General/Criminal: Substantive Analysis on Zimmerman Case; Links to Transcripts from April 6, April 11, and April 12 CNN/HLN Appearances
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1204/06/acd.02.html http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1204/11/ijvm.01.html http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1204/12/ijvm.01.html Well, here are the transcripts for my recent appearances. Last evening proved interesting, as I was finally able to push my way through into proving some substance on is
Read moreGeneral/Criminal: More Detailed Appearance Arising Tonight on HLN’s Jane Velez Mitchell Show
The first appearance was, well, interesting. I did hope to get in more input, as there was so much more to say, especially about the “Stand Your Ground” Immunity issue, pursuant to Fla. Stat. 776.032. I believe that this will have a major impact upon the case and whether it even goes to a trial. A motion to dismiss raising such an
Read moreGeneral: Appearance This Evening on HLN’s Jane Velez Mitchell Show
The topic will again be the Trayvon Martin murder — and the anticipated charges from the State Attorney’s Office against George Zimmerman, who is now without any legal counsel. Please … do not get me started on the “balagan” that has transpired over the past 24 hours involving Zimmerman and his now former attorneys.
Read moreGeneral: Appearances on a Couple of CNN Shows
Hi. I was fortunate enough this past Friday to be featured on Anderson Cooper 360. Ashleigh Banfield conducted the interview of both my client (an eyewitness to the Trayvon Martin murder) and me. Ms. Banfield and the staff at 360 proved exceedingly gracious. Further, this evening I am slated to appear on Nancy Grace’s program. I am cr
Read moreConstitutional: Comment on Day 3 of Oral Arguments on ACA
First, please examine this link: http://prospect.org/article/nine-circles-aca?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews. Credit to the American Prospect, an excellent publication which I have long enjoyed, and the author of this succinct piece, Garrett Epps. So, what do we glean from Day 3 of the oral arguments over the constitutionality of
Read moreConstitutional Law: Quick Squib on Supreme Court Oral Arguments on Affordable Care Act
Well, as of yesterday — Day 2 (of 3) — in the oral arguments before the SCOTUS on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, many commentators began raising dire warnings of this rather extremist, right-wing Court actually deeming the health care mandate unconstitutional. Some observations of my own: 1. Justice Kennedy was to
Read moreConstitutional/Criminal Law: Rare Praise for U.S. Supreme Court Rulings
March 23, 2012 / by joe chater / in Constitutional Law Matters, Criminal Law Matters, Halifax Law Articles
I know that decisions later this Supreme Court Term will generate an altogether different reaction. However, on March 21, the Supreme Court did issue two, related rulings addressing the Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel during plea bargaining. In Lafler v. Cooper and Missouri v. Frye, the Court formally recognized the responsibility that defense
Read moreConstitutional Law: Embracing Your Inner Lorax – The Constitutional Standing of Trees
http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2012/03/18/441242/revisiting-the-lorax-do-trees-have-rights/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews Credit to Think Progress and to Peter Lehner of NRDC. This issue has fascinated me for several years. Lehner does a remarkably good job of summarizing the arguments for recognizing the rights of organizati
Read moreA Note
I am perplexed, and have decided to post my thoughts about this confound: Recently, I discovered that a friend had been victimized online by another individual with defamatory comments — comments which directly places my friend into danger. Concerned, I wrote the website upon which the perpetrator posted and requested that they remove the p
Read moreConstitutional: Interesting Article from AlterNet Relevant to Community Standards in Obscenity Cases
http://www.alternet.org/story/154539/the_bible_belt%27s_love_affair_with_%28gay_and_straight%29_porn_?page=entire Full credit to AlterNet and author Alex Henderson. Henderson’s article, titled “The Bible Belt’s Love Affair with Gay & Straight Porn,” documents the arguable reality involving individuals in states
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