It seems like some in the black community won’t be happy until white boys are punished for rape at Duke – guilty or not, and whether or not there really was a rape at all.

The worst thing said in the case involving rape charges against Duke University students was not said by either the prosecutor or the defense attorneys, or even by any of the accusers or the accused. It was said by a student at North Carolina Central University, a black institution attended by the stripper who made rape charges against Duke lacrosse players.

According to Newsweek, the young man at NCCU said that he wanted to see the Duke students prosecuted, "whether it happened or not. It would be justice for things that happened in the past."

Demanding that someone pay for a crime, regardless of actual guilt, is reprehensible. . If such attitudes are common sentiment in the black community, it appears there is a bigger issue than whether or not this woman was raped and who did it. Rather, there is the issue of our moving further and further away from the concept that individuals should be judged based on their character as demonstrated by their deeds.

Do we really want judgments made based upon skin color? Do we really want to bring back the bad old days?

Posted by: Greg at 11:47 AM | Comments (36) | Add Comment
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The first term of the Roberts Court will end in a matter of weeks, and there are still some 35 cases to be decided. By my count, and based upon recent practice, that means we can expect more decisions to start dribbling out if the Supreme Court, culminating with a torrent of decisions in the final to weeks of June.

What is still out there to decide?

Still to be decided are cases involving President Bush's power to order military trials for suspected foreign terrorists held at the Navy prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and an appeal that will decide when death row inmates should get a new chance to prove their innocence with DNA and other evidence.

In addition, the justices are delving into politics. At issue in one case is whether the court should throw out all or part of a Texas congressional map promoted by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas. A free-speech case asks whether states can limit how much money is spent in political campaigns.

My gueses are as follows.

1) Tribunals for terrorists -- yes.

2) DNA evidence -- sometimes.

3) Texas remap -- acceptable.

4) Campaign spending limits -- permitted, unless they decide to oveturn recent precedents on campaign finance "reforms".

And as far as resignations/retirements go, I wouldn't expect any to be announced this year, unless there is a serious health issue that has been kept under wraps. Justices tend not to leave when there might be problems getting the new nominee confirmed before the start of the new Supreme Court term in October -- and there is no way that any justice would get confirmed in this contentious election year.

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This suit is proof that we have either too many laws, too many lawyers, or too many greedy Americans.

A Los Angeles psychologist who was denied a tote bag during a Mother's Day giveaway at an Angel game is suing the baseball team, alleging sex and age discrimination.

Michael Cohn's class-action claim in Orange County Superior Court alleges that thousands of males and fans under 18 were "treated unequally" at a "Family Sunday" promotion last May and are entitled to $4,000 each in damages.

The targets of the suit are the team and the Corinthian Colleges. Corinthian oversees Bryman College, which has an Anaheim campus and sponsored the event, its name printed on the bags.

Thousands of the red nylon bags were given to women 18 and older attending the Sunday Mother's Day game.

Angel officials said they had not seen the suit, filed May 4, and could not comment. But Angel spokesman Tim Mead said the team was proud of its promotions and giveaway days.

"Historically, we have tried to appeal on those special days that might be nationally noted holidays or special occasions," he said. "We have tailored programs or giveaways accordingly. In the past, we've given the moms rosesÂ…. We're trying to satisfy fans of all ages, genders and, most importantly, the baseball fans, so there's something for everybody."

I am sure about two things that will result from this piece of litigation.

First, sports teams will be less likely to have special giveaways like this one, resulting in ever dwindling attendance.

Second, Cohn will be deemed eligible to receive the team logo “pound of flesh” to be given away at next season’s “Litigious Assholes Day”.

Posted by: Greg at 01:01 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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We are not talking about a small discrepancy here – the woman in the Duke case initially claimed a substantially larger number of attackers.

The day after the March 13 team party where a 27-year-old black woman claimed she was raped, Durham police told campus officers that "this will blow over," the report said. The woman initially told police she was raped by 20 white men, then said she was attacked by three, the report said.

Now given the timeline that we are aware of in this case, this does raise some questions about the accusations. It isn’t as if she said four, or even five. The accuser indicated that she was raped by twenty men – which makes for one every 90 seconds during the time she was in the house. She later settled on three. I cannot see this as doing anything other than helping the defense.

