In an article about the legal defenses for a drug possession charge, Jon Katz mentions a case in which a suspect was caught with ten pills, all allegedly methadone. The state had a chemist test one of the pills to determine it was methadone, then the chemist testified that the other pills looked similar. This was enough to convict, and the decision quoted favorably an earlier … [Read more...] about A Sampling of Evidence
‘Bye, Norm.
It's official, I guess. Norm Pattis is blogging no more. Scott Greenfield was way ahead of the pack on this, but I couldn't tell how serious it was. It turns out Norm really does plan to study Greek. In what I guess is his typical don't-give-a-damn approach, Norm hasn't just stopped blogging, he's taken down his blog. Not only is everything he wrote gone, but he's broken all … [Read more...] about ‘Bye, Norm.
Use a Pellet Gun, Go To Jail
New Jersey resident Ryan Narciso could get three years in jail for having an air-powered pellet gun in his car, according to a story by Ken Serrano at MyCentralJersey.com: The gun, a Gamo P-23, was sitting under the rear window of the 2004 coupe. Looking like a larger-caliber handgun, the firearm drew a quick response from the bicycle-patrol officer who stopped … [Read more...] about Use a Pellet Gun, Go To Jail
Knowing When to Bend Like a Reed In the Stream…
Back when I reviewed Barry Cooper's Never Get Busted Again DVD, I wrote this about the third chapter: This chapter also has what's probably the most controversial piece of advice: Don't refuse the officer's request to search your car. That goes against everything I've ever read. However, on reflection, Cooper's argument isn't totally insane: As former defense attorney Ken … [Read more...] about Knowing When to Bend Like a Reed In the Stream…
Doom and Gloom and Other Problems
Scott Greenfield was all doom-and-gloom yesterday: This year, I'm less sanguine. Not because the value of our Constitution is diminished, or because the struggle is less worthy, but because of my macro-view of Mazlow's Hierarchy of Needs. Today, our nation is faced with very basic problems that will consume our energies and focus. Our economy is in … [Read more...] about Doom and Gloom and Other Problems