Beggar wins free speech case

fortwayne.com ^ | 05/31/07 | AP

[perfect_rovian_storm]

So is pointing a gun at someone and saying “give me all your money”. Oh, well, I guess we’ll just have to give up on all these ‘law’ thingies and just deal with it... /s

[kinoxi]

The beggar had a lawyer.

[Hegemony Cricket]

Judge: So, how do you plead?

Beggar: C’mon, Mister - I know you can spare a dollar - c’mon, buddy - you’ll never even miss it - c’mon, help a brutha out...

[dynachrome]

ping. “Spare change?”

[ClearCase_guy]

Accosting people on the street and begging for money? Protected.

Wearing t-shirts with Bible verses in public school? Forbidden.

[Cicero]

But when Hoffstead, who has been arrested 20 times in Westchester County, read about the case, he asked Birman to bring it up in court.

It wasn't the lawyer who thought of it, it was the beggar. Probably doing some research in the prison library.

What are the odds that this is a hippie beggar, who simply doesn't want to work?

[krb]

Rice's ruling echoed the 1992 decision.

This is Stare decisis in action.

[sourcery]

I guess we’ll just have to give up on all these ‘law’ thingies and just deal with it

The First Ammendment is also a law. You can't respect law by picking and choosing which laws you deign to respect.

Laws have consequences--many of them unintended (as in this case.) That's why laws should be carefully considered, and passed/changed only very infrequently, after much deliberation and consideration. Even more so at the level of the Constitution.

[krb]

That’s a really cool part about America.

[sourcery]

It wasn't the lawyer who thought of it, it was the beggar.

So, beggars can't be choosers--but they can be lawyers!

[kinoxi]

Yes it is.

[Diamond]

The beggar had a lawyer.

What a country. Maybe the beggar is a lawyer, too.

Cordially,

[kinoxi]

Dude, $400 haircuts don't grow on trees man, can you spare a bill?

;)

[Diamond]

LOL!:^)

Cordially,

[TChris]

This is Stare decisis in action.

I guess it's a good thing judges take an oath to uphold stare decisis when sworn in. </sarcasm>

[Right Wing Assault]

So, what if every single person the judge ever meets or passes now asks him for money? Then he might realize the purpose of the ordinance.

Or can we go to his house and ring his doorbell at any time of day and ask for money? Is that legal?

[Famishus]

Brilliant. *applause*

[kinoxi]

Sitting on his car in the morning would most likely yield immediate results.
:)

[Hegemony Cricket]

THANK YEW - I’ll be here all week - try the veal - don’t fergit to tip yer waitress, and then help her back up...