Posted by: Greg at 04:35 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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This guyÂ’s rulings would make as much sense as most anything that comes out of the Ninth Circuit, which is the most overturned appellate circuit in the country.

A Philippine judge who claimed he could see into the future and admitted consulting imaginary mystic dwarfs has asked for his job back after being sacked by the country's Supreme Court.

"They should not have dismissed me for what I believed," Florentino Floro, a trial judge in the capital's Malabon northern suburb, told reporters after filing his appeal.

Floro was sacked last month and fined 40 000 pesos ($780) after a three-year investigation found he was incompetent, had shown bias in a case he was trying and had criticised court procedure, a ruling showed.

He told investigators that three mystic dwarfs - Armand, Luis and Angel - helped him carry out healing sessions during breaks in his chambers.

The Supreme Court said it was not within its expertise to conclude that Floro was insane, but agreed with the court clinic's finding that he was suffering from psychosis.

And if we count the dwarves, perhaps we could make Senators Boxer and Feinstein happy about the number of California judges on the court, provided Judge Florio and his companions decide to live in the land of fruits and nuts. After all, sounds like they would fit right in.

Posted by: Greg at 11:51 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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1 Sirs/Madam,
I am Judge Florentino V. Floro, Jr. (a Regional Trial Court Judge of Br. 73, Malabon, NCJR, Metro Manila, REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES). My physical address is 123 Dahlia, Alido, Malolos, 3000 Bulacan, Philippines. My E-mail Address is: judge_florentino_v_floro@yahoo.com; my telephone number is (044) 662-82-03, digitel, Philippines.
On April 7, 2006, the Philippine Supreme Court RELIEVED (separated - it did not dismiss) me from judicial service, and paid me 3 years backwages, by reason of PSYCHOSIS, a medical incapacity; they said - because I allegedly believed in dwarves, angel of death, inflicting sicknesses, psychic phenomena and (had in writing) predicted the downfall of 13th Philippine President Joseph Estrada (on December, 199 who was ousted by people power on January 20, 2001. You can read the Philippine Supreme Court Decision penned by M. Justice Minita Viray-Chico Nazario, 75 pages, March 31, 2006 in: Judge Florentino V. Floro, Jr. A.M. No. RTJ-99-1460 OCAD - versus - JUDGE FLORENTINO V. FLORO, JR....supremecourt.gov.ph/jurisprudence/.../mar2006/A.M. No. RTJ-99-1460.htm - 525k -
This is the FIRST time in world judicial history that this happened. The American and other Constitutions provide for dismissal or removal of judges, jurists and magistrates because of graft, corruption, misconduct, or bad behaviour; but resignation - only for those medically incapacitated. In the Philippines, this is the FIRST --- for since 1901, the Philippine Supreme Court never ever dismissed or removed a judge because of belief in the paranormal, religion and psi. Hence, REUTERS, AFP, AP, ASIAN REPORTER, MSNBC, MY WAY News, NEW24.com, ABC NEWS ONLINE, GULF TIMES, 7DAYS, AE, BUZZSPREE.COM, FOREING BLOGGERS, THE DAILY JUDGE, or a total of 66 foreign REPORTS, NEWS, HEADLINES, BLOGS and 14 Philippine News Headlines, covered - REPORTED – the said DECISION / my RELIEF due to psychosis.

On April 12, 2006, or 4 days later, the Philippines was shocked by the painful DEATH of Lawyer Atty. Luzviminda D. Puno, former clerk of court of the Supreme Court and wife of Senior Justice Reynato S. Puno, who passed at the St. Luke"s Medical Hospital in Quezon City due to complications from a heart surgery. She was 65. Manila Bulletin Online www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/04/13/SP_PROV20060413.html.

On May 4, 2006, I filed by APPEAL (81 PAGES, Partial Reconsideration) of the 75 pages March 31, 2006 DECISION, and on May 30, 2006, I filed with the P.I. Supreme Court, my 87 pages SECOND SUPPLEMENT to my APPEAL (all these are attached with this letter for your perusal/if it can be accommodated, if not, please send me your E-mail address).

