Free Republic

Biased juries and politics, rather than an ‘objective view of the law and the facts,’ may dictate whether a defendant is convicted or acquitted.Special Counsel John Durham breached neither ethics nor etiquette when he highlighted the difficulty of obtaining a conviction in a politically charged case when the jury holds opposing partisan views. He merely stated the reality on the ground in D.C.-area federal courts. And by his own actions prosecuting the J6 defendants solely in the nation’s capital, Attorney General Merrick Garland has confirmed that assessment by proving the corollary: Criminal cases against individuals viewed by the local populace...

The retired Florida police captain who fatally shot a man inside a movie theater in 2014 was acquitted of murder by a jury late Friday. Curtis Reeves, 79, was charged with second-degree murder after he gunned down 43-year-old Chad Oulson during a matinee screening of “Lone Survivor” in suburban Pasco County. Defense lawyers and prosecutors were in agreement that Reeves asked Oulson to stop texting during the movie previews — which started an argument that ended with the former Tampa police captain opening fire. Reeves pleaded not guilty on the grounds of self-defense. His lawyers successfully argued that police training...

Texas's new abortion bill will overrun courts with amateur prosecutors avenging wrongs that have not caused them any particularized harm.Texas is the latest state to test the limits of federal abortion jurisprudence by passing the Texas Heartbeat Act, a law severely limiting abortions there. It is part of a trend — a Louisiana abortion law was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2019 and a Mississippi law to ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy is on the docket for next term in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.The Texas law would ban all abortions after the baby’s...

The senate must thoroughly expunge the impeachment from the Congressional Record Democrat prosecutors claim their “right to a fair trial.” An hour before the trial begins, Adam Schiff, the impeachment manager, demanded that the president and House Democrats be given a fair hearing. The problem is, the House Democrats are not being tried—Donald Trump is.

In a city with enlightened leaders, people might commend Rocky and Lisa Cole for finding a way to get by without city water or a top heating system. Unfortunately for the Coles, they live in Fort Hutchinson where government bureaucrats try to force rigid adherence to the city's military like regulations. Hutchinson's hypocritical officials want everyone to obey their regulations, but don't think they need to obey the constitutional provisions defining the judicial power. Hutchinson's municipal court violates both the state and federal constitutions. It doesn't have the constitutional authority to legally fine people, take property or place people in...

Reuters) - A decision to return two Italian marines accused of murdering fishermen to stand trial in India stirred anger in Italy on Friday and calls for Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi to resign. Mario Monti's caretaker government on Thursday reversed a March 11 decision not to send the marines back from a home visit after Rome secured a promise from New Delhi that the two would not face the death penalty if convicted, officials said. The marines, part of a military security team protecting a tanker from piracy, are accused of shooting two fishermen off the coast of Kerala in...

A sober look at the case against George Zimmerman. How do you stand your ground if you are lying on your back getting pummeled in the face? That one question alone shows that Stand Your Ground laws are not at issue in the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin controversy. But the tragic death of young Trayvon is only seen by those on the left as a valuable media opportunity to further exploit the millions of gullible Americans to advance the left's political interests and agenda. Indeed, we have some people in positions of influence, both leading politicians and figures in the major...

AP jerks, link http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9359O4O0&show_article=1

The murder case of pop music legend Phil Spector went to the jury Monday, but not without some final fireworks from the music producer's camp. Before jurors were instructed on how to determine whether Spector is guilty of murdering actress Lana Clarkson, Spector's wife snapped at Judge Larry Paul Fidler after he ordered her to stop speaking to the media. The Los Angeles County Superior Court judge also addressed a news report printed Sunday in which Spector reportedly said Fidler did not like him. Spector's attorneys denied that he had made the remarks. Rachelle Spector, 27, had defended her 67-year-old...

I did not know Bush officials had a right to a fair trial. Hasn't Libby et al been convicted already by the New York Times and CNN?