist resigned today in ignominy. The NYT contains this story with the separate statements made by Cold Springs Harbor and Watson. The NYT reports that: "He also referred to his Scots and Irish forebears, saying... Posted on October 25, 2007 at 09:46 am

Dear BlackProf Community: As many of you are aware, the site has been suffering a handful of technical problems in the past few weeks. BlackProf remains committed to providing quality community space for public discourse on issues of race, culture, and society. Please bear with us as we work to resolve our technical problems as quickly as possible. As always, we thank you for your continued support. Posted on October 22, 2007 at 12:51 pm

Louisiana, the state that Senator Mary Landrieu represents, has the second-highest poverty rate in the nation. Louisiana also consistently ranks among the least healthy states in the nation. Due to the state's high rate of poverty, 27% of Louisiana residents participate in Medicaid -- the federal health plan for indigent persons. Nonetheless, 21% of Louisiana adults lack health insurance, which exceeds the national rate of 16%. Despite these statistics, Landrieu has criticized the prospect of a... Posted on November 22, 2009 at 03:28 pm

The University of Mississippi has dropped a school fight song that included "Dixie" -- the unofficial theme song of the Confederacy. The university chancellor requested that the university band discontinue playing the song because many fans chanted "the South will rise again" after the song concluded. The decision to abandon the song has angered the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, which staged a protest before Saturday's football contest between LSU and Mississippi. Even though the school... Posted on November 22, 2009 at 02:58 am

The New York Times reports that a government investigation faults the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for failing to use its "considerable leverage" when it decided to pay AIG's banking creditors the full value of their insured risk. AIG "insured" risky financial transactions of its investment banking clients, like Goldman Sachs. AIG, however, failed to maintain enough reserve assets to cover to extent of the financial risk it insured. When the investments soured, the investment banks came to... Posted on November 16, 2009 at 11:51 pm

The Electronic Frontier Foundation and I are mentioned in this Wall Street Journal article about TI calculator hackers and the law. Posted on November 16, 2009 at 11:24 am by jennifer

In Germany, you can't publish the names of murderers after some years have passed since the crime. So a convicted murderer's lawyers wrote to Wikipedia and asked them to take his name off of the webpage about his victim. Read my take on this First Amendment issue on the EFF blog. Posted on November 10, 2009 at 09:18 pm by jennifer

Department of Elections Official Results Hello, Friends, Romans, Republicans: Here are the election results for yesterday's balloting, with 15% of the electorate weighing in. Dennis Herrera is City Attorney Jose Cisneros is Treasurer PROPOSITION A: Two Year Budget Cycle: Yes PROPOSITION B: Board of Supervisor Aides: Yes PROPOSITION C: Candlestick Park Naming Rights: Yes PROPOSITION D: Mid-Market Special Sign District: No PROPOSITION E: Advertisements on City Property: Yes That is all until next... Posted on November 4, 2009 at 08:56 am by jennifer

If you are a law student interested in studying abroad, the University of Tulsa offers a program in Geneva relating to Indigenous people. The 2009 program will run July 4 - August 1, 2009, and the classes offered for the first two weeks are Comparative and International Indigenous Peoples Law (taught by Dr. Julian Burger) and Special Topics in Indian & Indigenous Peoples Law : Lands and Territories (taught by Professor G. William Rice). For more information, contact Lynn Miller at (918)... Posted on November 24, 2008 at 07:47 pm by Melissa Tatum

The transcript of the argument today in Plains Commerce Bank v. Long Family Land & Cattle is available here. Surprisingly, the Court was heavily interested in the idea that a majority Indian-owned corporation might be considered an Indian or member of a tribe for jurisdictional purposes. At one point during the argument the Court was erroneously advised by counsel that such corporations could not be organized under tribal law. If, as the questioning suggests, the corporate form of the... Posted on April 14, 2008 at 07:06 am by Robert N. Clinton

