Tuesday, January 31, 2017

SC grants protection to petitioners vs 'Oplan Tokhang' | Inquirer News





"x x x

The Supreme Court has issued a protection order to the families of victims and a survivor of “Tokhang” operations in Payatas, Quezon City.

During Tuesday’s en banc session, the high court said the temporary protection order prohibits the respondents to go within one kilometer of the petitioners.

The order is part of the writ of amparo petition which was granted by the high court.

The SC also ordered the respondents to make a verified return of the writ before the Court of Appeals within five working days from notice.

The Court of Appeals on the other hand is ordered to conduct a hearing and decide the case within 10 days after submission for decision.

The writ of amparo petition, which is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty and security is violated or threatened, urged the high court to protect the families of the Tokhang victims from continued harassment and intimidation by the police.

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CBCP: “The process of amending the Constitution should not be left to politicians or to those who either by election or appointment will be tasked to draft the amendments… The Constitution is the single most important document of our country. The Filipinos are the author of this document.”





"x x x.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has urged its flock to take part in amending the 1987 Constitution to ensure that democracy, human rights and the sanctity of the family are upheld.

In a pastoral letter issued on Tuesday, the country’s bishops also maintained their firm opposition to attempts to impose a “dictatorial martial rule” in the country.

“Let us continue to maintain the safeguards against dictatorial martial rule that our present Constitution contains,” the CBCP said in its three-page pastoral letter, “Amending the Constitution.”

The bishops likewise highlighted the need to study the issue of federalism, which President Duterte has been actively pushing for.

Federalism, as well as the country’s sovereignty, respect for human rights, the death penalty, and the sanctity of the family were among the issues raised in the three-page pastoral letter.

CBCP president and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas noted that the clamor for federalism “stems from the dissatisfaction of many people with the lack of equitable distribution of benefits, power and financial resources in our present unitary system.”

“Do we need to change from our present unitary system to a federal system of government? Or will it suffice to introduce amendments and laws which will make the present unitary system responsive to the needs of disadvantaged regions?” he asked.

The CBCP, through Villegas, issued the pastoral letter after its three-day plenary assembly over the weekend.

The Filipino bishops discussed issues such as moves to reimpose the death penalty for heinous crimes, the government’s war on illegal drugs and the spate of extra-judicial killings, federalism, and the proliferation of trolls and fake news on social media.

In its pastoral letter, the CBCP said it was not endorsing or disapproving moves to amend the 1987 Constitution as being pushed by Duterte, but to offer pastoral guidance to its flock.

The CBCP stressed the need to assert that “sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them,” adding that “public office is a public trust.”

“Let us not allow any public official to act as if he is the master of the people, for a person is elected or appointed to public office to be a servant of the people,” the pastoral letter pointed out.

The bishops urged the public to be vigilant in ensuring that the provisions in the 1987 Constitution on respecting human rights and the sanctity of the family as a basic social institution, are upheld.

“We urge you to get involved in the process of amending the Constitution so that all its provisions will be consistent with the Gospel, and the gains of the 1987 Constitution will be preserved and enhanced, instead of being removed,” it said.

The bishops also emphasized provisions in the 1987 Constitution guaranteeing full respect for human rights, particularly the Bill of Rights.

“Let us ensure that provisions of our Bill of Rights are preserved, especially, ‘No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws,’” it said.

“Likewise very important is the prohibition of the death penalty, which we advocate to be made absolute,” the letter added.

The Church also asserted its pro-life stance as it called for the protection of the provision in which “the state shall equally protect the life of the mother and the unborn from conception.”

The CBCP urged the faithful to safeguard constitutional provisions on the sanctity of the family as a basic autonomous social institution.

The bishops pointed out that they supported the ratification of the 1987 Constitution, while acknowledging its imperfections.

The CBCP added that the drafting of a Constitution and its amendments concern all Filipinos, and that such amendments should be consistent with the Gospel and promote the common good.

“The process of amending the Constitution should not be left to politicians or to those who either by election or appointment will be tasked to draft the amendments… The Constitution is the single most important document of our country. The Filipinos are the author of this document,” they said.

Those who are tasked to draft or amend it, the bishops stressed, are not the authors but the instruments of the Filipinos, and that it only becomes valid upon the people’s approval.

