UPDATE Italy Convicts 23 in CIA Trials: New York Times writer Rachel Donadio reports on the recent convictions of twenty-three Americans for the seizing of a Muslim cleric from the streets of Milan more than six years ago. While three of the high-ranking American defendants were given diplomatic immunity, CIA station chief in Milan, Robert Seldon Lady, received an 8-year-term for his part in the seizure. The other twenty-two Americans each received five years. All were tried in absentia and it is unlikely that any will serve. This was the first time American agents were tried in a foreign country for kidnapping and rendition.
Ohio Begins Setting New Execution Dates: Associated Press writer Andrew Welsh-Huggins reports that after Gov. Ted Strickland's unprecendented halt of an execution, and grant of five-months reprieve to death row inmates, the Ohio Supreme Court has set two new execution dates. These two dates are scheduled for May 13th and June 10th, even as the state develops new policies for lethal injection following the two hour failed attempt to execute inmate Rommel Broom.
Marijuana Statement Release by White House: In a statement by Office of National Drug Control Policy Director R. Gil Kerlikowske, Kerlikowske is quick to point out that the Department of Justice's guidelines on marijuana usage are not meant as a Federal government approval of medical marijuana. Marijuana legalization is something that is not on the agenda for the Obama administration. Legalization is being sold as a cure-all for ending violence in Mexico, a cure to state budget problems, and a cure for health problems, Kerlikowske states, but American's should be skeptical of anyone selling one sultion as a cure for every single problem. The taxes collected on legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco, substances pale in comparison to the social and health care costs related to their widespread use.
Stifling Prosecutors Worries Courts: Associated Press writer Jesse J. Holland reports on a Supreme Court case in which two prosecutors were sued by the men they had convicted of first-degree murder. The convictions were thrown out and the men sued the prosecutors. The lawyers unsuccessfully argued in the civil rights suits against them that they had absolute immunity because they were doing their jobs as prosecutors. The case was argued before the Supreme Court this morning, several justices are worried about the effects such a ruling would have on prosecutors, where suspects would be able to sue prosecutors simply because they didn't like the verdict. An earlier blog scan on the case can be found here. The argument transcript in Pottawattamie County v. McGhee is here.
Ohio Begins Setting New Execution Dates: Associated Press writer Andrew Welsh-Huggins reports that after Gov. Ted Strickland's unprecendented halt of an execution, and grant of five-months reprieve to death row inmates, the Ohio Supreme Court has set two new execution dates. These two dates are scheduled for May 13th and June 10th, even as the state develops new policies for lethal injection following the two hour failed attempt to execute inmate Rommel Broom.
Marijuana Statement Release by White House: In a statement by Office of National Drug Control Policy Director R. Gil Kerlikowske, Kerlikowske is quick to point out that the Department of Justice's guidelines on marijuana usage are not meant as a Federal government approval of medical marijuana. Marijuana legalization is something that is not on the agenda for the Obama administration. Legalization is being sold as a cure-all for ending violence in Mexico, a cure to state budget problems, and a cure for health problems, Kerlikowske states, but American's should be skeptical of anyone selling one sultion as a cure for every single problem. The taxes collected on legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco, substances pale in comparison to the social and health care costs related to their widespread use.
Stifling Prosecutors Worries Courts: Associated Press writer Jesse J. Holland reports on a Supreme Court case in which two prosecutors were sued by the men they had convicted of first-degree murder. The convictions were thrown out and the men sued the prosecutors. The lawyers unsuccessfully argued in the civil rights suits against them that they had absolute immunity because they were doing their jobs as prosecutors. The case was argued before the Supreme Court this morning, several justices are worried about the effects such a ruling would have on prosecutors, where suspects would be able to sue prosecutors simply because they didn't like the verdict. An earlier blog scan on the case can be found here. The argument transcript in Pottawattamie County v. McGhee is here.
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