"Front-Seat Ban Adds to Odd Legacy of Judge Schellinger"

"Judge Jacqueline Schellinger hasn't been seen in the courthouse for five months, but her rulings - particularly the quirkier ones - will not soon be forgotten."

"It's not every judge who will demand that a drug dealer be banned from sitting in the front seat of a car while on probation - not to mention a slew of other conditions that either make no sense or couldn't possibly be accomplished in a 24-hour day."

"No wonder conservative appellate judges keep sending Schellinger's cases back to the courthouse for a second try," it says here.

Wild Animals Stalking the Supreme Court

This article describes today's capture of a brown bat that had invaded the court. But it also refers to an earlier episode involving a fox.

"Lawyer Accused of Kidnapping Associate"

It's not what you might think it is (I immediately thought "Partner Accused of Kidnapping Associate"), but it's still pretty damn weird.

A Constitutional Right to Spank Children?

Fellow blogger Howard Bashman reports on a Seventh Circuit opinion in a case "involving a private school at which the staff seems to have had a penchant for not sparing the rod." Read all about it (and link to the lengthy opinion) here.

Congress May Reform Class Action Suits

"The Senate Judiciary Committee took an important step last week when it approved a bill to curb abuses in class-action lawsuits. Class actions are an important tool for protecting citizens' rights. But currently, most class-action suits must be heard in state courts. So companies operating nationwide get haled into local courts that plaintiffs' lawyers have found particularly willing to accept class actions - and to hit out-of-state firms with costly judgments," the Christian Science Monitor reports here.

War Crimes Case Planned Against U.S.

"A coalition of lawyers and human rights groups yesterday unveiled a bid to use the UN's new International Criminal Court as a tool to restrain American military power. In a move Washington said vindicated U.S. claims that the court would be used for political purposes, the rights activists are working to compile war crimes cases against the United States and its chief ally in Iraq, Britain," the Canadian National Post reports here.

Justice Breyer Says Detainees Can Ask Courts For Help

Breyer delivered the prepared remarks in an address to the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Among other things, he said: "If 'the government claims that the court lacks jurisdiction to decide a particular matter, the court, not the government, will decide if that is so, with the result in a lower court being subject to appeal,' eventually all the way to the Supreme Court," UPI reports here.

Oakland Raiders Case Takes the Field

"The $1 billion battle over the Raiders' return to Oakland began with a pun and ended with a fumble Monday as powerhouse attorneys squared off in front of jurors for the first time," law.com reports here.

Attorney Adds Worldwide Tourism Practice

The tale of how Philadelphia attorney Michael Kleeman came to start a practice representing tourists who are injured during international travel is almost as interesting as the cases themselves. Brought to you by The Legal Intelligencer and law.com.

Gay Partner May Pursue Wrongful Death as Spouse

"In a case of first impression, a judge has ruled that the same-sex partner of an attorney who died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver may pursue a wrongful death action against a local hospital as a spouse under Vermont law," the New York Law Journal reports here.

Lawyers Who Won $10 Billion Verdict Had Donated To Judge

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that a judge who recently ruled against Phillip Morris to the tune of $10 billion over light cigarettes had received cash donations from the winning lawyers, it says here.

Best and Worst State Courts for Business

Overlawyered.com discusses and links to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's recent Harris poll on the subject. Best states are Delaware, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, and Indiana. The worst are Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas.

Can Employers Be Liable For Unsolicited Porn Spam?

This article from CNET News.com says that if employees have complained about dirty spam and the employer fails to take action to filter it, it might qualify as evidence of a "hostile work environment."

Bush Nominates Bea for Ninth Circuit Judgeship

San Francisco Superior Court Judge Carlos Bea was nominated for the Ninth Circuit today by President Bush, it says here.

Mailman Banned From Taking Dog to Work

WeirdOfTheNews is linking to touching pet stories now??? What am I turning into? USA Today? Fuckin' Parade? Find out here.