“We must be vigilant and watch over, and even suggest ideas and formulations that enter into the Constitution. We have to make sure that the resulting document embodies ‘our rights, our ideals, our aspirations, and our dreams,’” the letter stressed. JE/rga

x x x."

Philippines president suspends controversial anti-drug campaign



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[JURIST] Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte [official website], who was elected last May after campaigning on a promise to be extremely harsh on drug users [JURIST report], announced the suspension of the island nation's "war on drugs" [statement] during a press conference Sunday night. In a statement to reporters on Monday, Philippines National Police [official website] chief Ronald dela Rosa confirmed [Rappler report] that Duterte's decision would mean the abrupt dissolution of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group [website], which some media outlets have accused [Rappler report] being connected to more than 6,000 killings. Duterte's announcement comes after the highly publicized murder of Jee Ick-joo, a South Korean businessman who was taken from his home in the Philippines, allegedly by rogue high-ranking anti-drug officials, and held for ransom. Jee was then strangled to death, cremated and flushed down a toilet, according to Duterte in an apology to South Korea.
The announcement comes just weeks after Duterte threatened [JURIST report] to implement martial law to deal with the country's drug issue. During his campaign, Duterte said that 100,000 people would die [Guardian report] in his crackdown on crime. Since Duterte has taken office, more than 400 suspected drug dealers have been killed and 600,000 have surrendered to the police. In October the International Criminal Court [official website] expressed concern [JURIST report] over the rising occurrence of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines in connection with the ongoing war on drugs. In September Duterte declared a "state of lawlessness" [JURIST report] in the Philippines, which would allow police and military personnel to frisk individuals and search cars. In August Duterte threatened to withdraw [JURIST report] the country from the UN following criticisms against his controversial crackdown on illegal drugs.
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17 state AGs denounce Trump immigration order



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[JURIST] The attorneys general of 16 states, plus the District of Columbia, issued a joint statement [text] on Sunday calling US President Donald Trump's [official profile] executive order [text] on immigration "un-American." The attorneys general pledged to "work together to ensure the federal government obeys the Constitution, respects our history as a nation of immigrants, and does not unlawfully target anyone because of their national origin or faith." The attorneys general from California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and Washington originally signed [Reuters report] the statement. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin [official website] showed support for the statement via Twitter and added his name. As of yet, no attorneys general have stated they will file a lawsuit challenging the order. They say they will work to minimize suffering until the executive order is struck down by the judiciary.

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Trump signs executive order to cut federal regulations



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[JURIST] US President Donald Trump [official profile] on Monday signed an executive order [text] aimed at reducing the number of federal regulations. The executive order requires two regulations to be eliminated for every new one created and caps the costs of new regulations, which, according to White House officials, will spur economic growth. According to the executive order:
Unless prohibited by law, whenever an executive department or agency publicly proposes for notice and comment or otherwise promulgates a new regulation, it shall identify at least two existing regulations to be repealed. [Furthermore], for fiscal year 2017, which is in progress, the heads of all agencies are directed that the total incremental cost of all new regulations, including repealed regulations, to be finalized this year shall be no greater than zero.
x x x." 

UN rights expert condemns murder of Muslim lawyer in Myanmar


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[JURIST] UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee [official profile] on Monday strongly condemned the murder of Muslim lawyer Ko Ni, who was shot to death on Sunday outside of an airport in Myanmar. In a press release Lee said [text] "I am shocked to the core by the senseless killing of a highly respected and knowledgeable individual, whom I have met during all of my visits to the country." The lawyer, who worked as the legal adviser to the National League for Democracy [advocacy website], was shot while holding his grandchild. Lee called on the Myanmar government to condemn the killing and thoroughly investigate. A suspect has been taken into custody [BBC report], but no motive has been determined.

x x x."