I write / e-mail to you and to all REPORTERS who reported me, because, I want to THANK you, for NOTING my painful case. Let me therefore, tell you the STORY and TRUTH behind the DECISION, and these 66 WORLD REPORTS/BLOGS,etc.
TRUTH:
I never used the word DWARVES in any DECISION, and I never consulted any imaginary dwarf to pen my decisions, my detractors submitted these false evidence or lies; and what I do believed in is: in the so-called SPIRIT GUIDES or PROTECTORS. LUIS, is the KING OF ALL KINGS of ELEMENTALS/spirits worldwide; and he is GOD’s ANGEL (Genesis, Exodus, etc.) What I believe in, is what St. Paul teaches: Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Prophecy and Spiritual Healing. I am GIFTED, and I never tried to develop my psychic powers, since what I believe in, is God’s GIFT to me of these --- TO HEAL and TO PROPHESY, I never used these in DECISIONS.
I am not psychotic, and if you read the DECISION, it RULED that I can apply in other government positions that do not require dispensation of justice. I am a victim of INJUSTICE. On September 19, 1995, I stated that Atty. Teresita Cruz-Sison (Judicial and Bar Council Member) would suffer massive STROKE. HER VENGEANCE resulted in the submitting of FALSE EVIDENCE about DWARFS, ANGELS, PSYCHIC PHENOMENA, etc. Here in the Philippines, Judges, Justices are first NOMINATED by the Judicial and Bar Council (who selects 3) and the President of the Philippines appoints a Judge or Justice based on these 3 submissions.

I admit that GOD has chosen me to be the instrument to CLEAN the Philippine Supreme Court and Judiciary of CORRUPTION and abuse of power --- by inflicting illnesses. I admit that the controversial DECISION was released as it is, RELIEVING me but PAYING me backwages because I was placed under PREVENTIVE SUSPENSION since July 20,1999 until now, or 6 ¾ years; so THE INVESTIGATION TOOK 6 ¾ YEARS, NOT 3 YEARS AS YOU ALL REPORTED. I could not work nor practice my job because of that punishment.

NOW, the judge who was supposed to replace me on 1999, Judge ROSA CASAS REYES (throat and lungs cancer), who was appointed as Judge for the neighbor Branch 74, RTC, Malabon, is on TERMINAL SICK LEAVE since last year; Assisting Judge Leonido was appointed in her stead. Last year, I was DISCRIMINATED, because, while I was forcibly tested by 5 mental health professionals, plus one psychiatrist, Judge Rosa Reyes was not even required to be examined by a panel of doctors, so as to RELIEVE her, as required by Philppine Constitution.

IN SUM, KARMA and the CURSE as we Catholics and Christians believe in have their own ways in revealing the truth; my clerk of court, Atty. Esmeralda G. Dizon, who submitted false evidence about dwarfs and psychic phenomena, to make it appear that I have brain damage, now, her first born, GELAY, 10 years old was inflicted with EPILEPSY, with 2x a week severe attacks. I admit that my GUIDE LUIS did all these, to impress upon the Philippine Judiciary, that receiving BRIBE money and abuse of powers, due to lust for glory, cannot remain unpunished in the laws of these UNSEEN, that are more REAL than we ever imagine. I REPEAT, LUIS, ARMAND AND ANGEL ARE NOT THE LOWLY DWARVES OR GNOMNES BUT SPIRIT GUIDES AND PROTECTORS THAT GOD HAD CHOSES AS INSTRUMENTS TO RID THE PHILIPPINE JUDICIARY OF MISFITS AND ROTTEN EGGS, THOSE THAT FAIL TO DELIVER IMPARTIAL JUSTICE BECAUSE OF MONEY, GREASE OR GRAFT MONEY.

The PONENTE in this case, Justice MINITA VIRAY CHICO-NAZARIO (the wife of ROD NAZARIO, you, know, the former promoter of WBC boxing champion MANNY PACQUIO) was a Sandiganbayan Justice of the Philippines who was promoted Philippine Supreme Court Justice on July, 2004. She fought so hard for me, and were it not for many MEDICAL SURGERIES undergone by S.C. Justices in the Philippines, due to this painful case, I would have been REINSTATED and given JUSTICE.

