Criminal justice

Pain group rallies to doctor's defense

Michael D Ostrolenk — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 11:22:19 -0500

The New Mexico-based Pain Relief Network says it plans to file a civil lawsuit in Wichita federal court alleging the Controlled Substances Act as applied to doctors and patients is unconstitutional.

Painful drug war victory

Michael D Ostrolenk — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 08:08:43 -0400

Since 2000, the Drug Enforcement Administration has embarked on a muscular campaign against prescription painkiller abuse. It has utilized undercover investigations, SWAT raids, asset forfeiture, and high profile trials against "kingpin" doctors. These tactics should be familiar to anyone who has studied the drug war, but the results are a

In Search of John Doe No. 2: The Story the Feds Never Told About the Oklahoma City Bombing

Michael D Ostrolenk — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 08:07:19 -0400

Jesse Carl Trentadue is no liberal crusader, nor is he an antigovernment conspiracy theorist. He grew up poor in an Appalachian coal camp, called Number 7, halfway between Cucumber, West Virginia, and Horsepen, Virginia.

Jon Kyl’s Other Blunder

Michael D Ostrolenk — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:43:44 -0400

As if Sen. Jon Kyl ☼ (R.-Ariz.) didn’t already have it bad enough for his brokering the immigration deal, he’s now taking heat for opposing a bill that would give the public greater access to government information.

Dear Senators Leahy and Specter; Re: Attorney General Alberto Gonzales

Michael D Ostrolenk — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 11:46:18 -0400

As you prepare for tomorrows hearing with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, I urge you to consider threefold falsehoods or misleading statements in Mr. Gonzales’ written statement. The Attorney General spent long and meticulous hours writing and reviewing his statement, and thus chose his words carefully.

Conservatives to Bush: Fire Gonzales

Michael D Ostrolenk — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:23:22 -0400

In what could prove an embarrassing new setback for embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on the eve of his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, a group of influential conservatives and longtime Bush supporters has written a letter to the White House to call for his resignation.

This was a trial?

Michael D Ostrolenk — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 13:09:29 -0400

While the Bush administration might try to paint the guilty plea by David Hicks plea as a triumph, the truth is that the Australian's conviction shows in painful detail just how illegitimate and dysfunctional the military commissions truly are.

Conservatives Unite In Coalition to Defend Civil Liberties, Roll Back Excessive Presidential Power

Michael D Ostrolenk — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 17:05:28 -0400

– An alliance of prominent national conservatives will hold a news conference on Tuesday, March 20, to announce the formation of the American Freedom Agenda (AFA), a coalition established to restore checks and balances and civil liberties protections under assault by the Executive Branch.

OK, scrap the Bill of Rights: Politicians and public don't want it anyway

Michael D Ostrolenk — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 16:32:32 -0500

In this wonderful and modern 21st century, in which most people lack any meaningful understanding of the Bill of Rights, and a time in which a majority of the citizenry — and of our elected officials — appears willing to let the government have just as much power as it wants, wouldn't it make sense to just drop a few words from the Bill of Rights; make it more helpful to government and less coddling of criminals?

Do Enemy Combatants Have Any Rights?

Michael D Ostrolenk — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 17:06:40 -0500