Report: record number of data breaches in 2016



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[JURIST] The number of data breaches and files stolen worldwide reached a record high in 2016, according to cyber security firm Risk Based Security [corporate website] Monday. Inga Goddijn [official Twitter], Risk Based Security's vice president, stated [UPI report] that "while the number of data breaches actually remained relatively flat from last year, the big story coming out of 2016 is obviously the massive increase in the number of records exposed." The report [text, PDF] by Risk Based Security revealed that breaches at FriendFinder Networks, Myspace and Yahoo accounted for more than 2.2 billion records compromised and that Yahoo alone reported 500,000 records breached in one incident and more than a billion in another. The US and Britain represented more than half of all data breach cases reported last year. Less than 20 percent of breaches were the result of insider activity, and hacking continued to dominate as the leading breach type. Stolen laptops, which were once a primary cause of data compromise, accounted for only 1.6 percent of breaches.

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UN urges Trump not to reinstate torture policies



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[JURIST] Nils Melzer, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, on Monday urged [press release] US President Donald Trump [official website] not to reinstate torture policies. Melzer referenced the 2014 US Senate Intelligence Committee Report [text, PDF], which stated that the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) [official website] use of "enhanced interrogation techniques was not an effective means of acquiring intelligence" and "rested on inaccurate claims of their effectiveness." Melzer criticized Trump's pledge to reinstate torture by claiming that "waterboarding" is a form of torture, that the use of torture is not legally or morally acceptable, and that the use of torture is prohibited by the Convention against Torture, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [texts] and the Geneva Conventions [ICRC backgrounder]. Melzer concluded:
If the new Administration were to revive the use of torture, however, the consequences around the world would be catastrophic. ... Should Mr. Trump follow through on all of his pledges, more countries are likely to follow his lead and get back into the torture business—an ultimate disgrace for all of humanity.
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The Economic Case for Tax Havens

Tax Havens: Myths vs. Facts

The new tax havens

Duterte is Sanctioning Murder in the Philippines

The Panama Papers: Secrets Of The Super Rich

21st Century Cons

The Man Who Knew

Dot Con (Frontline 2002)

Is the Age of Criminal Responsibility in New York too Low?

PBS Frontline 2013 The Retirement Gamble

Frontline : Money, Power and Wall Street (Documentary)

Supreme Court sacks 17 judges - The Manila Times Online




"x x x.

xxx Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said the high tribunal had aggressively exercised its disciplinary powers, resulting in the dismissal of 16 judges and a justice.

The highest official dismissed under Sereno was Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Gregory Ong, who was linked to the pork barrel scam. The benefits of the judges were forfeited, she said.

The high court has also suspended 14 judges, fined 101, reprimanded 21 and admonished 31.

x x x.

As for personnel of the first- and second-level courts, the 15-man high tribunal has sacked 116 employees, admonished 42, forfeited benefits of 35, censured three, fined 240, reprimanded 221 and suspended 227 since 2010.

These figures covered the stint of then chief justice Renato Corona beginning May 2010 until his conviction by the Senate Impeachment Court in May 2012. Sereno succeeded Corona on August 24, 2012.

As for members of the Philippine Bar, the court has disbarred 40 lawyers, suspended 22 from the practice of law, and suspended 33 from the practice of law and notarial practice as of September 2016.

A total of 803 lawyers have been penalized since 2012, Sereno said. Of the total, 11 lawyers were suspended from notarial practice, 38 were reprimanded, three were fined and reprimanded, 86 were admonished, three were censured, 8 were warned, 33 were fined and warned, 18 were ordered arrested and one was dropped and stricken off the roll of attorneys.

x x x."

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

DOJ: Chicago police routinely violated rights



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[JURIST] The US Department of Justice (DOJ) [official website] reported [press release] on Friday that it found evidence supporting that the Chicago Police Department (CPD) [official website] engages in a pattern of using force, including deadly force, in violation of the Fourth Amendment. The DOJ reported that CPD officers unnecessarily endanger themselves resulting in the use of unnecessary force. According to the DOJ, a lack of adequate training and accountability cause the pattern of force. Attorney General Loretta Lynch [official website] stated:
One of my highest priorities as Attorney General has been to ensure that every American enjoys police protection that is lawful, responsive, and transparent. Sadly, our thorough investigation into the CPD found that far too many residents of this proud city have not received that kind of policing. The resulting deficit in trust and accountability is not just bad for residents—it's also bad for dedicated police officers trying to do their jobs safely and effectively.
Both the city of Chicago [official website] and the DOJ have signed an agreement to work together to engage the community and create a consent decree addressing the deficiencies found during the investigation, which will be reviewed by an independent monitor.
The DOJ announced [JURIST report] last year that it would be opening a full investigation into the CPD following the release of a 2014 squad car dashboard video showing officer Jason Van Dyke shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times. Recently, police use of force has been a controversial issue across the US. In October three former detainees filed a lawsuit [JURIST report] against the City of Chicago and a number of Chicago police officers for alleged abuse at an "off the books" detention center. In September a Ferguson, Missouri, reform panel released a report calling for the consolidation of police departments [JURIST report] and municipal courts. Also that month Baltimore City Circuit Judge Barry Williams rejected motions [JURIST report] to drop charges against six police officers implicated in the case of Freddie Gray, a black man who was injured in police custody and later died. The American Civil Liberties Union also published a report [JURIST report] arguing that increased militarization of police forces is putting citizens at risk rather than protecting them.
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Federal lawsuit filed over Chicago police cellphone tracking system



