To Tase or not to Tase

That's the video from Buckley v. Rackard, 292 Fed. Appx. 791 (11th Cir. Sept. 9, 2008). The ACLU is asking for the Supreme Court to take cert. Here is their press release.

Racial issues come up during jury selection in Liberty City trial

The defense is arguing that the prosecutors are striking all the African-American jurors. The prosecution is arguing that the defense is striking all the Hispanic males. Both sides are giving race-neutral reasons for their strikes. Judge Lenard has halted jury selection and has asked for briefs by Tuesday.

Written Testimony

For those that are interested, here is my written testimony to the Sentencing Commission.

Sentencing Commission testimony

I had the pleasure today to testify before the U.S. Sentencing Commission regarding the 25 year anniversary of the Sentencing Reform Act. Here's the agenda of speakers at the regional hearing, and here's an article from the local paper previewing the hearings.

It was pretty interesting. I provided both written testimony (which I will post when I'm back in Miami tonight) and oral testimony, after which I (and the other panelists) answered their questions.

I am in the Atlanta airport now trying to get home, but I will post more about the day later.

La Bamba and owner guilty

Here's the Herald article. Judge Lenard must be breathing a small sigh of relief that she at least got a verdict on the two lead defendants in the case. The jury was out over two weeks and she was in the middle of starting trial #3 in Liberty City 7. But there weren't verdicts across the board -- the jury hung on two of the defendants, after lengthy and heated deliberations. Apparently the jury foreman resigned as foreman during the deliberations... What's in the water in that jury room? Will the government retry the two hung defendants?

Miami Herald : South Florida prosecutor up for dean of FIU's law school

Dean Alex? Check out this link. Sorry for the sloppy post but I am sending this from my Blackberry as I am testifying today before the US Sentencing Commission. More on that later.

Joe Cool

Jury picked.

Opening statements starting up now.

The usual suspects

Jay Weaver has an article this morning about Alex Acosta being asked to stay until the Spring, and about his possible replacement. The usual suspects are listed: David Buckner, Curt Miner, Jackie Becerra, Mark Schnapp, Willie Ferrer, and Daryl Trawick.