Google Law?

This is neat.

Lexis and Westlaw have an oligopoly on legal research. They take what is in the public domain, add some features like headnotes and links to relevant treatises, and then charge attorneys out the wazoo. THE WAZOO. I think it’s about time that legal research gets a facelift.

You know what would be even better?  A Wikipedia -esque community that provides explanations, commentary and elaboration on cases. Sure, this wouldn’t be “official” or “reliable.”  But I owe about 40% of my undergraduate education to Wikipedia. It was always a perfect jumping off point for whatever I was researching. It was rarely so erroneous that it proved to be detrimental. Likewise, a Wikilegal could provide an invaluable resource for solo practitioners and regular folks. What better way to promote civic awareness than to open up the clenched and dry jaws of the common law? (I imagine the common law as a vast, omnipresent mouth in the sky because of that quote from Holmes. Oh, Holmes.)

H/T to Nforcitizenship

Trials I would like to watch

This. The “9/11 Mastermind” (who also looks sort of like a Muppet) will go on trial.

While it’s more likely than not that he’ll be convicted, the case will present a great deal of constitutional issues – torture, speedy trial, Miranda, Rochin, etc.  I think that it’s exceptional that he’s being put on trial and afforded due process, despite the fact that he participated in the execution of an atrocity.

But others think all that due process is just libruhl jibbajabba:

“These terrorists planned and executed the mass murder of thousands of innocent Americans,” Senator John Cornyn of Texas said Friday. “Treating them like common criminals is unconscionable.”

Statements like this, especially coming from a former Texas Supreme Court justice, are particularly unfortunate. As another commentator wrote in an excellent posting, “We’re too scared to have real trials in our country” is a level of cowardice unmatched in the world.

You would think that the blowhard tough guys who are the first to say “Let’s go to war!” would also be the first to say “We’re not afraid of you. In fact, we’re so not afraid of you, once we capture you, we’re going to subject you to the tedium and nuance of our legal system. Hell, we’ll even give you a defense attorney – for free!”

But as we all know, hypocrisy and doublespeak have been the new black for the past decade.

The Law, for kids!

My new favorite website to distract me from studying is lawforkids.org. It features rudimentary drawings of what not to do. Examples:

The irony of this cartoon is that while future M.P. appears to become some sort of recidivist convict, Mikeeeee also ends up in his own form of figurative corporate imprisonment.

This one feels like frame 6 should show the skeletons of Marco and Kirk underneath Mr. Smith’s house. I dunno, it has a creepy Gacy/Son of Sam feeling about it.

Unfortunately, the site does not feature a discussion of mens rea. But there is a great propagandistic  “stories” section:

“Hi, my name is Cindy and I’m 15 years old. It’s my first day in jail, adult jail, and boy am I scared! I was at juvenile jail once and this isn’t anything like that place! I still can’t believe how fast all of this happened. One night I’m out dancing at an after hours club and wham, now I’m in prison for up to 22 1/2 years! I suppose you’d like to know how this happened. Well, I was leaving the after hours club when these three girls from the north side were messing with me. My friends had already left so I was alone. I pulled out my pistol which, by the way, wasn’t even loaded, and pointed it at them and told them to leave me alone. I didn’t mean anything by it. I wasn’t going to shoot them. I just wanted them to leave me alone. But I got arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. (How deadly is a gun with no bullets I asked, but that didn’t mater) Anyway, I guess last July a new law makes it so that kids that get charged with certain crimes have to go to adult jail instead of juvenile jail.  Well, I’m one of them, on my way to adult prison at age 15. I won’t get out of jail until I’m almost 40 years old!”

….

On 05/22/09
Mark from AZ said:
This story is bogus. First, juveniles don’t go to “adult jail.” Anyone under 18 will not be housed with people over 18, in jail or in prison. And why are you in jail if you were sentenced to 22 1/2 years. You would be in prison. Second, nobody is going to give a 15 year old 22 1/2 years for that. Second Degree Murder (if you shot and killed one of those people) will get you about 22 years max. Finally, there is no internet access in jail. How could you even post this ridiculous story from jail. If you want to give kids a message, do it, but don’t lie and make things up to do it. On 04/29/09

Jilly from MS said:
The story doesnt really sound legitimate. I’ve never once heard a 15 year old in this day and age use the phrase “boy, am I scared!” …

I’ve always wondered why the government is so ineffective at informing kids about crime and punishment. Who is the target demographic? 7-year old delinquents?

The Waters of Lake Minnetonka

When Finals Season arrives, I often find myself at home passively watching whatever happens to be in my Netflix queue (streaming Netflix is key to happiness).  I’ve been revisiting the classics of the 1980s and early 1990s. Tonight, I chose Purple Rain, starring Prince.

It is both absurd and awesome. Example:

Apollonia: Will you help me [start a singing career]?
The Kid: No.
Apollonia: Pardon me?
The Kid: Nope… Wanna know why?
Apollonia: Nope.
The Kid: Because you wouldn’t pass the initiation.
Apollonia: What initiation?
The Kid: Well, for starters, you have to purify yourself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka.
Apollonia: What?
The Kid: You have to purify yourself in Lake Minnetonka.

[She jumps in]

Now, keep in mind this is dialogue between a  5′2″ guy with a bouffant hairdo, clad in a blouse, riding on a purple motorcycle, and a girl in a leather catsuit, set against a mid 80s synth soundtrack.

But you know what? The waters of Lake Minnetonka beat the hell out of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.