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[JURIST] Loevy and Loevy [official website], a civil rights law firm, filed a federal lawsuit [complaint, PDF] Thursday challenging the use of a secret cellphone tracking system by the Chicago Police Department [official website]. The suit was filed on behalf of attorney Jerry Boyle, a volunteer for the National Lawyers Guild [advocacy website], who claims police intercepted information from his cellphone at a Black Lives Matter protest for Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2015. Boyle claims that, as a result of the interception, his Fourth and First Amendment rights were violated. The tracking system in question is known as a "stingray." Stingrays are devices which, by mimicking the function of a cell tower, can be used to determine a mobile phone's location and intercept calls and text messages from both the target phone and other nearby devices.
Stringrays have received differing treatment. In November the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled [opinion, PDF] against a criminal defendant challenging the use of a stingray by Wisconsin police to locate him without a warrant. The court concluded, "[a] person wanted on probable cause (and an arrest warrant) who is taken into custody in a public place, where he had no legitimate expectation of privacy, cannot complain about how the police learned his location." In 2014 the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts held [JURIST report] that law enforcement must obtain a warrant before using means such as stingrays to track a criminal suspects movements. In 2013 the New Jersey Supreme Court also ruled [JURIST report] that police must obtain warrants before tracking information from cell phone providers. As the dissent in the Wisconsin ruling notes, very little is known about stingrays and how they function. The dissent claims this is largely due to the government's refusal to reveal any information about the device and has, at times, dismissed cases and withdrawn evidence rather than reveal any information. All past cases concerning the use of stingray have been in a criminal context. Boyle's suit will be the first to approach stingray use through a civil claim.
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UN rights chief calls on business leaders to oppose human rights violations



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[JURIST] UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein [official profile] on Friday asked business leaders meeting in Davos at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting to use their influence to prevent human rights violations in countries where they operate. Zeid cited concerns over the increase in divisive politics and hatred of those who are already vulnerable to oppression in his remarks. Zeid said the current conditions of human rights and business are interrelated as efficient business requires a stable society. Praise was given to corporations who spoke out against media outlets that promoted hateful and xenophobic messages, and all leaders in attendance were asked to ensure their companies operated in keeping with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights [UN Human Rights report, PDF].
World leaders have become increasingly concerned with the potential for human rights violation in the wake of a surge in populist leaders in Europe and the US [JURIST report]. In October, the International Criminal Court expressed concern [JURIST report] over the rising occurrence of extrajudicial killings and potential human rights violations in the Philippines. In January the Obama administration expanded sanctions [JURIST report] against North Korea for alleged human rights violations including sexual violence, deliberate starvation, severe beatings, forced abortions and secret executions. Also in January, Saudi Arabia arrested two human rights advocates [JURIST report] without responding to Human Rights Watch's request to disclose the reasons for their detention.
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Randy E. Barnett on Justice and Law





"Randy E. Barnett is a lawyer and legal theorist, and a Senior Fellow of the Cato Institute and the Goldwater Institute. He also teaches constitutional law and contracts at Georgetown University Law Center.


In this lecture, given in 1991 in Aix-en-Provence, France, Barnett talks about justice, the law, and the relationship between the two. He starts by defining both terms and listing three possible relationships between the two: either there is no relationship at all between a rights-based concept of justice and the law, justice is higher than the law (or the law arises out of defined principles of justice), or justice is equal to the law and both concepts serve each other in practice. Barnett dismantles two of these possible relationships and concludes that legal orders must impart legitimacy on the law by making laws that are compatible with higher concepts of justice, but are not solely dependent on justice because the law is also reliant on convention in practice.