This was originally submitted to the Tulsa World as an op-ed piece, but was not published: update as of 4/10/08: The Tulsa World did indeed publish this an op-ed piece, The Native American Times reprinted it and the Cherokee Phoenix plans to reprint it in the next issue. AG Edmondson responded with an op-ed piece on 4/6/08 and telephoned me to discuss the issue on 4/8/08. I have sent him additional info and will post any further updates in the comments section - mlt On November 20, 2007,... Posted on March 25, 2008 at 01:57 pm by Melissa Tatum

"The thought police would get him just the same. He had committed - would have committed, even if he had never set pen to paper - the essential crime that contained all others in itself. Thoughtcrime, they called it. Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed forever. You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get you." - 1984 The thought police continue to patrol Southern Illinois University. Religion Clause shares an account of a... Posted on March 14, 2007 at 09:11 pm by Jeremy

The problem with university officials being able to punish things like harassment is that they get to define what harassment is. At Savannah State University, apparently, it is a no-no for Christian students to share their faith with other students. It is harassment, you see. But it isn't harassment, it's free speech. Denying that free speech is unconstitutional. Phi Beta Cons and Religion Clause have more information. Posted on March 4, 2007 at 03:46 pm by Jeremy

Joseph Knippenberg: "[T]here is a substantial body of opinion on the left that insists upon a kind of church-state separationist orthodoxy, and regards any attempt to be more precise, actually mentioning the two religion clauses, as caving to the Religious right." Posted on January 15, 2007 at 08:30 pm by Jeremy

News article of interest: Ian Shapira, "Grappling with a wealth of guilt: Young heirs seek moral balance between inherited windfalls, social responsibilities," Washington Post, Nov. 20, 2009. Posted on November 22, 2009 at 10:41 pm by Ezra Rosser

The National Housing Law Project's "Housing Justice Network Meeting" will be on Mar. 7-8, 2010 in Washington DC. Some more info here. Posted on November 21, 2009 at 08:53 pm by Ezra Rosser

From the Law and Society Association Website: Call for Participation Due Date: December 8, 2009 CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT PAPERS The 2010 Annual Meeting of Law and Society Association Thursday, May 27 through Sunday, May 30, at the Renaissance Chicago Hotel. Theme: AFTER CRITIQUE: What is Left of the Law and Society Paradigm? Born out of disillusionment with the failures [...] Posted on November 20, 2009 at 12:16 am by Ezra Rosser

Probably both. Today, in advance of the Senate's strictly partisan vote to proceed to debate on the health care reform bill, 1 Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu attempted to do what might have seemed impossible: She not only defended the $100 million in earmarks gifted to her state, but actually called herself "proud" of having asked for an amount she then, audaciously, put at about $300 million. In her remarks today during the debate leading up to tonight's historic vote, Landrieu made the point... Posted on November 21, 2009 at 08:05 pm by John Culhane

The recent news that a federal judge has ruled the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and by extension, the U.S. Government, liable for at least some of the preventable disasters associated with Hurricane Katrina should lead the government to do what it should have done long ago: Provide generous, long-tail assistance to help the residents of New Orleans get back on their feet. To see why, just take a moment to compare what "we've" done for victims of another disaster: September 11. In that case,... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 09:17 pm by John Culhane

"I can't believe they would put an economic value over the lives of fifteen or more people." (Statement of a woman whose father died as a result of eating raw oysters that contained a deadly bacteria.) "Let the rationing begin." (Rep. David Camp, Ranking Republican on House Ways and Means Committee, responding to U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Report that recommends women delay routine mammograms until age 50).1 Public health takes a beating again. In the first case, the FDA has had to eat... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 07:01 pm by John Culhane

In May, the D.C. Council adopted the the Jury and Marriage Amendment Act of 2009 (JMAA), which confers recognition of same-sex marriages licensed in other states. JMAA opponents included D.C resident Bishop Harry Jackson, senior pastor of Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Maryland. They sought to qualify a referendum on the law, but in June, the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics ruled that the referendum would violate the Human Rights Act by discriminating on the basis of sexual... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 11:43 pm by Michael Ginsborg

