Supreme Court matters

A petition to the Supreme Court, Dallas County v. Duvall, alleging conditions of confinement when inmate contracted staph (MRSA) virus losing sight in the eye, looks interesting.

Even more curious, an entire handful of cases set for November argument in the Supreme Court in, surprise, ineffective assistance, prosecutor misconduct, habeas...warrantless search by GPS! The insignificance taken on by the overnightly loss of net worth by a factor of ten pales by comparison. Only a prolonged legal battle between two deceased individuals over a measly sum of 89 million could be more interesting. Imagine how they are going to spend that money...

I'm back

Almost one year since I have been without computer...whew. The android, while good for many things doesn't cut the mustard when posting. Let's go see what's new around the b-sphere (still call it that?).

Now let's see how easy it is to post hyperlinks with the Ipad... here. Pretty cumbersome. Mobile ap doesn't seem to be able to select the link url to copy and paste. Gotta check on this.

Interesting posts at Sentencing Law & Policy as always, on Texas dropping sex offender designations on persons not convicted of a such offense, and neuroscience in sentencing; and a reference to NYT piece on a trend toward lighter sentences...; sentencing in "cash for kids" scheme of Pennsylvania juvy court judges and prosecutor named Zubrod; facial unconstitutionality of NY civil commitment law; an ACLU Report on reform in traditionally tough on crime states; Doe v. Police Commissioners of Boston overturning law banning sex offender from residence in nursing home;

Prisons and Society

The Summer issue is dedicated to mass incarceration and problems.

Dædalus was founded in 1955 as the Journal of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and established as a quarterly in 1958. It draws on the enormous intellectual capacity of the American Academy, whose Fellows are among the nation's most prominent thinkers in the arts, sciences, and the humanities, as well as the full range of professions and public life. Features in the recently redesigned magazine include fiction, poetry, and a Notes section with original works by distinguished members of the American Academy.

Silvia Clute writes in Oped News that one solution is called Restorative Justice. Click on title of this post to link to her article about the Conference in the U.K.

Cert Granted No. 09-1454

Greene v Camreta to be heard by the High Court.

Jumping into a new controversy over child sex abuse, Tuesday to decidewhether the Constitution p the authority to interview children at school of sexual assault. The specific issue is wheth social workers must obtain a warrant before such interviews. A deputy sheriff and a state social caseworke issue of child interviews to the Court in a pai Camreta v. Greene, et al. (09-1454) and Alfor al. (09-1478).

Linkhttp://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/camreta-v-greene/

Innocents and Prosecutors' Misconduct

Supreme Court hears Connick v Thompson today. Will unfettered patterns of abuse go unheeded?

John Holloway writes in Slate yesterday.

Grits has good references as well.

Due process and sex offender reclassification

Wonder if recent reclass effort in Md triggers due process or other constitutional protections such as raised in recent ruling in Pennsylvania. Renchensky v. Williams, 3d Cir. (Oct. 4 2010).

Texan Freed

Here is an example of what i spoke of re wrongful conviction and reasons why they happen. Good comments at the link. Dallas has another one. wish i knew how to post a link with my new droid...

dallasnews.com

Wall St Journal carries the story too.

Convention Against Torture

Does an individual have standing to sue and if so why do victims not do so? nybooks.com "What to do about gitmo" by david cole.