Security screeners at a Honolulu courthouse noticed something moving inside a defendant's bag as it passed through an X-ray machine earlier this week.
After initially refusing to open it, the bag's owner reluctantly revealed that his pet was inside. When he opened the bag, screeners found a live duck and a bottle of beer, Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Toni Schwartz said.
Deputies told Michael Hubbard that his pet and beverage wouldn't be allowed inside Circuit Court, so he left. He returned a short while later and asked that deputies look after his belongings while he went inside for an appointment, Schwartz said, adding that visitors are allowed to leave their things outside at their own risk.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Monday, April 8, 2013
High court poised to upend civil rights policies
Has the nation lived down its history of racism and should the law become colorblind?
Addressing two pivotal legal issues, one on affirmative action and a second on voting rights, a divided Supreme Court is poised to answer those questions.
In one case, the issue is whether race preferences in university admissions undermine equal opportunity more than they promote the benefits of racial diversity. Just this past week, justices signaled their interest in scrutinizing affirmative action very intensely, expanding their review as well to a Michigan law passed by voters that bars "preferential treatment" to students based on race. Separately in a second case, the court must decide whether race relations - in the South, particularly - have improved to the point that federal laws protecting minority voting rights are no longer warranted.
The questions are apt as the United States closes in on a demographic tipping point, when nonwhites will become a majority of the nation's population for the first time. That dramatic shift is expected to be reached within the next generation, and how the Supreme Court rules could go a long way in determining what civil rights and equality mean in an America long divided by race.
The court's five conservative justices seem ready to declare a new post-racial moment, pointing to increased levels of voter registration and turnout among blacks to show that the South has changed. Lower federal courts just in the past year had seen things differently, blunting voter ID laws and other election restrictions passed by GOP-controlled legislatures in South Carolina, Texas and Florida, which they saw as discriminatory.
Addressing two pivotal legal issues, one on affirmative action and a second on voting rights, a divided Supreme Court is poised to answer those questions.
In one case, the issue is whether race preferences in university admissions undermine equal opportunity more than they promote the benefits of racial diversity. Just this past week, justices signaled their interest in scrutinizing affirmative action very intensely, expanding their review as well to a Michigan law passed by voters that bars "preferential treatment" to students based on race. Separately in a second case, the court must decide whether race relations - in the South, particularly - have improved to the point that federal laws protecting minority voting rights are no longer warranted.
The questions are apt as the United States closes in on a demographic tipping point, when nonwhites will become a majority of the nation's population for the first time. That dramatic shift is expected to be reached within the next generation, and how the Supreme Court rules could go a long way in determining what civil rights and equality mean in an America long divided by race.
The court's five conservative justices seem ready to declare a new post-racial moment, pointing to increased levels of voter registration and turnout among blacks to show that the South has changed. Lower federal courts just in the past year had seen things differently, blunting voter ID laws and other election restrictions passed by GOP-controlled legislatures in South Carolina, Texas and Florida, which they saw as discriminatory.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
The Reinartz Law Firm, LLC - Automobile Accidents
While automobile accidents make up a significant portion of New Jersey / New York personal injury and wrongful death claims, these accidents cannot be considered routine. Each accident must be individually investigated and analyzed in order to establish case specifics.
Our experience in automobile accident litigation is extensive. The Reinartz Law Firm is adept at assessing the physical principles of automobile accidents, the medical evidence used to evaluate injuries, and the economic and accounting principles required to evaluate losses. We provide the strongest possible representation in automobile accident litigation.
http://www.reinartzlaw.com/practice-areas/motor-vehicle-accidents
Our experience in automobile accident litigation is extensive. The Reinartz Law Firm is adept at assessing the physical principles of automobile accidents, the medical evidence used to evaluate injuries, and the economic and accounting principles required to evaluate losses. We provide the strongest possible representation in automobile accident litigation.
http://www.reinartzlaw.com/practice-areas/motor-vehicle-accidents
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Detroit mom in court in daughter's stabbing death
A 26-year-old Detroit mother of five was scheduled for her first court appearance Thursday afternoon on a murder charge in the stabbing death of her 8-year-old daughter.
