Two Baltimore Police Officers Found Guilty of Armed Robbery, Racketeering
The trial of two Gun Trace Task Force members sheds light on a deeply dysfunctional department.
Criminal Justice
Alabama Prosecutor, Sheriff Threaten to Put More People in Prison in Order to Keep Seizing Massive Amounts of Property
Lawmakers are considering long-overdue civil asset forfeiture reform, and law enforcement leaders aren't happy.
81 Federal Prisoners Have Died While Waiting for the Government to Decide If They Were Sick Enough to Go Home
The Justice Department has finally shared data from the "compassionate release" program, and the numbers aren't pretty.
The Anglo-American Office of Sheriff
Americans' right to elect their Sheriffs comes from ancient English legal tradition.
Bank Recommendations, Especially for Banks with Good Online Banking Systems?
I've long been disappointed with my bank, U.S. Bank, chiefly because of its online banking system, which seems badly antiquated.
Short Circuit: A roundup of recent federal court decisions
An eggregrious price fixing scheme, a tear gas accident, and a post-SWAT raid code inspection.
Indonesia Seems Set to Ban Gay Sex
World's fourth largest country -- and largest Muslim country -- had long been seen as tolerant on such matters, but that has been changing.
Ninth Circuit: Adultery Is Constitutionally Protected
The court holds that Lawrence v. Texas limits government restrictions on extramarital sex.
Can Governments Ban Gun Stores? Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Case
Amicus brief in Supreme Court cert. petition argues that Alameda County, Calif., ban on new gun stores violates the Second Amendment.
Judge Reduces Woman's Prison Sentence Because She Got Sterilized, but It Was Totally Her 'Choice'
Paternalistic nudging in action
Immigration Authorities Want Access to All the Raw Intelligence the Feds Already Collected on You
And Donald Trump just might be the president to give ICE free rein.
The Shame of Devin Nunes
Our president thinks that Rep. Nunes will go down in history as "a great American." He is wrong.
There's Still No Big 'There' in the Russia Probe
The FBI's disappointing surveillance of Carter Page illustrates the difficulty of implicating the president in illegal collusion.
The Emoluments Clauses Litigation, Part 6: Are the Claims Against the President in his Official or Individual Capacity?
A guest-post from two authors who have commented heavily (and influentially) on the Emoluments Clauses litigation against President Trump; more to come later this week.
'Keep Your Tyranny Off Our Titties,' Say New Orleans Strippers
In a series of protests, strip club workers and their allies are pushing back against abusive policing.
Court Discloses Speech-Restrictive Barley House Settlement Agreement
I'm delighted to report that the District Court agreed with our position.
Short Circuit: A roundup of recent federal court decisions
Hot cells, effluent injections, and illegal downloading.
Supermajority Required for Finding of Unconstitutionality
Interesting provisions in some state supreme courts -- but are they constitutional when applied to claims that statutes violate the federal Constitution?
America's Secret Death Penalty Drugs
Governments have gone to great effort to keep the sources and methods of their death penalty regimes secret.
The "Too Irrational to Be a Terrorist" Defense Goes Nowhere
ISIS supporter Joshua Van Haften "also believes, for example, that Britain's Prince William is the Antichrist, that people can use numerology to predict the future, and that most Western political leaders are closet Satanists."
Felons Who Want Their Voting Rights Back Are Getting Unconstitutionally Screwed, Says Judge
The state uses a panel of partisan officials with absolute discretion to determine who gets to vote again
Super Bowl Sex Trafficking Myth Gives Good Cover for Federal Security Theater
Minneapolis is being transformed into a police state.
Donald Jr.'s Trump Tower Meeting Was Not a Crime, and Neither Was Lying About It
Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating the president's role in writing an ass-covering statement that was misleading but not illegal.
Three Years Ago, D.C. Passed Strong Transparency Laws For Asset Forfeiture. Nothing Happened.
"Without this information, we're all left in the dark."
Ban on Carrying Guns Within 1,000 Feet of Park Struck Down
...by the Illinois Supreme Court in a decision this morning.
Restrictionists Are Misleading You About Immigrant Crime Rates
Restrictionists are inflaming public opinion to justify a harsh crackdown
En Banc D.C. Circuit Upholds Constitutionality of CFPB
A divided D.C. Circuit holds Congress may insulate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from Presidential Control. Will the Supreme Court agree?
Starting Today, San Francisco Is Erasing Everybody's Misdemeanor Pot Convictions
Retroactivity is a powerful tool we don't use often enough.
The Dubious Legal Claim Behind #ReleaseTheMemo
Did DOJ actually need to disclose who funded the Steele dossier? Very likely not.
The Ongoing Cato Unbound Debate over "The Captured Economy"
Several commentators (myself included) continue the debate over Brink Lindsey and Steven Teles' important new book.
Trump Says In SOTU That Administration Will Pursue Prison Reforms
"We will embark on reforming our prisons to help former inmates who have served their time get a second chance."
No, Libertarians Have Not Thrown in With Trump
Jonathan Chait's accusations to the contrary ignore a great deal of the actual libertarian reaction to the president's policies. But some libertarians are indeed too soft on both Trump and right-wing nationalism generally.
Ohio Deputy Shoots and Kills Unarmed 16-Year-Old Outside Courtroom
Spurs calls for officers to stop carrying guns in court
Short Circuit: A roundup of recent federal court decisions
Bathtime photos, forfeiture shenanigans, and a wine caper.
In Supporting the Gymnastics Victims, Judge Aquilina Got It Right
That the judge supported the gymnastic victims in being heard should be a cause for celebration, not concern--and ample caselaw makes clear that it was entirely within the boundaries of proper judicial behavior.
ALEC Urges State to Reform Drug-Free School Zone Laws
"Most Drug-Free Zone laws were established decades ago but have not been reformed despite evidence they're arbitrary and often unnecessarily broad."
