-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- Barbara Bazyn on Iowa Governor Reynolds’ “Poor” Math
- Rita Carter on Iowa Governor Reynolds’ “Poor” Math
- Lorna Fellom on A Retired Ritual
- Marty & Stephanie on First Book Report in 60 Years
- Lorna Fellom on First Book Report in 60 Years
Archives
Our Friends
Issues
- General (131)
- Issues (109)
- Criminal Justice (32)
- Death Penalty (12)
- Fairness (38)
- Medical Cannabis (4)
- Open Meetings/Public Records (9)
- Privacy (11)
- Substance Abuse and Alcoholism/War on Drugs (5)
- Voting Rights (3)
- Youth (10)
Category Archives: Criminal Justice
Oral Arguments: Please Pardon the Pun
In an unusual move, the Solicitor General, Donald B. Verrilli, Jr., told the Supreme Court that he was not going to argue the case for the federal government because he believes the Third Circuit got it wrong. Continue reading
Invasion of the Judicial and Legislative Branches
On Monday, July 16, Governor Terry Branstad issued a commutation to 38 of Iowa’s lifers. That group of lifers consists of those felons who are serving a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for crimes they committed as … Continue reading
Posted in Criminal Justice, Fairness, Issues, Youth
Tagged cruel and unusual punishment, Des Moines Registser, Eighth Amendment, Governor Terry Branstad, Graham v. Florida, Iowa Board of Parole, Iowa Constitution, Iowa Legislature, Miller v. Alabama, Roper v. Simmons, United States Supreme Court
Leave a comment
Jumping Off Perfectly Good Bridges
Kids used to break legs and arms all the time. It was like wearing a plaque, a medal, or a trophy. Continue reading
No Slam Dunk
Last September I wrote that the United States Supreme Court was about to hear oral arguments in a case called Florence v. Board of Chosen Freeholders. As you’ll recall, this is what I had to say about it: Albert Florence … Continue reading
Same Results; Different Reasoning
Last November, I wrote a blog about how the Fourth Amendment is losing its meaning. One of the examples I had used was the case of United States v. Jones. The facts of the case are as follows: Antoine Jones … Continue reading
Chewing Away on the Fourth Amendment
I’m sure James Madison could never envision a GPS, much less an automobile, but he surely would have shaken his finger at the idea of his government making an exception under these circumstances. Continue reading