Criminal Justice
Alabama Passes New Transparency Requirements for Civil Asset Forfeiture
Alabama is one of the least transparent states in the U.S. when it comes to civil asset forfeiture. That could be changing.
That Time Michael Moynihan Got Handcuffed at a NYC Checkpoint for an Unpaid 1998 Speeding Ticket
The most hilarious overpolicing story you'll hear this week, on the latest Fifth Column podcast
Texas Police Union Kills Effort To Close State's 'Dead Suspect Loophole'
Texas law lets police hide records of suspects who die in custody from grieving families. It could have been fixed, but a police union torpedoed the reform bill.
The NYPD Underreported Rape Due to an Outdated Definition of the Crime
The NYPD failed to update its crime-tracking system—and underreported rape by 38 percent.
New Car Crash Study Highlights the Irrationality of DUI Laws Based on THC in Drivers' Blood
The researchers found no statistically significant relationship between testing positive for THC and contributing to accidents.
$6.75 Million Awarded to the Family of a Milwaukee Jail Inmate Who Died From Dehydration
The jail, which saw several deaths, was overseen by former Sheriff David Clarke at the time.
Illinois Is on the Verge of Legalizing Marijuana. Here Is What the Bill Would Do.
New York legislators also are taking another shot at legalization.
New Hampshire Just Abolished the Death Penalty
State lawmakers reached across the aisle for a bipartisan push against capital punishment.
A 16-Year-Old Girl Is Facing Child Pornography Charges for Making a Sex Video of Herself
A finding of guilt would be an attack on the autonomy and self-ownership of all young people
Dissenting From a Decision Blocking a Retaliatory Arrest Claim, Neil Gorsuch Notes That 'Almost Anyone Can Be Arrested for Something'
The Trump appointee warns that "little would be left of our First Amendment liberties" if cops could punish people who irk them by finding a legal reason to bust them.
Double Standards Endanger Press Freedom
The treatment of Bryan Carmody and Julian Assange reveals widespread confusion about who counts as a journalist and whether it matters.
Police Raid on San Francisco Journalist Descends Into Blame Game
The chief and the union square off over who arranged what was likely an illegal search.
Florida Makes Possessing Child Sex Dolls a Felony
The new law rests on unsupported premises and vague language to penalize a victimless crime.
Cops Strip-Searched a 4-Year-Old After Mom's Errand Took Too Long
Child services called because Holly Curry let her kids wait in the car while she bought a muffin.
"House Murders Accused Mother in Court"
If only you could use parentheses in English the way you can in math or computer programming.
"It Is an Immutable and Universal Rule That Judges Are Not as Funny as They Think They Are"
Words of wisdom from the Utah Supreme Court.
Short Circuit: A Roundup of Recent Federal Court Decisions
Litigation financing, campaign financing, and salmagundi.
Bill Would Limit California Cops' Use of Deadly Force
The legislation moves forward following a compromise with law enforcement groups.
New Julian Assange Indictment Crushes the Hopes of Journalists Who Thought Their Press Passes Would Save Them
Don't believe the Justice Department when it reassures journalists that the WikiLeaks founder is uniquely guilty of violating the Espionage Act.
Dangerous Precedent Looms in Espionage Indictment Against Julian Assange
Plus: Naomi Wolf has no clue (again), gun site wins Section 230 case, and more...
The State Can't Keep Drugs Out of Prisons. How Was It Ever Going to Keep Them Out of America?
This is the nature of government. It can't stop the flow of illicit substances in a sealed and militarized building that's under its total control.
State May Punish "Faithless Electors," Wash. Sup. Ct. Rules
The court upheld a $1000 fine imposed by state law on Presidential electors who refused to vote as the voters instructed.
New Hampshire Is One Step Closer To Abolishing the Death Penalty
The bipartisan push to remove capital punishment from state law is moving forward.
Colorado's Growing Second Amendment Sanctuary Movement
What happens when cities and counties have their own ideas about a law that authorizes the seizure of guns from people who are mentally ill?
A Retired NYPD Officer Pleads Guilty to Running a Prostitution Ring
The operation used its intimate knowledge of NYPD operations to thrive.
A Man Fights Back After His Profane Rant About a Deputy Ended in Harassment Charges
Jon Goldsmith called a local deputy a "stupid sum bitch" on Facebook, so the deputy's superior charged Goldsmith with writing a threatening statement.
Are We Seeing Early Signs of a Facial Recognition Technopanic?
Or are Americans simply wising up to the dangers posed by cops having their "face prints" on file?
Offenders in California Get Saddled with Thousands of Dollars in Court Fees. This Bill Would Stop That.
A study shows that when these fees hit low-income offenders, they wreck their lives—and also don't even get paid.
New York Legislators Approve Double Jeopardy for Trump Cronies to Protect 'the Rule of Law'
The bill allows dual prosecutions of people in the president's orbit who receive pardons or commutations.
An Amber Alert Was Botched Because Detectives Struggled To Work a Fax Machine. Wait, What?
While well-intentioned, the alert system is often ineffective.
Video of NYU Panel on Hate Speech on Social Media
I discuss with Nadine Strossen and Jacob Mchangama what the Internet has come to
Border Patrol Agent on Trial for Hitting Border Crosser With His Truck Called Immigrants 'Disgusting Subhuman Shit' in Texts
Matthew Bowen hit a man who crossed the border. Then he sent a text calling him a "human pit maneuver."
Reminder To All the News Outlets Hiring Rahm Emanuel: He's Awful
Emanuel was a habitual violator of Illinois' public records laws and shielded the police from public scrutiny whenever he could.
Restriction on Signs on Residential Property Violates First Amendment
The restriction was unconstitutionally content-based, the Eighth Circuit held, because it has an exception for flags "containing distinctive colors, patterns or symbols used as a symbol of a government or institution."
Holocaust Revisionism at Williams College
A debate over recognizing a pro-Israel student group reveals ignorance and antisemitism among Williams' students
Texas Poised To Ban All Red Light Cameras
The oft-abused tool is used more to raise revenue than to protect public safety.
Kavanaugh v. Gorsuch - Part Deux
Trumps two High Court nominees are jurisprudentially independent of one another.
Why I'm Lukewarm on the ALI's "Principles of the Law: Policing"
Thoughts on a debate that will be held at the ALI Annual Meeting.
The Intercept -- now running a close second to the FBI in sending leakers to jail!
Episode 263 of the Cyberlaw Podcast
Short Circuit: A Roundup of Recent Federal Court Decisions
Drug traffickers' idol, a voice from the grave, and all decent people.
George Kelling, Father of 'Broken Windows' Policing, Dies
Kelling later disavowed the high-volume arrest programs that police departments justified using his theory.
An NYPD Superior Reacted to Eric Garner's Death by Texting 'Not a Big Deal.' And That's Completely Unsurprising.
For five years, the NYPD, its apologists, and even Mayor Bill de Blasio have absolved cops of their role in Eric Garner's death.