Download the .mp3 version of this lecture here: http://bit.ly/PruDcZ

Note: This lecture was delivered to a mostly French-speaking audience. 'Liberal' in French should be considered to translate as 'classical liberal' or 'libertarian' in modern American parlance."

Monday, January 16, 2017

Philippines president signs reproductive health measure



"x x x.

[JURIST] Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte [BBC profile] signed [press release] an executive order Wednesday advocating for reproductive health measures in the country. The order [text, PDF] is entitled "Attaining and Sustaining Zero Unmet Need for Modern Family Planning Through the Strict Implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act, Providing Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes." The aim of the act is to allow women greater access to contraceptives and other health measures, which will grant them better control over their reproductive health and family size. Durerte hopes the bill will guide families to best provide for their children. The press release mentioned hopes that the act will aid in the relief of poverty in the nation.

x x x."

UN Special Rapporteur Michel Frost will visit Mexico [UN report] for the first time to assess the safety of human rights defenders



"x x x.

[JURIST] UN Special Rapporteur Michel Frost will visit Mexico [UN report] for the first time to assess the safety of human rights defenders, according to a statement Wednesday. Frost's visit will take place from January 16 to 24, during which he will visit Mexico City, Chihuahua, Guerrero, Oaxaca and the state of Mexico. "My goal is to take the pulse of Mexican rights defenders, understand their situation, hear about their challenges, and come up with concrete ideas to bolster Government's efforts," Frost said of his planned visit. He will present his preliminary findings and recommendations during a press conference that is scheduled for the end of his mission. Frost was the Director General of Amnesty International (France) [advocacy website] as well as the former UN Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Haiti. He was also the Secretary General of the first World Summit on Human Rights Defenders in 1998.
Mexico has received criticism from multiple human rights organizations for its handling of human rights abuses, as forced disappearances and military violence have come to international attention. Earlier this year in August 22 civilians were "arbitrarily executed" [JURIST report] in Michoacan. In May the UN called upon [JURIST report] Mexico to investigate human rights violations following the death of 22 people, including at least 12 summary executions. In April three UN human rights experts pleaded [JURIST report] with Mexican authorities to support human rights groups facing extreme criticism in the national media. In 2015 Human Rights Watch [advocacy website] reported [press release] that there is evidence of recent unlawful police killings in Mexico. The report suggested that police action which left eight civilians dead in the city of Apatzingán on January 6, and 42 civilians and one police officer dead in Tanhuato on May 22 was an "excessive use of force against unarmed civilians." That same year, the Miguel Agustin Pro human rights center [official website] in Mexico announced that there is evidence that high-ranking Mexican officers gave soldiers orders to kill criminals prior to an army mass slaying of suspected cartel members in June 2014. In 2013 the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns [official website], urged Mexico's government [JURIST report] to better protect against human rights abuses, specifically with respect to the military's use of force against civilians.
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ACLU of Hawaii files complaint with DOJ over conditions in jails



