Random shots around the web: Economist Steven Landsburg is blogging to promote his new book. Another example of using civil forfeiture to turn a police force into a theft ring. The war on people in pain continues. (Hit tip: Pete Guither) … [Read more...] about Scattershot 2009-11-06
It’s About Damned Time!
Mary Beth Buchanen resigns. Radley Balko explains why she was one of the worst prosecutors in the country. This was one of the items on my Obama freedom scorecard, although I don't know how to tell if he gets full points for forcing her out or if she's just preparing her inevitable run for office. … [Read more...] about It’s About Damned Time!
Small Government v.s. Law Enforcement
Miami Criminal Defense Lawyer Brian Tannebaum asks us "Why do conservatives apologize for the government?" But there is a more disturbing trend in conservative thought when it comes to criminal justice. Maybe it's not a trend, just more visible with the advent of blogs and online comments on newspaper websites, but it appears that conservatives have abandoned their desire for … [Read more...] about Small Government v.s. Law Enforcement
Lights Out
The lights went out around 12:15 last night. Some people talk about how nice it is to relax and do nothing while the power is out, but for me, losing electrical power is like losing a limb. When the power failure hit, I was sitting in front of the computer working on a couple of things I wanted to finish by tomorrow. I'm staring straight at the monitors, so the first sign … [Read more...] about Lights Out
What Is Law That Thou Art Mindful?
When I was on a criminal jury a few years ago, the judge impressed on us how important our job was. He made sure we took it seriously. Which is one of the reasons this bullshit makes me so angry: The Minnesota Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, has now ruled that Bong Water (water which had been used in a water pipe) was a "mixture" of "25 grams or more" supporting a criminal … [Read more...] about What Is Law That Thou Art Mindful?