11/19/09 NY Times: ALBANY - The state's highest court on Thursday upheld policies giving some government benefits to same-sex couples who are legally married outside the state, but did not rule on whether gay marriage should be legal in New York, leaving that issue for the Legislature to decide. Though the majority in the 4-to-3 decision focused its decision on the narrow question of benefits, the three judges in the minority went further and said the court should have upheld the policies... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 04:12 am by Michael Ginsborg

11/19/09 order by Chief Judge Alexander Kozinski In the Matter of Karen Golinski: On November 18th, 9th Circuit Judge Stephen Reinhardt ruled that federal public defender Brian Levenson must be compensated for loss of health care benefits to his gay spouse when the Office of Personnel Management rejected his spousal benefit claims. The next day, Chief Judge Alexander Kozinski ruled that Karen Golinski, a circuit court staff attorney, must be allowed to pursue her claims of health care benefits... Posted on November 20, 2009 at 01:50 am by Michael Ginsborg

Jennifer Martinez has a reputation that extends across South Texas. From Houston to Laredo, immigrants have turned to the woman whose business cards identify her as a federal agent for quick, easy solutions to any number of citizenship problems. Her clients are usually referred by word of mouth - from a friend or family member who has [...] Posted on November 19, 2009 at 05:05 pm by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

Posted on November 17, 2009 at 09:23 am by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

Tener un contratiempo legal es sumamente normal en la sociedad actual. El verdadero inconveniente es en qui&#xc3&#xa9n confiar a la hora de elegir un abogado. Diariamente encontramos decenas de litigantes haciendo publicidad en la televisi&#xc3&#xb3n, en los peri&#xc3&#xb3dicos, en espacios p&#xc3&#xbablicos a lo largo y ancho de la ciudad, pero la pregunta del mill&#xc3&#xb3n es &#xc2&#xbfrealmente [...] Posted on November 16, 2009 at 07:23 am by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid

Various occupations require Certificates of Fitness. To read more about the Certificate of Fitness that the Fire Department of the City of New York City issues, you can visit the following website. This website provides information about testing procedures, fees, and the verification process. Learn more about the FDNY Certificate of Fitness here. To read about Article 78 cases go to [www.sheerinlaw.com]. For other interesting information in the personal injury file go to www.negligenceatty.com.... Posted on November 18, 2009 at 08:29 am

Matter of Bruce Harris v Department of Education of the City of New York In this Article 78 appeal case, petitioner sought to challenge respondents' determination terminating petitioner's employment as a New York City school teacher and to gain reinstatement of his employment with back pay and benefits. After a hearing, petitioner, a tenured teacher, was ordered by respondent, Department of Education's Hearing Officer, to serve a six-month suspension and complete sexual harassment training... Posted on November 13, 2009 at 12:17 pm

Matter of John Welsh v New York State Comptroller Petitioner commenced this Article 78 appeal to review a determination of respondent Comptroller denying petitioner's application for accidental disability retirement benefits. Petitioner, a Suffolk County police officer, was injured by an emotionally disturbed man whom he was escorting to a hospital psych ward. Following the attack, petitioner applied for accidental disability retirement benefits was denied and was denied. He then requested a... Posted on November 13, 2009 at 09:51 am

I am doing a little research on a case I have and googled "real estate developer fraud." Check out the resulting IRS case reviews on just how seriously their enforcement efforts have been. Certainly a good reminder that real estate fraud by developers can cause some serious time in prison. No time to really write much about this, but just time enough to remember that the IRS plays for keeps. Posted on November 15, 2009 at 02:24 pm

Here's how the New York Times announced it: "Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the self-described mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, and four other men accused in the plot will be prosecuted in federal court in New York City, a federal law enforcement official said early on Friday." And of course the talking heads will be weighing in on how this course of action will impact on other Gitmo detainees. Four others are reportedly also headed to NY to face trial, but some of those prosecutions may still... Posted on November 13, 2009 at 05:22 am

