Free Republic

The fallout is already coming from this year's Supreme Court Caperton decision on judicial bias, and it isn't good. A new rule on judicial recusal in Michigan shows how the decision could expose nearly every judge to charges of prejudice. In Caperton v. Massey, the Supremes set out a new standard requiring judges to recuse themselves if there is a "probability of bias" in a case. That was a marked departure from historical standards, which required a judge to step off primarily when he had a direct financial interest. Under the new rule, created by the Michigan Supreme Court to...

Some American high school students will be taught Chinese language and culture under a $1.4 million program financed by the Beijing government. The Advanced Placement program will be the second of its kind paid for by a foreign government (not counting Saudi Arabia's Wahhabi subsidy of Islamic schools in this country). A similar program underwritten by the Italian government was announced in September. China's ambassador to the United States, Yang Jiechi, and the president of the College Board, former West Virginia Gov. Gaston Caperton, announced the program last week. The College Board will conduct tests to measure course results. At...