But your 66 WORLD REPORTS vindicated me: this is the FIRST in world judicial history that a CASE had been REPORTED with GREAT MAGNITUDE, with COMPASSION and SARCASM, in my favor.
THANKS. And please do read the LONG DECISION, THE LONG APPEALS, …attached herewith (if it can be accommodated, if not, please send me your e-mail address). The PEACE OF CHRIST.
Sincerely,
Judge FLORENTINO V. FLORO, JR.,
123 Dahlia, Alido, Malolos, 3000 BULACAN, PHILIPPINES,
Tel/#(044) 662-82-03;
(Presiding Judge, Branch 73, RTC, MALABON, NCJR, M.M., PHILIPPINES)
[I.D. Number: RTCJ-317 / EDP Number: 38676300; ROLL OF ATTORNEY’S NO. 32800, Pg. No. 60, Book No. XIV]

Posted by: Judge Florentino V. Floro, Jr. at Thu Jun 1 17:47:01 2006 (GBsdj)

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Frighteningly, more than we would like to think – and more than the PC folks in the feminist movement and law enforcement want to admit.

Politically correct feminists claim false rape accusations are rare and account for only 2 percent of all reports. Men's rights sites point to research that places the rate as high as 41 percent. These are wildly disparate figures that cannot be reconciled.

This week I stumbled over a passage in a 1996 study published by the U.S. Department of Justice: Convicted by Juries, Exonerated by Science: Case Studies in the Use of DNA Evidence to Establish Innocence After Trial.

The study documents 28 cases which, "with the exception of one young man of limited mental capacity who pleaded guilty," consist of individuals who were convicted by juries and, then, later exonerated by DNA tests.

At the time of release, they had each served an average of 7 years in prison.
The passage that riveted my attention was a quote from Peter Neufeld and Barry C. Scheck, prominent criminal attorneys and co-founders of the Innocence Project that seeks to release those falsely imprisoned.

They stated, "Every year since 1989, in about 25 percent of the sexual assault cases referred to the FBI where results could be obtained, the primary suspect has been excluded by forensic DNA testing. Specifically, FBI officials report that out of roughly 10,000 sexual assault cases since 1989, about 2,000 tests have been inconclusive, about 2,000 tests have excluded the primary suspect, and about 6,000 have "matched" or included the primary suspect."

The authors continued, "these percentages have remained constant for 7 years, and the National Institute of Justice's informal survey of private laboratories reveals a strikingly similar 26 percent exclusion rate."

If the foregoing results can be extrapolated, then the rate of false reports is roughly between 20 (if DNA excludes an accused) to 40 percent (if inconclusive DNA is added). The relatively low estimate of 25 to 26 percent is probably accurate, especially since it is supported by other sources.

We need to consider this as we look at prominent rape cases like the one at Duke, as well as other cases that are less prominent. So many protections are placed upon the accusers, but so few are available to the accused – despite the fact that so many cases appear to be questionable. I think statistics like those above raise the possibility that we need to rethink the way in which we deal with such accusations.

Posted by: Greg at 11:42 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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And here I thought that the issue of judicial filibusters and votes on nominees was settled by the "Gang of 14".

Guess not -- it appears that "extraordinary circumstances" are not htat extraordinary after all.

After months of relative quiet, senators raised the prospect yesterday of a return to bitter battles and a possible filibuster over judicial nominations, as the White House urged confirmation of two conservative nominees who have sought approval for years.

Democratic leaders said they certainly would filibuster one of the nominees, Terrence W. Boyle, and might filibuster the second, Brett Kavanaugh, if Republicans refuse to call him back for a second hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The partisan rhetoric was the strongest signal yet that the Senate might revisit the brinkmanship that brought the chamber to the edge of crisis a year ago, when a bipartisan group of 14 members crafted a temporary cease-fire.

The "Gang of 14" pact cleared the path for confirmation of several appellate court nominees whom Democrats had filibustered in President Bush's first term, and it doomed the chances of a few others. It also narrowed the Democrats' tactical options for opposing Bush's two appointees to the Supreme Court last year. But the Kavanaugh and Boyle nominations may test its resiliency.

Seems to me that we are back where we started -- and that the nuclear option will likely have to be invoked to overcome demand by Democrats for an extra-constitutuional super-majority to confirm judges.

Posted by: Greg at 10:06 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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