A 16 year-old Boise boy will face a criminal charge of vehicular manslaughter for his actions that are alleged to have caused the death of Kevin Pavlis. Kevin worked at Idaho Mountain Touring and was well known in the bicycle community. His death - just a day before Boise's Ironman 70.3 race - left his young wife and child without a husband and father. The sadness at his loss affected those who knew Kevin and many who did not. And the tragedy started a dialog about providing safe passage in... Posted on November 6, 2009 at 09:01 pm

Department of Public Information &#xe2€&#xa2 News and Media Division &#xe2€&#xa2 New York Press Conference by Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Rights The adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples two years ago signalled the "strong commitment" of the international community to remedy historical ills and combat the ongoing denial of rights, correspondents were told at a Headquarters press conference today. The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedom of... Posted on October 20, 2009 at 09:46 pm by SCP

The Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian LawCALL FOR PAPERS2010 HUMAN RIGHTS ESSAY AWARD Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian LawAmerican University Washington College of LawThe Academy is proud to announce the topic of the 2010 Human Rights Essay Award. This year's topic for the essay in English is: "The Rights of Freedom of Expression and International Human Rights Law". Deadline for submissions is February 1, 2010.About the AwardThis annual competition seeks to stimulate the... Posted on July 28, 2009 at 10:59 am by SCP

E-learning course on minority rights and indigenous peoples The course traces the conceptual, political and legal questions associated with the protection of minorities. Participants will debate the challenges of protecting "new" minorities (such as migrants) as opposed to "old" (autochtonous) minorities. Some topics addressed include rights related to religion, language, land, and education. Apply by 1 August 2009. Learn more >> Posted on June 26, 2009 at 05:30 am by SCP

Employers who are sued for discrimination or retaliation will sometimes attempt to use what is known as the "after-acquired evidence" defense to limit the amount of damages that an employee can recover. This defense took a hit in the recently decided case of Redvanty v. Automated Data Processing, A-4082-06, thanks to the good work of the plaintiff's attorney, John Shahdanian II, of Secaucus, NJ. The "after-acquired evidence" defense is used by employers who learn, after the employee has been... Posted on June 9, 2009 at 09:08 am by Steven Siegler

Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor has an even-handed record when it comes to discrimination lawsuits and employment cases, in particular. Since becoming a federal appellate judge in 1998, she has written several opinions and dissents which sided with persons alleging discrimination, including an African-American elementary school student who claimed his demotion from first grade to kindergarten was racially motivated, and a law school graduate who needed extra time to take the bar... Posted on May 27, 2009 at 07:04 am by Steven Siegler

I represent six former employees who have filed counterclaims against Xcel Solutions Corporation, a Matawan, New Jersey based consulting company, alleging that Xcel breached their employment contracts by failing to pay them wages, "bench pay," bonuses, and other monies. The employees, who are computer professionals living and working in the United States pursuant to the H1-B visa program, were taken to court by Xcel after they resigned. Xcel has alleged, in the separately-filed lawsuits,... Posted on May 20, 2009 at 08:51 am by Steven Siegler

Every fiber in my being, every cell of intellect I am fortunate to possess tells me that I should consider the source and dismiss this out of hand and by no means allow my own feelings to be hurt by this. Can someone smarter than me, then, please explain to me why it hurts so much to watch this stupid video with these two stupid men? Posted on August 15, 2008 at 01:29 am by Denise

It's been a long time since I wrote a blog post. And, I guess if I'm honest here, I'm not writing one now. I don't know when, or if, I'll ever blog regularly again. But, that's not the point of this post. I came across this article nearly a week ago. But, I've been crazy busy with work and only just now found time to read it. It's quite long, and it takes a fair amount of critical thinking to get through it. But, it's really worth it. I don't agree with everything she says here. But, her main... Posted on August 10, 2008 at 11:17 am by Denise

Today is my very dear friend's 60th birthday. 60. Can you believe that shit? Wow. I mean 60. I thought it was a big deal when I turned 50 (ONLY 3 years ago!) but she is SIXTY!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAMI! If you have a moment, stop on over at her place (but, don't take her word for it -- she really is THAT different!) and send your condolences best wishes for a wonderful year. She truly deserves it. Posted on June 20, 2008 at 11:30 am by Denise