Tameria Greene, who would have turned 9 on Wednesday, was found bleeding early Sunday on the floor of the family's apartment. Her mother, Semeria Greene, was arrested and her four sons were taken into protective custody.
Greene was due to be arraigned on felony murder and child abuse charges. She did not have an attorney listed in court records.
Michigan's human service director Maura Corrigan said family, friends and neighbors had complained to her agency about Greene's treatment of her five children. Corrigan said child welfare workers had tried repeatedly to remove them from Greene's care in the past two years.
Corrigan says a court denied the last request one month before Tameria's death.
Judge Frank Szymanski told The Associated Press on Thursday morning that he signed an order in November that ordered services but kept the children in the home. He said his order reflected the result of a hearing held by a referee and he had no active role in the case at that time. That's standard procedure in such cases, the judge said.
Tameria Greene, who would have turned 9 on Wednesday, was found bleeding early Sunday on the floor of the family's apartment. Her mother, Semeria Greene, was arrested and her four sons were taken into protective custody.
Greene was due to be arraigned on felony murder and child abuse charges. She did not have an attorney listed in court records.
Michigan's human service director Maura Corrigan said family, friends and neighbors had complained to her agency about Greene's treatment of her five children. Corrigan said child welfare workers had tried repeatedly to remove them from Greene's care in the past two years.
Corrigan says a court denied the last request one month before Tameria's death.
Judge Frank Szymanski told The Associated Press on Thursday morning that he signed an order in November that ordered services but kept the children in the home. He said his order reflected the result of a hearing held by a referee and he had no active role in the case at that time. That's standard procedure in such cases, the judge said.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Limits on class-action lawsuits at Supreme Court
The Supreme Court appeared divided Monday in two cases in which businesses are trying to make it harder for customers or investors to band together to sue them.
The justices heard arguments in appeals from biotech company Amgen Inc. and cable provider Comcast Corp. that seek to shut down class-action lawsuits against the businesses.
Amgen is fighting securities fraud claims that misstatements about two of its drugs used to treat anemia artificially inflated its stock price. Comcast is facing a lawsuit from customers who say the company's monopoly in parts of the Philadelphia area allowed it to raise prices unfairly.
Last year, the Supreme Court raised the bar for some class-action suits when it sided with Wal-Mart against up to 1.6 million of its female employees who complained of sex discrimination. In the Wal-Mart case, the court said there were too many women in too many jobs at the nation's largest private employer to wrap into one lawsuit.
Class actions increase pressure on businesses to settle suits because of the cost of defending them and the potential for very large judgments.
Connecticut pension funds that sued Amgen said lower courts correctly ruled that the case could move forward as a class action. The issue at the Supreme Court is whether the pension funds have to show at an early stage of the lawsuit that Amgen's claims about the safety and effectiveness of the drugs Aranesp and Epogen affected the stock price.
Several justices indicated they had no problem with the idea that, unlike in the Wal-Mart case, all the Amgen investors were in the same boat and could clear an early hurdle that tripped up the Wal-Mart employees.
The justices heard arguments in appeals from biotech company Amgen Inc. and cable provider Comcast Corp. that seek to shut down class-action lawsuits against the businesses.
Amgen is fighting securities fraud claims that misstatements about two of its drugs used to treat anemia artificially inflated its stock price. Comcast is facing a lawsuit from customers who say the company's monopoly in parts of the Philadelphia area allowed it to raise prices unfairly.
Last year, the Supreme Court raised the bar for some class-action suits when it sided with Wal-Mart against up to 1.6 million of its female employees who complained of sex discrimination. In the Wal-Mart case, the court said there were too many women in too many jobs at the nation's largest private employer to wrap into one lawsuit.
Class actions increase pressure on businesses to settle suits because of the cost of defending them and the potential for very large judgments.
Connecticut pension funds that sued Amgen said lower courts correctly ruled that the case could move forward as a class action. The issue at the Supreme Court is whether the pension funds have to show at an early stage of the lawsuit that Amgen's claims about the safety and effectiveness of the drugs Aranesp and Epogen affected the stock price.
