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1/2/26 Capping a turbulent year in which the Supreme Court was repeatedly
blasted for favoring the "Reds," Chief Justice John Roberts emphasized that judicial impartiality
is key. "Those of us in the third branch must continue to decide the cases before us according to
our oath, doing equal right to the poor and to the rich, and performing all of our duties
faithfully and impartially..." He didn't address why decisions in ideologically-charged cases
consistently take the form of 6-3.
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L.A., Chicago and Portland can rest easy. President Trump announced that these cities
no longer need Federalized National Guard troops, as their deployment "greatly reduced" crime. So
he's pulling them out. He didn't mention whether his decision was affected by the Supreme Court's
recent ruling, which requires that the President have "statutory or constitutional authority" to
use military force and constrains the deployment of non-Federal troops.
Related post
According to recent testimony by former Special Counsel Jack Smith, the storming of the Capitol
"does not happen without him" - meaning then-candidate Donald Trump. Smith's investigation led
to Trump's indictment for attempting to rig the election, but it was dismissed once he regained the
Presidency. In his statement to the (very "Red") House Judiciary Committee, Smith vigorously resisted
any notion that he and his colleagues were politically motivated. "I entirely disagree with any
characterization that our work was in any way meant to hamper him in the presidential election."
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12/31/25 Kidnaps, shootings, illegal gun
sales and drug trafficking. That, according to the Feds, is what the twenty members of L.A.'s
"Puente-13 gang," a Mexican Mafia affiliate, had been up to over the years. But no more. Following
an intensive investigation, seventeen are in custody, and the other three are fugitives. Problem is,
fourteen subsets of the gang, with about 600 members, remain active across L.A.'s many Latino
communities. So there's still a way to go.
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Two square miles. Forty-percent of shootings in Aurora (IL) happen in only four-
percent of its total area. That's where the city installed all of its Shot-Spotters. And it's not
only about violent crime. Each year, "celebratory gunfire" places area residents at risk of catching
a stray bullet. City officials have announced that officers will respond to every Shot-Spotter alert
during the New Year holiday. Armed "celebrants": take heed!
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12/30/25 "Twenty-nine shots in 24 seconds." According to a Wall Street Journal
investigation, that's the barrage that Weldon Boyd and Bradley Williams unleashed through their
vehicle's windshield at the motorist who had supposedly tried to run them off a rural South Carolina
road. So they chased after Scott Spivey, and when the insurance man finally stopped his vehicle and
exited, pistol in hand, they shot him dead. South Carolina is a "stand your ground" State, and after
reviewing a report submitted by police officers who regularly enjoy free meals at Mr. Boyd's
restaurant, prosecutors called his actions, and those of Mr. Williams, lawful self-defense. But the
Journal's lengthy, deeply-researched piece has moved the state's attorney general to take
another look.
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Indiana is now decidedly "Red." But in 1999 the city of Gary sued
the gun industry for allegedly swamping it with guns that it well knew would wind up with criminals.
That suit lingered until 2024, when the State enacted a law that retroactively prohibited such suits.
So Gary sued the State, and a lower court judge found in the gun-besieged city's favor. But the State
Court of Appeals just upset that decision. In its opinion, Gary failed to show that retroactively
applying the 2024 State law “violates any vested right or constitutional guarantee held by the city.”
So let the guns flow!
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12/29/25 In 2022 Raymond Flanks
was exonerated of murder and released from a Louisiana prison. He had served thirty-nine
years. At his first trial examiners matched a gun he owned to a shell casing found at the scene. They
also used the victim wife's ID of Flanks from a photo lineup. Her original description of the gunman,
though, didn't resemble Flanks. His brother also placed him at home. Jurors hung. At the second trial
the wife's ID was the only evidence. And he was convicted. Many years later a new D.A. re-examined the
case. He found serious deficiencies in the wife's ID. Flanks' car also didn't match the getaway
vehicle. The State moved for dismissal, and a judge agreed. Flanks is now suing.
Lawsuit Related post
DOJ agrees that Orange County, Calif. has ceased its unlawful
practice of using jailhouse informants to solicit incriminating statements from accused persons.
According to DOJ, the Orange County D.A. and Sheriff engaged in this practice between 2007-2016,
violating accused persons' rights against self-incrimination and the assistance of counsel. DOJ now
finds that Orange County has successfully implemented rules that protect the rights of persons accused
of crimes. So monitoring is no longer necessary. (See 2/12/22 and 8/16/21 updates in related post.)
