Courts Quietly Move From “May” Convict to “Must” Convict Jury Instructions Over 40 Years

"The Dougherty case began in 1969 when nine pacifist Catholic priests and nuns broke into the D.C. offices of Dow Chemical Corporation to protest the company’s production of Napalm for the Vietnam War. There were similar antiwar protests being staged elsewhere during the period, including the cases of 'the Catonsville Nine' (who burned draft board files), the 'Baltimore Four' (ditto), the 'Harrisburg Seven' (tried for mentioning the possible kidnapping of Henry Kissinger in intercepted letters), the 'Milwaukee 14' (tried for burning draft records), and the 'Harrisburg Seven' (tried for planning to arrest Henry Kissinger for waging an illegal war [..])." Continue reading

Continue ReadingCourts Quietly Move From “May” Convict to “Must” Convict Jury Instructions Over 40 Years

Mayor Bloomberg blames Virginia for many of New York’s gun crimes

"New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg blames Virginia and several other southern state’s for the Big Apple’s gun crimes — so now he’s set his Mayors Against Illegal Guns’ sights on the Deep South for a Second Amendment crackdown. His chief of staff, John Feinblatt, said if states like Virginia only implemented common-sense provisions, then violent crime rates would fall. Other states faulted by Mr. Feinblatt: South Carolina, for contributing 251 'crime guns' in 2011, he said. And Georgia, Alabama and Texas – all states that allow for online gun sales absent background checks." Continue reading

Continue ReadingMayor Bloomberg blames Virginia for many of New York’s gun crimes

In USSA, Journalism is a Crime

"Author and activist Barrett Brown has been behind bars for nearly 300 days without a trial. Federal prosecutors have filed a 17-count indictment on charges arising from the act of republishing material obtained by hackers from HB Gary Federal and Stratfor, two private companies that are deeply involved in national security affairs. Brown’s supposed offense was to commit journalism by republishing information about politically privileged corporation that he didn’t personally acquire, and then to condemn a federal official who was harassing and persecuting his family. That’s the kind of thing that leads to prosecution in the American Reich." Continue reading

Continue ReadingIn USSA, Journalism is a Crime

Inventing Pretexts to Ignore the Fourth Amendment

"Describing these factors as a threat to 'officer safety,' the agents demanded access to the home to conduct a 'protective sweep,' during which ammunition and drugs were found. A district court denied Mongold’s motion to suppress the evidence. The US. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the district court and suppressed the evidence, noting that the ATF agents 'could most easily have protected the officers’ safety by leaving [the] home, not by entering it.' The Tenth Circuit quite sensibly slapped down this cynical argument for a warrantless search, but it was careful to specify that its sensible ruling is not to be used as a precedent." Continue reading

Continue ReadingInventing Pretexts to Ignore the Fourth Amendment

When The NSA Comes To Town

"The main reason the NSA chose Utah was because of its cheap electricity. It also has abundant water, immunity from most types of natural disasters, and abundant open land, factors that have driven other companies, including Twitter, eBay, Overstock, Microsoft, and Adobe, to place their data centers in the state. But there is something deeper than cheap electricity — which the NSA and politicians courting the agency repeatedly called Utah’s 'patriotism.' The state is staunchly Republican and conservative. It is also known for unusually regressive laws regarding internet freedom." Continue reading

Continue ReadingWhen The NSA Comes To Town

When Cops Don’t Need a Warrant To Crash Through Your Door

"We know we're secure in our 'persons, houses, papers, and effects' unless the cops demonstrate probable cause to a judge and get a warrant. Except... Except when they don't. The fact of the matter is that police have a lot of leeway to bust your door down and take a look around if they fear that waiting for a warrant could lead to loss of evidence or danger to people. Or lead to something, anyway. That end run around the Fourth Amendment is called 'exigent circumstances,' and nobody really seems to be sure where it starts and stops. Except for the police. They know it when they see it." Continue reading

Continue ReadingWhen Cops Don’t Need a Warrant To Crash Through Your Door

Ticket quota whistleblower cop loses NYPD suit

"A Manhattan federal judge yesterday tossed a hero cop’s lawsuit against the NYPD, rejecting the officer’s claims that his First Amendment rights were violated by superiors after he was punished for speaking up about alleged quotas for arrests and tickets. NYPD Officer Craig Matthews claimed that he had suffered workplace retaliation for speaking up about quotas for arrests, stop-and-frisks and summonses that were allegedly ordered by his commanders in The Bronx’s 42nd Precinct. But US District Judge Paul Engelmayer said that while Matthews’ comments served a purpose, his beef amounts to a workplace disagreement." Continue reading

Continue ReadingTicket quota whistleblower cop loses NYPD suit

Arizona Man Holding Air Rifle Killed In His Own Backyard In Drug Raid

"Tempe, Arizona, police in the Special Investigations/Narcotics Unit serving a drug search warrant Wednesday afternoon shot and killed a man in his backyard as he held an air rifle. John Wheelihan, 43, becomes the 22nd person to die in US domestic drug law enforcement operations so far this year, and the sixth in the last month. The victim appears to be a local photographer whose listed business address matches the address the police raided. Police did not say whether they were serving a 'no-knock' warrant, whether they were uniformed or undercover, or whether any drugs were discovered." Continue reading

Continue ReadingArizona Man Holding Air Rifle Killed In His Own Backyard In Drug Raid

Now They Want Your Passwords

"For a dozen years, the FBI and NSA have spied on Americans and shredded the Constitution. They say the Patriot Act “authorizes” their abuses. That means... If you repeal the Patriot Act, they have NO authorization! This is increasingly urgent, because their snooping is only getting worse... The feds are demanding web firms hand over master encryption keys that shield my private Internet activities (http://shar.es/kR364) - and they even want my passwords! (http://shar.es/kRHgV) Hacking into my private data and communications is THE SAME THING as going through my possessions and papers without a court-issued search warrant." Continue reading

Continue ReadingNow They Want Your Passwords