Canadian Judge Denies U.S. Extradition Request for Suspected Terrorist: The AP reports a Canadian judge today released Abdullah Khadr, a man suspected of purchasing weapons for al-Qaida and conspiring to kill Americans abroad. Khadr has been held in Canada on a U.S. warrant since 2005, but the judge today denied the U.S.'s extradition request finding Khadr's self-incriminating statement to U.S. agents was "manifestly unreasonable."
Justice Ginsberg Vows to Stay on Court at Least Until 2012: Amidst rumors of retirement next year, Justice Ginsberg told the AP she was delighted at the prospect of being one of three female SCOTUS justices (contingent on Kagen's appointment) and that she didn't plan on stepping down for at least another five years. Last year, Ginsberg's diagnosis of cancer and the death of her husband caused many to think her days on the court were winding down, which she denies. If Ginsberg remains on the court for at least another year or so, President Obama's last chance to get a nominee through the Senate before the 2012 presidential election will be defeated.
DNA Samples of Arrestees: Dan Hinkel of the Chicago Tribune has this article on the growing controversy about some states' laws requiring DNA samples from all persons arrested. 23 states currently impose such a requirement, while others require samples only from those actually convicted of a crime. Some civil liberties advocates oppose the procedure, summing it up as a "Big Brother" tactic. Supporters argue, however, that for those who haven't committed a crime - i.e. those who don't have a DNA sample sitting in a cold case file somewhere - collection of a sample upon arrest would have no consequences. Bringing light to this debate, Illinois prosecutors today dropped murder charges against Jerry Hobbs, who has been behind bars for five years for the stabbing deaths of his daughters. Fortunately for Hobbs, Virginia is one of the 23 states requiring DNA samples from arrestees, and a man arrested earlier this year in the state was a match to sample taken from the crime scene of Hobb's daughters. If the new suspect had been arrested in Illinois however, a DNA sample would not have been mandated unless a conviction were obtained.
Flurry of Racial Bias Claims From NC Death Row: The Charlotte Observer reports that the first five cases under the state's 2009 Racial Justice Act have been filed by North Carolina death row inmates. Under the Act, a capital defendant has an opportunity to prove to a judge that race was a basis in the state's decision to seek the death penalty, and the defendant may rely on county- or state-wide statistics regarding racial disparities in use of the death penalty and peremptory challenges. If a defendant succeeds, the court can order that a death sentence not be imposed, or vacate the sentence and order the defendant be resentenced to LWOP. NC's 159 death row inmates have until August 10th to file their claims under the Act. Kentucky has a similar law.
Justice Ginsberg Vows to Stay on Court at Least Until 2012: Amidst rumors of retirement next year, Justice Ginsberg told the AP she was delighted at the prospect of being one of three female SCOTUS justices (contingent on Kagen's appointment) and that she didn't plan on stepping down for at least another five years. Last year, Ginsberg's diagnosis of cancer and the death of her husband caused many to think her days on the court were winding down, which she denies. If Ginsberg remains on the court for at least another year or so, President Obama's last chance to get a nominee through the Senate before the 2012 presidential election will be defeated.
DNA Samples of Arrestees: Dan Hinkel of the Chicago Tribune has this article on the growing controversy about some states' laws requiring DNA samples from all persons arrested. 23 states currently impose such a requirement, while others require samples only from those actually convicted of a crime. Some civil liberties advocates oppose the procedure, summing it up as a "Big Brother" tactic. Supporters argue, however, that for those who haven't committed a crime - i.e. those who don't have a DNA sample sitting in a cold case file somewhere - collection of a sample upon arrest would have no consequences. Bringing light to this debate, Illinois prosecutors today dropped murder charges against Jerry Hobbs, who has been behind bars for five years for the stabbing deaths of his daughters. Fortunately for Hobbs, Virginia is one of the 23 states requiring DNA samples from arrestees, and a man arrested earlier this year in the state was a match to sample taken from the crime scene of Hobb's daughters. If the new suspect had been arrested in Illinois however, a DNA sample would not have been mandated unless a conviction were obtained.
Flurry of Racial Bias Claims From NC Death Row: The Charlotte Observer reports that the first five cases under the state's 2009 Racial Justice Act have been filed by North Carolina death row inmates. Under the Act, a capital defendant has an opportunity to prove to a judge that race was a basis in the state's decision to seek the death penalty, and the defendant may rely on county- or state-wide statistics regarding racial disparities in use of the death penalty and peremptory challenges. If a defendant succeeds, the court can order that a death sentence not be imposed, or vacate the sentence and order the defendant be resentenced to LWOP. NC's 159 death row inmates have until August 10th to file their claims under the Act. Kentucky has a similar law.
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