Elisabeth Semel quoted in Daily Journal (registration required), September 10, 2014
“It’s an exciting development to see that there’s more interest and receptivity to legislation that improves protections for people accused of crimes.”
Why Maoist show trials in China aren’t going away any time soon
Stanley Lubman writes for The Wall Street Journal, China Real Time, September 10, 2014
The importance to the leadership of both the campaign against corruption and the crackdown on dissent strongly suggests that whatever measures are planned to carry out legal reform, the use of public confessions and “open trials” like that of Bo Xilai’s are likely to continue.
Ray Rice and domestic violence in the NFL
Nancy Lemon interviewed on 95.7-FM, Bucher and Towny, September 9, 2014
“The way that we treat athletes starting in high school going through college and into pro sports often gives them the impression that they are somehow above the rules of ordinary people…. We need to take all abuse seriously, even if it’s just the victim of the abuse saying that it happened.”
Councilman to propose bill to regulate costumed characters soliciting in Times Square
Jesse Choper quoted in The New York Times, September 8, 2014
“People do have a right to talk to people,” Mr. Choper said, “and you do have a right, if you aren’t blocking anyone’s path, to say, ‘Would you consider giving me some money?’”
BP ruling raises liability stakes for high-risk industries
Joseph Lavitt quoted in Reuters, September 5, 2014
“It sends a very cautionary message to the oil industry,” said Joseph Lavitt and expert on insurance law.
Changes urged after Lockett’s delayed execution
Megan McCracken quoted in Woodward News, September 5, 2014
“…When the department realized there was a problem, there was a communications breakdown that resulted in the execution team doing nothing to stabilize Mr. Lockett or address his pain and suffering for the last 10 minutes of his life, despite the fact that Director Patton had called off the execution.”
Oklahoma releases investigation on controversial execution
Jennifer Moreno quoted in NewsOK, September 4, 2014
Jen Moreno … said the lack of contingency plans and adequate training and supplies indicates there is a culture of carelessness regarding the death penalty within the state Corrections Department. “I question if any quick fixes to execution protocol will have an effect on that culture,” Moreno said.
IV difficulties behind botched Oklahoma execution
Megan McCracken quoted on CNN.com, September 4, 2014
“Multiple factors contributed to Mr. Lockett’s badly bungled execution, including lacking of planning and training, a failure to set a functioning IV, and a failure to plan for contingencies. Many questions remain unanswered as to how the (Department of Corrections) allowed this to happen,” McCracken said in a statement.
California moves to tally sea-level rise risks, hunt down possible defenses
Michael Kiparsky quoted in ClimateWire, September 4, 2014
Mike Kiparsky … said that recently, there’s been “an explosion of interest” in adaptation strategies. “It’s an issue the state is going to have to grapple with in the near term” and in the longer term.
Proposition 47 ceases criminal charges; stirs little reaction
Barry Krisberg quoted in San Francisco Chronicle, September 3, 2014
“I think what is fascinating is that there seems to be almost no opposition to this,” says Barry Krisberg. “You’d think in the usual California politics you’d have the right saying this and the left saying something else. But there’s been no campaigning (in opposition) to speak of, no one is spending any money on defeating it and the polls have been running 60 percent positive.”