Supreme Court News: The Wall Street Journal reports that today the Supreme Court threw out an order by the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals to disclose the photographs of abused detainees. The Court cited a recent change in federal law that allows the pictures to be withheld. At first, the Obama administration supported the release of the pictures, but then switched positions because the pictures could cause anti-American sentiment overseas and endanger troops. The Court ordered the second circuit to take another look at the lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). This case is discussed by Kent Scheidegger here. The Court has also rejected an appeal from a California death row inmate Kevin Cooper. Cooper was convicted of murdering four people in 1983. In 2004, within hours of his execution, the Ninth Circuit halted the execution and ordered genetic testing. Cooper claimed that the DNA evidence would prove his innocence. The testing was done, and the Ninth Circuit agreed that the evidence did not prove Cooper's innocence. More on the Cooper case is available here.
Violent Criminal History for Suspect in Officers' Killings: New York Times writer William Yardley reports that the "person of interest" in the shooting deaths of four uniformed officers has an "extensive, violent criminal history." Clemmons had previously been incarcerated in Arkansas, but his lengthy prison sentence was commuted by Mike Huckabee, according to the Seattle Times. Recently, Clemmons had been arrested in Pierce County, charged with assaulting a police office and raping a child. Clemmons allegedly walked into Forza Coffee Company cafe and then shot and killed Officer Tina Griswold, 40; Officer Ronald Owens, 37; Sgt. Mark Renninger, 39; and Officer Greg Richards, 42. The coffee shop was a well known "safe spot" for Lakewood officers. Ed Troyer, spokesman for the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, says "It's a place where they can plug in their computers, do reports, work and share intelligence with other police officers and agencies."
Unsuccessful Enforcement of Jessica's Law: Denise Zapata and Kevin Crowe of the San Diego Watchdog Institute report that more than 70% of San Diego's registered sex offenders are violating state law by living too close schools and parks. In 2006, California voters approved Jessica's Law, which bars convicted sex offenders from living within 2,000 ft of a school or park. Authorities blame the lack of enforcement on the vagueness of the law. Tom Tobin, a clinical psychologist and member of the state Sex Offender Management Board, says, "[t]he initiative itself was so badly written, no one knows how retroactive it is." California's sex offender law has been challenged by four registered sex offenders, whose case is now before the California Supreme Court. The men challenging the law were paroled before Jessica's Law passed, but their most recent crimes, which were not sex offenses, landed them on the registry. The men challenged the law after being told they have to move from their home or go back to jail. According to Zapata and Crowe a ruling in In re E.J., S.P., J.S. & K.T. is expected in February. Many California municipalities are waiting for the ruling before enacting their own ordinances that restrict where convicted sex offenders can live. But some cities are not waiting and have already increased the number of restricted areas a sex offender can live in. Supporting tougher sex offender laws, Senator George Runner is working towards improving the monitoring of sex offenders.
Violent Criminal History for Suspect in Officers' Killings: New York Times writer William Yardley reports that the "person of interest" in the shooting deaths of four uniformed officers has an "extensive, violent criminal history." Clemmons had previously been incarcerated in Arkansas, but his lengthy prison sentence was commuted by Mike Huckabee, according to the Seattle Times. Recently, Clemmons had been arrested in Pierce County, charged with assaulting a police office and raping a child. Clemmons allegedly walked into Forza Coffee Company cafe and then shot and killed Officer Tina Griswold, 40; Officer Ronald Owens, 37; Sgt. Mark Renninger, 39; and Officer Greg Richards, 42. The coffee shop was a well known "safe spot" for Lakewood officers. Ed Troyer, spokesman for the Pierce County Sheriff's Office, says "It's a place where they can plug in their computers, do reports, work and share intelligence with other police officers and agencies."
Unsuccessful Enforcement of Jessica's Law: Denise Zapata and Kevin Crowe of the San Diego Watchdog Institute report that more than 70% of San Diego's registered sex offenders are violating state law by living too close schools and parks. In 2006, California voters approved Jessica's Law, which bars convicted sex offenders from living within 2,000 ft of a school or park. Authorities blame the lack of enforcement on the vagueness of the law. Tom Tobin, a clinical psychologist and member of the state Sex Offender Management Board, says, "[t]he initiative itself was so badly written, no one knows how retroactive it is." California's sex offender law has been challenged by four registered sex offenders, whose case is now before the California Supreme Court. The men challenging the law were paroled before Jessica's Law passed, but their most recent crimes, which were not sex offenses, landed them on the registry. The men challenged the law after being told they have to move from their home or go back to jail. According to Zapata and Crowe a ruling in In re E.J., S.P., J.S. & K.T. is expected in February. Many California municipalities are waiting for the ruling before enacting their own ordinances that restrict where convicted sex offenders can live. But some cities are not waiting and have already increased the number of restricted areas a sex offender can live in. Supporting tougher sex offender laws, Senator George Runner is working towards improving the monitoring of sex offenders.
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