Crime and Punishment


Police in South Carolina Town Not Allowed to Chase Suspects

There are many sad examples of innocent bystanders and police officers being injured as a result of high-speed chases, and so it is understandable that some cities might direct officers not to engage in those kinds of pursuits, on the grounds that…


Big Firm Rocked by Tab-Divider Scam

In what is believed to be the largest tab-divider scam yet perpetrated on a large American law firm, three men are accused of defrauding Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati out of $1 million by charging it for tab dividers that were never delivered. …


Malaysian Woman Sentenced to Caning for Drinking Beer

I have been meaning to post on this case for a while, and given yesterday's post on the story of Lubna Hussein, the Sudanese woman punished for wearing pants, now seems like a good time. In July, Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno,…


Sudan Fines Woman Who Dared To Wear Pants

The New York Times reports that a Sudanese woman has been fined the equivalent of $200 after a trial on Monday in which she was found guilty of wearing pants in public.  She was, however, spared the 40 lashes she…


Iraqi Shoe-Thrower to Get Early Release

BAGHDAD — An Iraqi journalist imprisoned for hurling his shoes at former President George W. Bush will be released next month after his sentence was reduced for good behavior, his lawyer said Saturday. Muntadhar al-Zeidi, you may recall, threw both…


Defendant Gone Wild

"He has put a lot of this foolish behavior behind him," said Joe Francis's lawyer in 2007, but guess what? He had plenty left.  Back then, Mr. Francis, who some of you may know as the purveyor of "Girls Gone Wild" videos,…


“I’m With The CIA” Defense Fails Again

Whether or not this defense will work in the context of possible prosecutions for torture enhanced interrogation techniques remains to be seen, but it does not seem likely to help dodge a speeding ticket. Sources reported today that a man caught speeding in Hawkins…



Cat Blamed For Pornography

Police in Florida say a man accused of possessing child pornography has claimed that his cat downloaded the material while he was in the other room.  The officers immediately apologized for the intrusion and everyone laughed about the crazy things…