Acts of Vengeance: Joel Jacobsen blogs on Judging Crimes that despite what educated lawyers, including Justice Souter, may think, lawyers and judges cannot stop those "at the bottom of the social ladder" from resorting to private acts of vengeance. Jacobsen writes that private acts of vengeance are a way of life for tens of millions of
Americans, because the alternative - involving the police and court system - doesn't offer justice or protection from retaliation. Jacobsen blames "the people at the top, such as Souter," for this problem, because they don't adopt judicial practices that will protect the victim. For example, the system may not protect an abused spouse if she refuses to testify against her husband. As a result, the victim, who cannot afford private security, must rely on private acts of vengeance for protection.
Executions Go Forward: At Sentencing Law and Policy, Doug Berman briefly comments on the executions of Dennis Skillicorn and Michael Lynn Riley, in Missouri and Texas. Berman counts these as the 28th and 29th executions in the United States this year. He also notes that of the 66 executions that have taken place since the Supreme Court decided Baze v. Rees, he "cannot recall a single report of a botched lethal injection protocol...." Berman's eyes were most likely trained on Missouri's execution of Skillicorn. This New York Times article by Monica Davey reported Skillicorn was the first prisoner to be executed in Missouri since a federal judge ordered a stop to executions, and a remaking of the system, in 2006.
Why is Judge Wood Heading to Washington?: At Legalities, Jan Crawford Greenburg reports on the curious timing of Judge Wood's trip to Washington, D.C. Judge Wood is reportedly in D.C. to attend a legal conference at Georgetown, but Greenburg thinks Judge Wood could be in Washington for other reasons. Apparently, Judge Wood didn't teach her first-year civil procedure class at the University of Chicago Law School yesterday afternoon so that she could attend the conference - even though she is not listed as a panelist or a participant. Greenburg speculates that Judge Wood has come to town for an interview with President Obama, and believes Judge Wood is a "top contender." One user comment points out, however, that Judge Wood could just be in town for the American Law Institute's Annual Meeting. She does serve on its Council. Wall Street Journal Blog also has this "Scotulbutt" on Obama's pick for the high court, and Jonathan Adler reports on Volokh Conspiracy that we may be losing Legalities at the height of nomination speculation.
(For background and insight into the words and ideas SCOTUS watchers are debating, check out Stuart Taylor Jr.'s "Background Briefing" at the Ninth Justice.)
Executions Go Forward: At Sentencing Law and Policy, Doug Berman briefly comments on the executions of Dennis Skillicorn and Michael Lynn Riley, in Missouri and Texas. Berman counts these as the 28th and 29th executions in the United States this year. He also notes that of the 66 executions that have taken place since the Supreme Court decided Baze v. Rees, he "cannot recall a single report of a botched lethal injection protocol...." Berman's eyes were most likely trained on Missouri's execution of Skillicorn. This New York Times article by Monica Davey reported Skillicorn was the first prisoner to be executed in Missouri since a federal judge ordered a stop to executions, and a remaking of the system, in 2006.
Why is Judge Wood Heading to Washington?: At Legalities, Jan Crawford Greenburg reports on the curious timing of Judge Wood's trip to Washington, D.C. Judge Wood is reportedly in D.C. to attend a legal conference at Georgetown, but Greenburg thinks Judge Wood could be in Washington for other reasons. Apparently, Judge Wood didn't teach her first-year civil procedure class at the University of Chicago Law School yesterday afternoon so that she could attend the conference - even though she is not listed as a panelist or a participant. Greenburg speculates that Judge Wood has come to town for an interview with President Obama, and believes Judge Wood is a "top contender." One user comment points out, however, that Judge Wood could just be in town for the American Law Institute's Annual Meeting. She does serve on its Council. Wall Street Journal Blog also has this "Scotulbutt" on Obama's pick for the high court, and Jonathan Adler reports on Volokh Conspiracy that we may be losing Legalities at the height of nomination speculation.
(For background and insight into the words and ideas SCOTUS watchers are debating, check out Stuart Taylor Jr.'s "Background Briefing" at the Ninth Justice.)
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