Free Republic

The city that pioneered “broken windows” policing is retooling its longtime strategy of trying to reduce serious crime by cracking down on people who commit minor offenses, like public drinking and littering. […] Change can’t come fast enough for people like Manhattan resident Jamal Williams. The 28-year-old was cited by the police two years ago for spitting on the ground outside his East Harlem public housing building. The offense was as minor as they come, but when he forgot to show up for his court date, he became a wanted man. […] But critics say the softer touch will threaten...

WASHINGTON — Day two of the case of the $54 million pants opened much in the same fashion as the trial had begun, with plaintiff Roy Pearson needling specific statutes and interpretations of them, prompting more wasted hours of clarification-seeking from Judge Judy Bartnoff. On the second day, I wore an equally outrageous pair of Lily Pulitzer pants as on Tuesday's court date, and I had a better seat —- in the jury box, just feet away from the action. When Judge Bartnoff came in the courtroom, she caught a glimpse of my pants and smiled. But soon after, Pearson...