Jan. 2025 DOJ report
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12/26/25 "Bad science." That's what a police detective now
thinks of "shaken baby syndrome," the diagnosis that he relied on to convict Robert Roberson of murdering his two-year old daughter. While
numerous cases have been based on this diagnosis, many experts now feel that commonplace occurrences
such as falls from changing tables can jostle the brain to the same effect. New Jersey's Supreme Court
has called the syndrome "junk science." But many medical professionals, including the American Academy
of Pediatrics (it re-configured "shaken baby syndrome" as "abusive head trauma) insist that the
concept remains valid.
Related post
Increasingly
dangerous guns and gun parts are flooding the streets. Assault-weapon seizures in 17 reporting
cities increased from 3,776 in 2020 to 4,797 in 2024. In those cities, seizures of Glock switches,
which turn the pistols into machineguns, jumped from 76 in 2020 to 558 in 2024. Recoveries of homemade
3-D printed guns also surged. In twenty cities, they went from 32 in 2020 to 325 in 2024. Related
posts
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Misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter? No problem! California
courts have routinely failed to report these convictions to State driver licensing authorities.
That's particularly true when the cases are diverted, as a 2020 law now allows for non-violent
misdemeanors, and ultimately dismissed. Cal-Matters found three-dozen such cases. None of the
vehicular manslaughter convictions were reflected on motorists' official driving records. Most
still have their license, and "nearly a third" have again been ticketed or had an accident.
Related post
12/24/25
A study of the medical use of cannabis reported it was somewhat useful as a symptom reliever for
cancer and chemotherapy patients. But "cannabis use disorder" affects 29 percent of those who use the
substance for medical purposes. High-potency cannabis can lead to symptoms of psychosis and anxiety
disorder. And daily use of inhaled cannabis is associated with increased damage to the heart. In sum,
"evidence is insufficient for the use of cannabis or cannabinoids for most medical indications."
Related post
This time the Supremes said "no." Chicago had bitterly
objected to President Trump's move to Federalize Illinois National Guard troops and send them in to
back his immigration campaign. Lower Federal courts agreed that doing so was improper, and DOJ
appealed to the Supreme court. In a rare move, the Justices just ruled 6-3 that Federalizing the
Guard requires that President Trump (a) have "statutory or constitutional authority" to carry out
his wishes with regular troops and (b) that regular forces cannot accomplish this mission. But
proof of either is presently lacking. So, until DOJ satisfactorily fills in those blanks, no troops!
Opinion
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12/23/25 DOJ is suing D.C. over its
"Unconstitutional Ban of Semi-Automatic Firearms." Indeed, the District has very strict gun laws. Attorney General Pamela
Bondi finds them all abhorrent. That includes the ban on "one of America’s most popular firearms."
She's referring to the AR-15 rifle, which is banned by name. Prohibiting its ownership, the AG
insists, clearly infringes on the Second Amendment. Related posts:
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Crime is supposedly down. So why are LAPD shootings way up? That's the
concern expressed by the L.A. Times, whose database shows 46 officer-involved shootings so far
this year. That's the most since 2015, and nearly 80 percent higher than the 26 shootings in 2024.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell says that the
explanation lies in the increased amount of violence that's being directed at his cops. According
to the Times, LAPD reported seven episodes of suspects shooting at its officers in 2024 and
twelve so far this year. Incidents involving bladed weapons have also gone up, from seven to twelve.
Related post
12/22/25 Three Rochester, NY police officers were wounded, one
critically, responding to a domestic quarrel. A man, who said he was armed, reported that his
girlfriend's ex-boyfriend was trying to break into her home. When police arrived at the residence
the ex instantly opened fire, wounding two officers. He also exchanged fire with and wounded the
current boyfriend. The intruder fled, then opened fire when intercepted by other officers. A third
officer was wounded; the intruder was killed.
Related post
"The defendant is certainly not evil. Nor is she a martyr for some greater cause."
That's how the prosecutor described Milwaukee judge Hannah Dugan, whom a Federal jury had just
convicted of felony obstruction for sneaking an illegal border-crosser from her courtroom. Judge Dugan
had just shooed away Immigration agents after falsely telling them that their warrant didn't suffice
to arrest the man, who was in State court for a hearing on battery charges. She then guided the
defendant out the back. Agents promptly spotted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, and arrested him after a chase.