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[JURIST] The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Hawaii [advocacy website] has filed a complaint [text, PDF] with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) [official website], stating that overcrowding in the state correctional facilities is resulting in violations of the prisoners' Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The complaint, filed Friday, shows that there is overcrowding in seven out of the nine correctional centers owned and operated by Hawaii. These seven facilities are at between 121 and 203 percent of capacity in terms of head count. The overcrowding is allegedly resulting in inmates not being given adequate safe shelter, protection from harm, sanitation, food, and medical and mental health care. The ACLU argues this violates the inmates' Eighth Amendment rights by depriving them of "minimal civilized measure of life's necessities in a manner that is objectively, sufficiently serious" and "prison officials act with deliberate indifference to inmates' safety." The ACLU also contends the Fourteenth Amendment rights of the many pre-trial detainees who are also housed in these facilities are being violated as well. Instead of increasing the capacity of the facilities, ACLU of Hawaii has suggested [press release] that Hawaii instead take efforts to decrease the number of prisoners by decreasing the pre-trial detainees who are held at the facilities for not being able to pay bail, and by passing reforms that decrease the number of people in prison, as was done in Alaska, New Jersey, California, Utah and Oklahoma.
The treatment of prisoners and prison reform [JURIST podcast] has been a growing concern in the US for years. In February the California Supreme Court ruled [JURIST report] that the state governor's plan for prison overcrowding could be placed on the state ballot. In January 2015 the US Supreme Court ruled that a landmark decision banning mandatory sentences of life without parole for juveniles should apply retroactively [JURIST report]. A federal court in February 2015 approved [JURIST report] a settlement agreement between the Arizona Department of Corrections and the ACLU in a class action lawsuit over the health care system within Arizona prisons. Also in February 2015 rights group Equal Justice Under Law filed suit [JURIST report] against the cities of Ferguson and Jennings, Missouri, for their practice of jailing citizens who fail to pay debts owed to the city for minor offenses and traffic tickets. The ACLU and the ACLU of Texas released a report in 2014 exposing [JURIST report] the results of a multi-year investigation into conditions at five Criminal Alien Requirement prisons in Texas.
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Richard Ebeling: The Case for Free Trade and Open Immigration









Richard Ebeling: The Case for Free Trade and Open Immigration

Richard Ebeling: The Case for Free Trade and Open Immigration









Richard Ebeling: The Case for Free Trade and Open Immigration

David Boaz: "Socialism vs Capitalism"





"On March 31, 2014 David Boaz presented the above speech as part of the ongoing Economic Liberty Lecture Series, a joint project of The Future of Freedom Foundation and the George Mason University Economics Society.

David Boaz is the executive vice president of the Cato Institute and has played a key role in the development of the Cato Institute and the libertarian movement. He is a provocative commentator and a leading authority on domestic issues such as education choice, drug legalization, the growth of government, and the rise of libertarianism."

Mark Kleiman - Which Drugs Should Be Legal? How Legal Should They Be?





""Which Drugs Should Be Legal? How Legal Should They Be?"

Mark Kleiman

Professor of Public Policy, UCLA

September 20, 2012



Mark Kleiman is Professor of Public Policy in the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. This fall he is Visiting Professor at the University of Virginia's Batten School of Leadership and Policy, and a Visiting Fellow at the National Institute of Justice. He teaches courses on methods of policy analysis and on drug abuse and crime control. Mr. Kleiman edits the Journal of Drug Policy Analysis and serves on the Committee on Law and Justice of the National Research Council. He is the author of When Brute Force Fails: How to Have Less Crime and Less Punishment and co-author (with Angela Hawken and Jonathan Caulkins) of Drugs and Drug Policy and (with Hawken, Caulkins, and Beau Kilmer) of Marijuana Legalization. Previous books include Against Excess: Drug Policy for Results and Marijuana: Costs of Abuse, Costs of Control. In addition to his academic work, Mr. Kleiman provides advice on crime control and drug policy to governments here and abroad. He has held policy positions with the U.S. Department of Justice and the City of Boston."

Mark Kleiman & Paul Romer: How to Have Less Crime & Less Punishment





"UCLA Professor of Public Policy Mark Kleiman and NYU University Professor Paul Romer discuss crime and punishment in the United States.

The United States has about four times the homicide rate, and about six times the incarceration rate, of Canada or Western Europe. Both problems are concentrated in cities, and among the socially and economically disadvantaged. Crime is down dramatically over the past two decades, but the prison headcount remains at near-record levels. What is to be done?"

Drugs is not a constitutional basis to declare martial law. Yet Duterte continues to threaten martial law to combat the drug problem.





"x x x.

[JURIST] The Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said he plans to declare martial law [Reuters report] if the country's drug problem becomes "very virulent." Duterte, who recently called reports that he intended to institute martial law "nonsense," has made a concerted effort to combat drugs in the country, a campaign which has resulted in the killing of 6,000 people and the arrest of over 1 million drug traffickers and users. Specifically, Duterte said "[i]f I wanted to, and it will deteriorate into something very virulent, I will declare martial law," and, in reference to the Supreme Court and Congress, he said "[n]o one can stop me." The current crackdown on criminal activities in the Philippines has been Duterte's central focus since he entered office last year.

