Articles by Kevin

Celery-Throwers Face Charges in Britain

The soccer team Chelsea FC has banned three fans, and says it may press charges against them, for throwing celery onto the soccer pitch during the FA Cup quarter-final on March 19.  Two were arrested at the match; a third…


U.S. Supreme Court Gets All Up in Guam’s Face

In a long-awaited and dramatic decision, the Supreme Court held today, unanimously, that in the context of the Guam Organic Act’s debt-limitation provision, 48 U.S.C. section 1423a, Guam’s debt limitation must be calculated according to the assessed valuation of property…


Officials Report Burqas May Hide More Than Female Form

Someone who shows up at a checkpoint anywhere in the Middle East with strange bulges under their clothing is likely to attract some attention.  (I concede that this could happen anywhere, depending on the nature of the bulge.)  That’s what…


Philippine Police Warned Not to Walk Too Gaily

Police officials in the Philippines were targets for criticism last week for discriminatory comments made by Samuel Pagdilao, chief superintendent and spokesperson for the Philippine National Police.  Pagdilao had warned police that they might be subject to administrative charges for…


Sen. Specter’s Lips Refuse to Participate in Subpoena Vote

Paul Kane of the Washington Post’s "Capitol Briefing" blog wrote recently that although the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Thursday to approve subpoenas for top White House aides in connection with the prosecutor-firing scandal, former committee chairman Arlen Specter appeared…


Googling the Bar

People reach Lowering the Bar in many different ways.  Sometimes the Internet address comes to them in a dream, inscribed in letters of gold on mighty tablets handed to them by a majestically robed spirit guide who looks a little…


Bay City Rollers Reunite for Lawsuit

The Wall Street Journal’s excellent law blog reported this week that the members of the 1970s band "The Bay City Rollers" have filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York seeking royalties from their label, Arista Records. Those…


Opera Singer Successful in Lawsuit by Underwear Collector

New Zealand opera star Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, who is sufficiently famous that even I have heard of her, won a lawsuit this week that had been filed against her by an Australian rock singer, John Farnham.  Arrangements had been…



Ukraine Invaded by Rowing Team

Reuters reported on Tuesday that Ukrainian border guards had halted an invasion from neighboring Belarus, succeeding in part because the invaders were members of the Belarussian national rowing team. According to the report, a Ukrainian coast guard vessel intercepted ten…