Judge Dugan told a court reporter "that she’d take 'the heat'" for her actions.
Related post
Claudio
Manuel Nevez Valente is reportedly responsible for the shooting at Brown University and the
subsequent murder of an M.I.T. professor at his home. Valente later committed suicide. But his
connection to the crimes may have remained unknown except for "John." He had spotted a suspicious
man at the Brown building two hours before the shooting and followed him to his car. "John" soon
posted about his encounter on Reddit, and users urged him to contact the police. So he did.
"John" told them that the vehicle was a grey Nissan with Florida plates. Police found it on a video
surveillance camera. It had been rented to Valente. He had been a student at Brown, and, as well, a
classmate of the murdered professor at a university in Portugal, the country from which both had
emigrated.
Related post
Hollywood Director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, a
producer and activist, were stabbed dead. Their deeply disturbed son, Nick, who lived on the
premises, fled the home and checked into a hotel. But he left before officers arrived. Police
quickly tracked him down using images from surveillance cameras and geographic location data from
his cellphone. With assistance from the carrier (a search warrant is required) cellphones can be
"pinged" for their precise location. Nick Reiner was cornered near a South Los Angeles gas
station. He surrendered and was charged with two counts of murder.
Related post
In
November 2014 Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old Cleveland boy, was playing with a pellet gun. Police
were called, and when Tamir didn't put the gun down, then-cop Timothy Loehmann opened fire,
killing the child. Officer Loehmann was not prosecuted, but he was fired three years later over
alleged lies on his job application. Loehmann, who had become notorious because of Tamir's
killing, went on to seek other policing jobs; he briefly held a couple until public reaction led
to his firing or resignation. Most recently, he was hired and, within days, fired from a Ranger
position at a West Virginia resort. That decision was made by the resort's Board at a hastily-
convened meeting.
Related post
12/19/25 In a brutal killing four years ago then-Memphis cop Patric Ferguson went to the residence
of his former girlfriend and forced her present boyfriend into his patrol car. He then murdered
the man, and with help from a friend, Joshua Rogers, weighted down and dumped the body in a river.
Ferguson recently drew a 38-year Federal sentence. His helper just got 56 months. See 5/9/24
update. DOJ press release
Related post
Citing marijuana's potential medical benefits, President Trump signed
an executive order that directs the Attorney General to begin the process of rescheduling it from
Schedule I, where it sits alongside hard drugs like heroin, to Schedule III. Doing so would
encourage further research on marijuana and allow its sale and use for specific purposes, such
as to relieve pain. It would also ease the current clash with the many States that have legalized
its use. But a sizeable group of "Red" Senators have previously gone on record as being
staunchly opposed to an easing.
Related post
Trump's month-long D.C. crackdown saturated 10th. place with cops and Feds. But
the enhanced law enforcement presence didn't sit well with residents. While crime did recede
throughout D.C., the officers' heavy-handed tactics "deepened distrust" of the police. All the
arrests in this neighborhood but one were for drugs, alcohol or similar offenses. Only one was
gun-related, and evidentiary problems initially led to its dismissal. But it's been refiled.
Related post
12/18/25 “I love this job. We
actually have time to help people.” Those are the sentiments of a member of Portland Police
Bureau's five mental health teams. Comprised of one officer and one social worker, the teams
respond to calls that involve persons who are experiencing severe mental distress. Other than
helping to tone things down, the teams seek to "connect" clients with appropriate mental health
services. According to PPB, clinical referrals happen about half the time.
A similar approach for 9-1-1 responses in the Big Apple has been proposed by newly-installed New
York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Related post
Michigan lawmakers have
devised an "ambitious" plan to combat gun violence. Founded on a "public health" approach, it
would create a "community violence interruption ecosystem" with all the elements necessary to make
the plan work. Gun laws would also get stricter. New laws would impose gun-purchase waiting periods,
ban untraceable "ghost" guns, increase the minimum age to buy a gun, and more. Naturally, there are
obstacles to overcome. One is getting adequate funding. Another is overcoming the "cultural"
objections that gun control efforts inevitably provoke. After all, even requiring safe gun storage
can prove divisive.
