The capacity of the internet to inform, entertain and frankly change the world is evident. But like all technology, it can be used by small-mind people to advance hurtful causes or just be plain rude. Last month or so, I was contacted by a young woman who wanted my help in getting pictures of herself …
Tag Archive: Constitutional rights
Apr 20 2013
Read Dzhokar Tsarnaev His Rights, Get Him a Lawyer, Try Him Fairly and Publicly, Then Convict Him and Throw Away the Key
The argument is raging on all the news channels. Do we have to read Dzhokar Tsarnaev his Miranda rights? Sen. John McCain and others are insisting that he can be treated as “an enemy combatant” or that the “public safety” exemption can be applied. While I disagree that both premises are valid, that’s not the …
Mar 29 2013
Where’s Earl Warren When You Need Him?
As I read the various arguments made before the US Supreme Court in the two gay marriage cases heard this week, and with Roman Catholic Easter coming up this Sunday, I can’t help but wish we could resurrect my personal legal Jesus, Earl Warren, to replace John Roberts as Chief Justice for awhile. Justice Warren …
Feb 21 2013
Fed. Appeals Court Rules: “Life is Good” May Have Copied Penmen Designs But it Did Not Infringe
Life is indeed good for the Jacobs brothers who started the Boston MA based apparel company “Life is Good.” Not only did they turn their T-Shirt company into a $100 Million a year business, but this past December, the Tenth Circuit, a federal appeals court, dismissed a copyright infringement lawsuit brought against the company over …
Feb 20 2013
Federal Court Denies City Right to Outtakes From Central Park 5 Documentary
In a victory for journalism and independent film-making, Magistrate Judge Ronald L. Ellis of the Southern District of New York, quashed a subpoena served by the City of New York’s lawyers against Florentine Films, the film company owned by Ken Burns and his daughter Sarah Burns and son-in-law David McMahon. The subpoena was issued in …