During his campaign, Duterte said that 100,000 people would die [Guardian report] in his crackdown on crime. Since Duterte has taken office, more than 400 suspected drug dealers have been killed and 600,000 have surrendered to the police. In October the International Criminal Court [official website] expressed concern [JURIST report] over the rising occurrence of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines in connection with the ongoing war on drugs. In September Duterte declared a "state of lawlessness" [JURIST report] in the Philippines, which would allow police and military personnel to frisk individuals and search cars. In August Duterte named [JURIST report] 150 serving and former state officials connected to the nation's illegal drug trade and ordered them to either surrender to the authorities or risk being hunted down. Duterte has stated that he disregards criticisms from the UN and human rights groups. Also in August Duterte threatened to withdraw [JURIST report] the country from the UN following criticisms against his controversial crackdown on illegal drugs.

x x x."

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Rule of Law Lecture Series

See -

"The Hon Kevin Lindgren AM QC, discusses the definition of the rule of law and its relationship with human rights. Professor Lindgren's 2013 paper is not available at: http://www.ruleoflaw.org.au/kevin-lin..."

Annulment & Legal Separation

See -

Annulment & Legal Separation

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: origins and importance

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The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: origins and importance

The Real CSI: Forensic Pathology and Death Investigation

See -


"(Visit: http://www.uctv.tv/) CSI television programs with their medical examiners have introduced the public to all causes of death. Dr. Judy Melinek is a forensic pathologist practicing forensic medicine in San Francisco and Alameda County, California, as well as an Associate Clinical Professor of Pathology at the UCSF Medical Center. She explores the differences between medical examiner and a coroner and looks at some real world cases. Warning: Some of the images are graphic. Recorded on 03/19/2014. Series: "UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine presents Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 27893]."

The Philippine State: A Portrait of a Failed Sovereignty by Dean Merlin ...

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The Second UP Law Centennial Lecture on "The Philippine State: A Portrait of a Failed Sovereignty" by Dean Merlin M. Magallona.

Concerns and Emerging Trends in Family Law | Justice Flerida Ruth Romero

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Concerns and Emerging Trends in Family Law | Justice Flerida Ruth Romero
University of the Philippines College of Law

Criminal Procedure tutorial: Searches and Seizures - Part I | quimbee.com

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"A brief excerpt from part one of Quimbee's tutorial video on searches and seizures under the Fourth Amendment. Watch more at https://www.quimbee.com/courses/crimi....

This video is just one of 22 videos in our "Criminal Procedure" course. In this tutorial, learn about the structure and operation of the Fourth Amendment’s protections against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.

"Criminal Procedure" table of contents:

Fourth Amendment I

+ Introduction to the Fourth Amendment
+ Searches and Seizures I
+ Searches and Seizures II
+ Warrants I
+ Warrants II
+ Warrants III

Fourth Amendment II

+ Exceptions to the Warrant Requirement I
+ Exceptions to the Warrant Requirement II
+ Exceptions to the Warrant Requirement III
+ Confessions and Right to Counsel

Interrogations and the Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel

+ Miranda Doctrine I
+ Miranda Doctrine II
+ Miranda Doctrine III

Exclusionary Rule

+ Limitations on the Fourth Amendment Exclusionary Rule
+ Derivative Evidence and the Fourth Amendment: Fruit of the Poisonous Tree
+ Derivative Evidence and Miranda
+ Exceptions to Miranda's Exclusionary Rule
+ "Coerced" Confessions and Due Process

Investigation, Prosecution, and Trial

+ Line-ups, Eyewitness Identifications, and Investigatory Custodial Detentions
+ Right to Appointed Counsel
+ Right to Effective Counsel
+ Privilege Against Self-Incrimination."

Constitutional Law, Fourth Edition (Aspen Casebook) 4th Edition

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Constitutional Law, Fourth Edition (Aspen Casebook) 4th Edition:
- http://amzn.to/1UIg4DE

Criminal Law 101 lectures

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"Learn the basics regarding criminal law in the Twin Cities. View the training materials here: http://callforjustice.org/legal-refer...

Facebook: http://ow.ly/x1r6k
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Call4JusticeLLC
Donate Today: http://ow.ly/Bzy73

xxx.

