Standard of Review

Gary Dunn To Be Released Says the Prosecutor

shaunhair — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:31:09 +0000

I’m sure there are mixed feelings about this decision across the state.

Prosecutors said Tuesday they do not plan to try Gary Dunn for a third time in the slaying of a Russellville beauty queen who was killed in 2005.

The decision was revealed during a hearing in Pope County Circuit Court. Dunn, who had been in custody since his arrest, was released after the proceeding.

Read the story here.

They wouldn’t do that!

shaunhair — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:11:00 +0000

This story from San Jose shows me a couple of things. First, accountability is absolutely necessary whether you are a child, a preacher or a police officer. Second, some law enforcement officers not only violate the Constitution, they do so knowingly.

Look at this excerpt:

According to a police recording entered into evidence during trial, the action stemmed from an incident on June 29, 2005 where officers William Hoyt and Craig Blank with at least five other uniformed officers responded to an unverified claim of abuse, entered the home of a San Jose family on a child welfare check, then removed two children without a warrant and later seized a third child as well.

The jury heard testimony during the week-long trial that officers in the department have never sought warrants or court orders for removing children – in violation of federal law – and then falsified their claims of an emergency to justify taking all of the children.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/04/04/prweb8269009.DTL#ixzz1Ig3JYY21

Documentary on False Confessions

shaunhair — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 20:49:51 +0000

Great documentary on False Confessions.

http://video.pbs.org/video/1637166286/

Illinois Supreme Court — Rahm back on ballot

shaunhair — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:22:10 +0000

The Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners to put former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel‘s name back on the ballot for mayor.

Emanuel took his case to the high court one day after a state appeals court ruled that he was not eligible to run for mayor because he didn’t live in Chicago for a year before the Feb. 22 vote.

Officially, the high court issued a stay — essentially stopping the lower court’s order to remove Emanuel’s name from the ballot — but it did not say whether it would hear his appeal.

In the meantime, the high court said, any ballots that are printed must include the former White House chief of staff’s name

Arkansas May Ship Prison Inmates to Louisiana

shaunhair — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:52:08 +0000

Although it would require a change in state law, the Governor is suggesting he is open to the idea of moving prison inmates out of state.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe says officials in northern Louisiana have offered to house some inmates there for $28 a day. That’s less than half of the average cost to keep an inmate in prison in Arkansas, where the state’s prison population has more than doubled in the past two decades.

(Source)

My food ad is running this week

shaunhair — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:07:43 +0000

I found that the person in charge of dietary at the jail saw my ad and said something to my mother about it not knowing of her relationship to me.

Illinois Appeal Court Reverses Rahm

shaunhair — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:35:37 +0000

From The Hill:

A 2-1 ruling from the Illinois Appellate Court reversed a decision by a Cook County Circuit Court that found Emanuel met the eligibility requirements to run.
The Appellate Court found that Emanuel had not met Chicago’s municipal code requirement of being a resident of the city for one year and that he is not exempt from the election laws for being absent on governmental business — meaning his work in Washington as President Obama’s chief of staff.

Study Suggests Changes in Prison Policies

shaunhair — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:35:04 +0000

A group of Arkansas judges, corrections personnel and others recently released a study regarding the growing prison population in Arkansas, the increased costs of maintaining that population and the lack of effect of imprisonment on whether the imprisoned later re-offend (termed (recidivism”).

I intend on blogging a few posts about it but check it out now.

West Memphis District Court Bonds

shaunhair — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:31:58 +0000

Most of the local West Memphians know about the high bonds set in District Court. If its Meth related with a prior, its automatically a $100k bond if not a million dollar bond. An accused with no priors could still get a $50K bond on a non-violent offense. Bonds are set every day in that court that would make headlines in Memphis where there are twenty times the felons being arraigned daily.

By comparison, look a this story:

19 year old Cody Gorecke is facing multiple charges including, second degree murder, aggravated assault, and criminal use of a prohibited weapon. In addition to drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and minors in possession of alcohol. He is being held on 100 thousand dollars bond.

Murder, Violence AND Drugs = 100,000 bond.

One could argue that higher bonds actually have a crime fighting deterrent. Or one could argue that the exponentially higher bonds are no bond at all and violate Constitutional protections.

What if God Were One Of Us?

shaunhair — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:42:08 +0000

Well He is not, according to a Canadian Court.

An accused arsonist was acquitted after a statement he made was not allowed in court. The statement was “Oh God, let me get away with it this just this once.”

The trial court disallowed introduction of the statement ruling it was private communications and was thus improperly intercepted.

Disagreeing with this result, Justice J.A. Hutcheon wrote,

In my opinion, the word “person” is used in the statutes of Canada to describe someone to whom rights are granted and upon whom obligations are placed. There is no earthly authority which can grant rights or impose duties upon God.

So there you have it. As a matter of law, God is not a person. Sorry Bette Midler.

Thanks to Abraham Piper at 22Words for the story.