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Category Archives: Criminal Justice
What IS the Age of Maturity?
A recent question in CityView, a Des Moines alternative newspaper, asked readers: “Should the minimum age to purchase tobacco products be raised to 21 in Iowa?” All sorts of answers ensued. One reader said tobacco should be outlawed and marijuana … Continue reading
Posted in Criminal Justice, Fairness, Issues, Youth
Tagged Associate Justice Elena Kagan, CityView, Graham v. Florida, Miller v. Alabama, Roper v. Simmons, Sister JoAnne Talarico, Twenty-sixth Amendment
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Flaws in the Laws – Part III: 2nd Degree Kidnapping
“He got off on a technicality.” This is a quip that drives me crazy whenever someone walks away from a courtroom in which the person otherwise should have been found guilty. Just what is a technicality? A technicality can be … Continue reading
Posted in Criminal Justice, General
Tagged Auen v. Alcoholic Beverages Division, Kidnapping 2nd Degree, Rep. Mary Lynn Wolfe, Rep. Rick Olson, Rep. Ross Paustian
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How much does it cost to buy a constitutional amendment?
How much do you think it would cost to amend the Iowa Constitution? To fund an amendment to the U.S. Constitution? Or, the constitutions of all 50 states? What staggering amount would you have to cough up to amend all … Continue reading
Posted in Criminal Justice, Fairness, General
Tagged Gov. Reynolds, Iowa Constitution, Marsy's Law
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Iowa Made a Costly Mistake
ne hundred dollars is still a lot of money to a large group of Iowans. Continue reading
Posted in Criminal Justice, Issues
Tagged attorney general, Iowa Constitution, Simple misdemeanor, Tom Miller
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The Government Makes A Lousy Babysitter
This matter should have been dealt with in a court of equity. Continue reading
Posted in Criminal Justice, Issues
Tagged Fawkes-Lee & Ryan, Iowa Attorney General, Iowa Better Business Bureau, Iowa Supreme Court, Polk County Attorney, State v. Nadir Topic
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A Horrible Decision
On Monday, the Court said it was constitutionally okay to take a sample of “skin cells”. They might just as well take an arm or a leg, your heart, your brain, or your medical records. Continue reading
Posted in Criminal Justice, Fairness, Issues, Privacy
Tagged DNA, Fourth Amendment, Justice Ginsburg, Justice Kagan, Justice Scalia, Justice Stotomayor, Maryland v. King
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