The following video documents a training session on Criminal Law basics that took place on April 19, 2013 in Bloomington, Minnesota. The training was arranged by Call for Justice, LLC, a Twin Cities-based non-profit that works to connect low-income people with legal resources. Part of our work is to train United Way 2-1-1 on the various Twin Cities legal resources."

Elementary Dilemmas in Philippine Tort Law | Prof. Rommel J. Casis

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Elementary Dilemmas in Philippine Tort Law | Prof. Rommel J. Casis
University of the Philippines College of Law

LLB Law: Self Defence

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"Dr David Lowe delivers another lively criminal law lecture, covering defences of necessity, duress per minus and duress of circumstances."

Why lawyers matter: Marvic Leonen at TEDxDiliman

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"Shakespeare wrote, "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers." Contrary to what many may think, this line was actually intended to praise the lawyer's role.

One of his characters in ''Henry VI,'' - Dick the Butcher - was a rebel who thought that by disrupting law and order, and sowing chaos -- in this case, by killing all the lawyers - he could become king. Shakespeare clearly then meant his statement as a compliment to attorneys and judges -- recognizing their important role in justice and in society.

We're not sure if Shakespeare was a lawyer. But Marvic Leonen is most likely better versed on the question of why lawyers matter. He has molded and helped to create lawyers for all of his professional life, as a practitioner and advocate, as a teacher and dean of the UP College of Law, and now as the youngest justice of the Philippine Supreme Court.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)."

Real English: What you need to know if you're going to court

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"Have you ever broken the law? Today, I'm going to teach you courtroom vocabulary. It's important to know the law so that you know your rights and know how to stay out of trouble. If you do end up in court, you need to know what to expect and how to communicate politely and intelligently so that you get the best outcome. The vocabulary and expressions you'll learn will help you understand what is happening in courtrooms on television shows and movies, as well as if you have to appear in court yourself. Court isn't just for hardened criminals -- sometimes we have to go to court for "misdemeanours"-- small crimes like parking violations and littering, or you may have to go to court because of a lawsuit or as part of your job. In this video, I'll discuss different strategies that will help you speak with the people you'll meet in court -- lawyers, judges, and police officers. My best advice is to stay out of trouble, know how to talk to the police, and be informed if you have to go to court.
http://www.engvid.com/real-english-wh..."

Justice: What's The Right Thing To Do? Episode 01 "THE MORAL SIDE OF MUR...

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"x x x.

PART ONE: THE MORAL SIDE OF MURDER
If you had to choose between (1) killing one person to save the lives of five others and (2) doing nothing even though you knew that five people would die right before your eyes if you did nothing—what would you do? What would be the right thing to do? Thats the hypothetical scenario Professor Michael Sandel uses to launch his course on moral reasoning. After the majority of students votes for killing the one person in order to save the lives of five others, Sandel presents three similar moral conundrums—each one artfully designed to make the decision more difficult. As students stand up to defend their conflicting choices, it becomes clear that the assumptions behind our moral reasoning are often contradictory, and the question of what is right and what is wrong is not always black and white.

PART TWO: THE CASE FOR CANNIBALISM

Sandel introduces the principles of utilitarian philosopher, Jeremy Bentham, with a famous nineteenth century legal case involving a shipwrecked crew of four. After nineteen days lost at sea, the captain decides to kill the weakest amongst them, the young cabin boy, so that the rest can feed on his blood and body to survive. The case sets up a classroom debate about the moral validity of utilitarianism—and its doctrine that the right thing to do is whatever produces "the greatest good for the greatest number."

x x x."

"How to Read a Case" with UVA Law Professor Anne Coughlin

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"How to Read a Case" with UVA Law Professor Anne Coughlin
- University of Virginia School of Law

Good Lawyer, Bad Lawyer: What Makes the Difference?

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Good Lawyer, Bad Lawyer: What Makes the Difference?
- @SyracuseLaw

Lawyer documentary - YouTube

See - Lawyer documentary - YouTube

"x x x.

A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law. Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political and social authority, and deliver justice. Working as a lawyer involves the practical application of abstract legal theories and knowledge to solve specific individualized problems, or to advance the interests of those who retain lawyers to perform legal services.

The role of the lawyer varies significantly across legal jurisdictions, and so it can be treated here in only the most general terms

x x x."