The Law Site

Shaquille O’Neal has long maintained that he wishes to pursue a career in law enforcement after his time is over in the NBA. All in all, I see this as being nothing but admirable. Someone as wealthy and talented as Shaquille O’Neal has no need for a career in law enforcement. If he wanted to, he could comfortably retire and spend the rest of his days on a beach. However, Mr. O’Neal has a knack for helping the community. There is no reason to believe his recent admission as a reserve officer of the Miami Beach Police is for publicity, as he has kept it fairly low key. As low key as you can get for a hulking man over 7 feet. I wish someone would try Officer O’Neal, see what happens!

Justice works in mysterious ways sometimes. If you have ever been out in public with an older person, chances are you have heard them rant about today’s fashions. Especially how kids tend to wear their jeans far too low, exposing their backside and underwear for all to see. This fashion tendency lead to the capture of a violent juvenile offender in Louisiana, who was tripped up by his low-riding jean shorts. The kid had robbed a man at gunpoint, as well as stolen a car by using a brick. Louisiana police got helpfrom fashion when the 16-year-old was caught with his pants down, literally.

No matter which side you are on in the abortion battle, you must admit both sides have their First Amendment right to expression. A judge in Chicago, Illinois concurs. Judge David H. Coar agrees with the constitution when it comes to freedom of expression, which has paved the way for Choose Life Illinois, Inc. to issue licence plates with their pro-life message. Personally, I laugh at anyone in my state who rides around with the Pro-Life plate. I am also surprised that no pro-choice groups have pushed for a plate talking about the freedom of choice. I guess the whole abortion battle is one of passion, pro-lifers have the spotlight, while pro-choicers are the silent majority.

As much as you may agree or disagree with the ideological makeup and day to day decisions made by the US Supreme Court, you can never question their integrity. The nine justices there nary give public comments, let alone talk down on each other in public. This is what is happening on the Michigan Supreme Court, and it is embarassing all around for the state and its judicial system. Rather than hear high cases in the state of Michigan, Justices like Elizabeth Weaver, an outspoken Republican on the court since 1994, have accused other members of trying to muzzle her. This is counterproductive in today’s world of law. Hopefully something can mend this troubled court.

We could all see something like this happening, couldn’t we? The aftermath of the Saddam Hussein hanging has less to do with the death of a dictator and more with the moral dilemma around showing the images. Apparently, leaked footage of the hanging, which we couldall predict would be on YouTube in a few hours, has ‘inspired’ young boys worldwide into imitating what they saw. Perhaps their parents should have explained to them Saddam was a terrible man, resignated to a terrible fate. What they did to him was not a joke, but a way to permanently rid the world of him. Kids are going to see images like this, the only difference is this was real and not on Spongebob Squarepants.

How bad must it be to be Sgt. Todd Sommer? We’re talking about a US Marine, someone we trust to keep arms for our country. Then, over the course of ten days, this warrior is brought to his knees not by battle, not by emotional grief, but rather at the hands of his wife. This selfish woman was trying to kill Sgt. Sommer to get his large life insurance policy. The courts will try to prove she purchased arsenic and fed it to her Marine husband over the course of ten days. Arsenic is colorless, odorless, and extremely deadly. It is readily available, but any purchases of the substance made by Cynthia Sommer, age 33, would have had a paper trail. If convicted, she faces life in prison.

Did you hear about what happened at Disney World the other day? Apparently, someone playing the Tigger character from Winnie the Pooh went off and hit someone. Now, the extent of how seriously the kid was hit is up in question. Reports say he was slapped on or “about” the head. What exactly does this mean? Sounds to me like physical contact you’d expect from one of these mascots. You know, patting on the head prior to a picture. This isn’t the first time someone has tried to bring a suit to the embattled cartoon tiger, earlier the family of a young teen girl claimed another Tigger grabbed her breast. Maybe Tigger has a lot of personal issues, or tort reform is needed.

Darrent Williams has been dead for a few days, and so far there are few leads to his mysterious killers. Police are looking at several points of interest, like a strange SUV. In all reality, though, what good will an SUV do in an investigation? Unless this gas-guzzler actually has the murder weapon, even naming it a subject of interest is kind of a laughable attempt to make the public think the authorities have any case. A young man’s life was senselessly ended and a pro football career was shortened. Nothing but sadness can come out of a situation like this….

How many hilarious things come out of the state of Tennessee? Apparently, a man cooking methamphetamine was honest when questioned about the chemical odor coming from his apartment. “You know what’s going on, I’m cooking meth!” declared Herman Swatt Swafford when questioned during the initial visit by police. Mr. Swafford was sent to jaillater when the cops busted him with methamphetime componenets cooking in a soda can. This was a probation violation… At least this guy saved taxpayer money by being totally up front about his alternative culinary skills.

Well, it looks as though the long arm of the law is overstepping private boundaries once again. Officials in Washington, DC have extended smoking bans to include bars, leading many patrons to go to Virginia, where laws are more smoker-friendly. I am a guy who was all in favor of the smoking bans at restaurants, My state did it, and it made dining more pleasant. Not having to inhale smoldering smoke while savoring food is a welcome change. However, when I am at the bar, even I smoke. Smoking is a natural enhancer of the party experience. Smoking and drinking are woven into the American Psyche…