September 2010



Judge Hands Out Condoms Hidden in Acorns

Today’s inexplicable-misconduct story involves a Pennsylvania judge who has been charged with disorderly conduct for hiding condoms inside acorns and handing them out to unsuspecting women on the grounds of the state capitol. Confronted by capitol police, the judge admitted to…



Stephen Colbert Testifies Before Congress

If you didn't have a chance to see Stephen Colbert's testimony before Congress (specifically, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship & Border Security) about the plight of migrant workers, here's his opening statement.   The video of the full…


Whole Foods Selling Fish It Sort of Doesn’t Want You to Buy

The Whole Foods grocery chain has reportedly begun putting warning labels on some of the seafood it sells suggesting that customers may not want to buy it. Not because there is any risk to consumers, apparently, but because that species…


Tip: Covering Self in Paint Will Not Deter Taser Use

A man in Cheyenne, Wyoming, expected police to have Tasers when they showed up at his house on a domestic violence call, so he was ready for them. When they arrived, they were confronted with a man covered in white…


Poster for Anti-Infringement Campaign Was Copied, Designer Admits

Taiwan's Intellectual Property Office said it had disqualified Wu Chih-wei and asked him to return the medal and prize money he got for winning the "Protect Copyright" poster-design contest, after Wu admitted he had copied the design he submitted. "The…


On Lawmanship

I just finished a book that I recommend very highly: On Lawmanship by Bullstrode Whitelocke, K.C. Bullstrode, who I consider a close personal friend even though he is fictional, is the greatest practitioner of the law Australia has yet produced,…


From the Docket: Satan’s Employees, Dangerous Doors

These are third-party summaries of a couple of cases filed recently in San Francisco Superior Court. This first one seems to involve a party admission of the kind you just don't get that often: Rabbi ______ v. Mark Hopkins Intercontinental…