Related post
12/17/25 Bolted-in gun safes. Filed in Federal
court, DOJ's complaint alleges that's just
one of the many unconstitutional obstacles that Virgin Island residents face when applying for a
permit to simply keep a gun at home. Worse still, carrying them on the street requires proof of a
pressing need, such as "good reason to fear death or great injury." Ergo, the territory's gun laws
are in direct conflict with the Supreme Court's Bruen decision. They must not stand.
Related post
Illinois revokes
the firearm permits of convicted felons and of persons, such as domestic abusers, who engage in
threatening or assaultive behavior. Problem is, the guns aren't consistently picked up. That was the
case in the 2019 massacre at an Aurora, Ill. business,
where a felon whose FOID card had been revoked shot and killed four coworkers when he learned that he
was being fired. And it's not just ex-cons. Three months ago, a middle school employee and her friend
were gunned down by the employee's husband. His behavior at home had led police to revoke his FOID
card. But neither attempt to get his guns succeeded.
Related post
12/16/25 "Liberation through decolonization and
tribal sovereignty.” That's the motto of the "Turtle Island Liberation Front," An L.A.-area group
that allegedly plotted a string of bombings to fight the scourge of capitalism. But the FBI pierced
their ostensibly encrypted chats, and agents were there when four members of the group began to
assemble their bombs in the desert. Audrey Illeene Carroll, 30, aka "Asiginaak," Zachary Aaron Page,
32, aka "AK," Dante Gaffield, 24, aka "Nomad," and Tina Lai, 41, aka "Kickwhere," were arrested on
charges of conspiracy and possessing unregistered destructive devices.
Related post
12/15/25 Two students were killed and nine were wounded, eight
seriously, by a masked man who burst into a classroom at Brown University in Rhode Island on Saturday,
Dec. 13. He opened fire with a 9mm. pistol, shooting over 40 rounds. Hours later authorities detained
a 24-year old "person of interest" at a motel some distance away. Two 9mm. pistols and two loaded 30-
round magazine were reportedly found. However, authorities later said the investigation was taking "a
different direction" and the detainee would be released without charges.
Related post
"Guilty on all counts." That's the verdict in the Federal trial of
the former Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police, Ray Martinez, who accepted "nearly $100,000" in
bribes from a private firm in exchange for awarding a million-dollar government contract. And when
Martinez learned of the investigation, he ordered the contractor to destroy evidence. Also convicted
was the Territory's chief budget official, Jenifer O'Neal, who accepted a bribe to help further the
scheme.
Related post
Denver homicide is down forty percent. In comparison with 2024, when there
were 65 murders, there have been 39 so far this year.
If the good news holds 2025 will mark the fewest murders since 2014, when there were 31. According
to the Mayor and Police Chief, the decline is attributable to three things: deploying high-tech video
cameras that capture license plates and vehicle details, increasing the number of cops who police the
downtown, and using "targeted" strategies and "community involvement" in seven high-crime
neighborhoods. According to police chief Ron Thomas, it's "a comprehensive response...not just more
patrol."
Related post
Hamilton County, Ohio has a new chief prosecutor. And in a recent move, she's undone a
case that was vigorously prosecuted by her predecessor. The accused, Elwood Jones, had spent two
decades on death row for a 1994 murder. But in 2022 he was conditionally released for evidentiary
reasons. Then-D.A. Joe Peters (he's now a Supreme Court Justice) moved for a retrial. But his
successor, Connie Pillich, recently declared that “...after reviewing the evidence, I am not convinced
that Mr. Jones killed Rhoda Nathan.” So Mr. Jones is now truly free. What's more, D.A. Pillich has
established a Conviction Integrity Unit, whose mission will be to assure that miscarriages of justice
are a thing of the past.
Related post
12/12/25 Ten years have passed since the death of Tanisha Anderson at the hands
of Cleveland police. Family members had called 9-1-1 for help, but the officers who arrived handcuffed
Tanisha and pressed her to the ground. She didn't revive. City council members are urging that the
Mayor sign "Tanisha's Law," which would fund trained civilian response teams to handle mental-health
calls instead of police. Proponents point to successful implementations elsewhere. One such team, in
Albuquerque, recently boasted that it's handled over 120,000 such calls
in its four years of operation. Eighty-five percent had been diverted from police and fire, thus giving
those agencies a break as well.
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