Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Legal Research Blogs -> New York Supreme Court Criminal Term Library

Legal Research

: New York Supreme Court Criminal Term Library

Selections from National Law Journal Daily Headlines August 11, 2009

By David Badertscher, PLL

Source: NLJ.com, August 11, 2009.

Subscription required for online access:

ACLU says it's not kosher to define kosher

"Is Georgia's kosher law kosher? A local rabbi doesn't think so, and neither does the American Civil Liberties Union nor a pro bono team from Atlanta's King & Spalding, who are challenging the constitutionality of the state's Kosher Food Labeling Act. "

 

Alleged slur draws Iranian, Jewish groups into Bratz doll appeal

"Four organizations representing Jewish and Iranian Americans have filed an amicus brief before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit arguing that a federal judge who dismissed a juror during deliberations for having described Iranians as 'stubborn,' 'rude' and thieves of others' ideas should also have granted a new trial for the plaintiff, who was born in Iran."

 

Expletive-rich tirade ends in suspension for judge

"A Nebraska judge who left a profanity-laced message on a prosecutor's voice mail is off the bench for four months. The Supreme Court of Nebraska ruled on Aug. 7 that County Court Judge Jeffrey L. Marcuzzo violated judicial disciplinary rules when he left a vulgar message expressing his anger over a prosecutor's rescheduling of a matter before him."

 

No bail for Web show host who said judges deserve to die

"Calling Hal Turner 'a danger to the community,' a federal judge in Chicago has denied bail to the Web talk show host who has been charged with threatening three U.S. appellate court judges."

 

9th Circuit makes it easier for ex-inmates to sue over alleged mistreatment

"Ruling in a case of first impression, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit has found that a former jail inmate was not required to exhaust administrative procedures under the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) before suing for alleged violations of his constitutional rights that took place during his incarceration."

 

OPINION

Hiding behind the robes

"A formal code of conduct forbids law clerks from discussing their job duties, a code that some justices have interpreted to extend beyond the clerkship itself. Yet on those few rare occasions when the justices discuss their staffs, they vigorously (if not dismissively) deny that their clerks wield any influence over the decision-making process. Thus we are left with a mystery: If clerks do not exercise undue influence, then why all the fuss and secrecy over their job duties? Such unnecessary concealment only erodes the public's confidence in its government institutions."

Full post as published by New York Supreme Court Criminal Term Library on August 11, 2009 (boomark / email).