Monday news and notes (updated)

Update-- the Sentencing website has been re-hacked and is now the game Asteroids. I would have preferred Galaga...


Sorry for the slow blogging lately.  Hopefully will be back in full blogging mode soon.  In the meantime, here's what's up:

1.  The Sentencing Commission website was hacked by Anonymous (it's back up now).  From Anonymous' statement:

Last year the Federal Bureau of Investigation revelled in porcine glee at its successful infiltration of certain elements of Anonymous. This infiltration was achieved through the use of the *same tactics which lead to Aaron Swartz' death. It would not have been possible were it not for the power of federal prosecutors to thoroughly destroy the lives of any hacktivists they apprehend through the very real threat of highly disproportionate sentencing.
As a result of the FBI's infiltration and entrapment tactics, several more of our brethren now face similar disproportionate persecution, the balance of their lives hanging on the severely skewed scales of a broken justice system.
We have felt within our hearts a burning rage in reaction to these events, but we have not allowed ourselves to be drawn into a foolish and premature response. We have bidden our time, operating in the shadows, adapting our tactics and honing our abilities. We have allowed the FBI and its masters in government -- both the puppet and the shadow government that controls it -- to believe they had struck a crippling blow to our infrastructure, that they had demoralized us, paralyzed us with paranoia and fear. We have held our tongue and waited.
With Aaron's death we can wait no longer. The time has come to show the United States Department of Justice and its affiliates the true meaning of infiltration. The time has come to give this system a taste of its own medicine. The time has come for them to feel the helplessness and fear that comes with being forced into a game where the odds are stacked against them.
This website was chosen due to the symbolic nature of its purpose -- the federal sentencing guidelines which enable prosecutors to cheat citizens of their constitutionally-guaranteed right to a fair trial, by a jury of their peers -- the federal sentencing guidelines which are in clear violation of the 8th amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishments. This website was also chosen due to the nature of its visitors. It is far from the only government asset we control, and we have exercised such control for quite some time...

2.  The D.C. Circuit says no to recess appointments.  It will be interesting to see how this plays out.  The case will certainly go to the Supremes.  Remember that a recess appointment was used with Judge Pryor, but he was eventually confirmed by the full Senate 53-45, so the case has no bearing on him.

3.  Speaking of the 11th Circuit,  Chief Judge Joel F. Dubina, will be the keynote speaker at a PBCBA membership luncheon on February 1 at 11:45 a.m. at the Marriott West Palm Beach. He will be speaking regarding the inner workings of the 11^th Circuit and how things work behind the scenes. The luncheon will be co-hosted by the Palm Beach County Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the Bankruptcy Bar Association for the Southern District of Florida.

 

President George H.W. Bush appointed Chief Judge Dubina to the 11^th Circuit in 1990 and he was appointed as Chief Judge in 2009. Judge Dubina previously served as a U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama from 1986-1990. He received his B.S. from the University of Alabama and his J.D. from Cumberland School of Law. Pre-registration for this luncheon is required and can be done on the Bar's website by clicking here.