Several justices indicated they had no problem with the idea that, unlike in the Wal-Mart case, all the Amgen investors were in the same boat and could clear an early hurdle that tripped up the Wal-Mart employees.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
New Jersey Traffic Violation Lawyer
An experienced traffic violation, municipal court and DUI lawyer can help take the guesswork out of municipal court and traffic violation matters.
You want to avoid gaving points on your license, losing your license, or paying higher insurance premiums. Appearing in traffic court and negotiating with a prosecutor yourself is many times ill-advised as prosecutors may offer you a plea deal that slightly reduces the points assessed against you, but still results in a large fine. Oftentimes, individuals can save money and obtain a more favorable outcome in traffic court matters by retaining a lawyer to represent their interests and place them on equal footing in the courtroom. If you find yourself accused of drunk driving, it is a serious matter. Getting a DUI can damage your reputation on your driving record, along with increased fees on insurance and additional fees.
The Reinartz Law Firm is experienced in traffic court and municipal court matters, and offers clients representation in a variety of matters involving motor vehicle violations and traffic tickets, violations of municipal ordinances, disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, and other non-indictable offenses.
Our skilled attorneys aim to have you avoid the possibility of facing any major consequences, and is committed to your case from the very beginning. Call today to discuss your case with an experienced Jersey City traffic violation, municipal court and DUI lawyer. Learn more information on New Jersey Traffic Violation lawyer at http://www.reinartzlaw.com/practice-areas/traffic-violationsmunicipal-courtdui
You want to avoid gaving points on your license, losing your license, or paying higher insurance premiums. Appearing in traffic court and negotiating with a prosecutor yourself is many times ill-advised as prosecutors may offer you a plea deal that slightly reduces the points assessed against you, but still results in a large fine. Oftentimes, individuals can save money and obtain a more favorable outcome in traffic court matters by retaining a lawyer to represent their interests and place them on equal footing in the courtroom. If you find yourself accused of drunk driving, it is a serious matter. Getting a DUI can damage your reputation on your driving record, along with increased fees on insurance and additional fees.
The Reinartz Law Firm is experienced in traffic court and municipal court matters, and offers clients representation in a variety of matters involving motor vehicle violations and traffic tickets, violations of municipal ordinances, disorderly persons offenses, petty disorderly persons offenses, and other non-indictable offenses.
Our skilled attorneys aim to have you avoid the possibility of facing any major consequences, and is committed to your case from the very beginning. Call today to discuss your case with an experienced Jersey City traffic violation, municipal court and DUI lawyer. Learn more information on New Jersey Traffic Violation lawyer at http://www.reinartzlaw.com/practice-areas/traffic-violationsmunicipal-courtdui
Monday, August 6, 2012
Fed. appeals court denies ex-Ill. governor appeal
A federal appellate court in Chicago has denied an appeal filed by imprisoned former Illinois Gov. George Ryan.
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals released a 16-page ruling on Monday denying the 78-year-old Republican's appeal.
A ruling in his favor could have led to Ryan's release from an Indiana prison. It was widely seen as his last chance to get out of prison early.
Ryan is nearing the end of a 6 1/2-year sentence. He's due to be released in mid-2013.
The U.S. Supreme Court in April ordered the appeals court to revisit Ryan's arguments to overturn his conviction.
Last year, the lower court rejected arguments that the 2006 convictions should be tossed because prosecutors never proved Ryan took a bribe.
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals released a 16-page ruling on Monday denying the 78-year-old Republican's appeal.
A ruling in his favor could have led to Ryan's release from an Indiana prison. It was widely seen as his last chance to get out of prison early.
Ryan is nearing the end of a 6 1/2-year sentence. He's due to be released in mid-2013.
The U.S. Supreme Court in April ordered the appeals court to revisit Ryan's arguments to overturn his conviction.
Last year, the lower court rejected arguments that the 2006 convictions should be tossed because prosecutors never proved Ryan took a bribe.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)