CURRENT EVENTS - May 8-11

[Icky Mettle]

RIP, David Souter

Crazy that I first learned about this here. Talk about a story that was buried deep in the news.

Souter was a very interesting justice. He hated the limelight and despite being appointed by a Republican president, he abhorred the right-leaning politicization of the court. Unlike most SCOTUS justices, he retired at a normal retirement age, and apparently considered retiring earlier than he did. This NYT article is a good read:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/09/us/david-souter-dead.html

 

[nycfan]

 

[nycfan]

Suspending Habeas Corpus​

In response to adverse rulings in numerous immigration cases, Stephen Miller is raising the specter of suspending habeas. His argument is factually and legally nuts, but it's worth explaining *why.*​

 

[nycfan]

Suspending Habeas Corpus​

In response to adverse rulings in numerous immigration cases, Stephen Miller is raising the specter of suspending habeas. His argument is factually and legally nuts, but it's worth explaining *why.*​

 

[nycfan]

 

[nycfan]

Trump involved in discussions over suspending habeas corpus, sources say​

Trump involved in discussions over suspending habeas corpus, sources say | CNN Politics

President Donald Trump has been personally involved in discussions inside the administration over potentially suspending habeas corpus, a legal procedure that allows people to challenge their detention in court, two people familiar with the consideration told CNN.

amp.cnn.com

“President Donald Trump has been personally involved in discussions inside the administration over potentially suspending habeas corpus, a legal procedure that allows people to challenge their detention in court, two people familiar with the consideration told CNN.

… While Trump has not explicitly mentioned habeas corpus in public, it’s what he was referencing last month when he commented on steps he could take to combat nationwide injunctions against his actions on deportations, according to one of the people familiar with the talks.

“There are ways to mitigate it and there’s some very strong ways,” Trump told reporters April 30.

“There’s one way that’s been used by three very highly respected presidents, but we hope we don’t have to go that route. But there is one way used successfully by three presidents – all highly respected – and hopefully we don’t have to go that way but there are ways of mitigating it.” …”

 

[heelinhell]

Just sign it, sir. It’s fine.

Is Radar working for Trump ?

Trump: What are these?
Radar: Papers.
Trump: Blank papers?
Radar: Yes, sir.
Trump: Is that a good idea?
Radar: It's to cut down on your workload. You sign them now, later you don't have to bother.
[Trump signs them, then after a Beat]
Trump: But should I have really signed blank papers?!!
Radar: I can't answer that, sir. You're the one that signed them, I didn't.
— M*A*S*H, "Requiem for a Lightweight"

 

[nycfan]

He was killed in a road rage incident. His family used AI to bring him to the courtroom to address his killer​

He was killed in a road rage incident. His family used AI to bring him to the courtroom to address his killer | CNN Business

Stacey Wales spent two years working on the victim impact statement she planned to give in court after her brother was shot to death in a 2021 road rage incident. But even after all that time, Wales felt her statement wouldn’t be enough to capture her brother Christopher Pelkey’s humanity and...

amp.cnn.com

“…
Judge Todd Lang of Maricopa County Superior Court ultimately sentenced Pelkey’s killer Gabriel Paul Horcasitas to 10.5 years for manslaughter — although the state had asked for only 9.5 years — and 12.5 years in total, including an endangerment charge.

“I love that AI. Thank you for that,” Lang said, a recording of the hearing shows. “As angry as you are and justifiably angry as the family is, I heard the forgiveness.” …”

 

[nycfan]

He was killed in a road rage incident. His family used AI to bring him to the courtroom to address his killer​

He was killed in a road rage incident. His family used AI to bring him to the courtroom to address his killer | CNN Business

Stacey Wales spent two years working on the victim impact statement she planned to give in court after her brother was shot to death in a 2021 road rage incident. But even after all that time, Wales felt her statement wouldn’t be enough to capture her brother Christopher Pelkey’s humanity and...

amp.cnn.com

“…
Judge Todd Lang of Maricopa County Superior Court ultimately sentenced Pelkey’s killer Gabriel Paul Horcasitas to 10.5 years for manslaughter — although the state had asked for only 9.5 years — and 12.5 years in total, including an endangerment charge.

“I love that AI. Thank you for that,” Lang said, a recording of the hearing shows. “As angry as you are and justifiably angry as the family is, I heard the forgiveness.” …”

Background on the case that creates some uncertainty about the gentle victim statement produced on the victim’s behalf using AI:

STATE v. HORCASITAS

STATE v. HORCASITAS

law.justia.com

 

[superrific]

Background on the case that creates some uncertainty about the gentle victim statement produced on the victim’s behalf using AI:

STATE v. HORCASITAS

STATE v. HORCASITAS

law.justia.com

So the conviction was tossed out after sentencing? I'm missing something here.

 

[lawtig02]

He was killed in a road rage incident. His family used AI to bring him to the courtroom to address his killer​

He was killed in a road rage incident. His family used AI to bring him to the courtroom to address his killer | CNN Business

Stacey Wales spent two years working on the victim impact statement she planned to give in court after her brother was shot to death in a 2021 road rage incident. But even after all that time, Wales felt her statement wouldn’t be enough to capture her brother Christopher Pelkey’s humanity and...

amp.cnn.com

“…
Judge Todd Lang of Maricopa County Superior Court ultimately sentenced Pelkey’s killer Gabriel Paul Horcasitas to 10.5 years for manslaughter — although the state had asked for only 9.5 years — and 12.5 years in total, including an endangerment charge.

“I love that AI. Thank you for that,” Lang said, a recording of the hearing shows. “As angry as you are and justifiably angry as the family is, I heard the forgiveness.” …”

 

[nycfan]

So the conviction was tossed out after sentencing? I'm missing something here.

The initial sentence was tossed. Guy was retried and found guilty of manslaughter again. AI victim statement was allowed after second trial.

 

[nycfan]

 

[superrific]

The initial sentence was tossed. Guy was retried and found guilty of manslaughter again. AI victim statement was allowed after second trial.

I see. That court document didn't have a date on it, which is surprising to me.

 

[nycfan]

Newark’s Mayor Arrested at Protest Outside ICE Detention Center​

Ras J. Baraka and city officials have said that the lockup is operating without a valid certificate of occupancy. Three members of Congress from New Jersey were with Mr. Baraka when he was arrested.

—> https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/09/...e_code=1.GE8.Icpw.gcvi8gX1iprC&smid=url-share

“… Mr. Baraka, a Democrat who is running for governor of New Jersey, was taken to a separate federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark and charged with trespassing. He was released roughly five hours later and was greeted by a crowd that had grown throughout the afternoon to more than 200 supporters and included candidates for New York City mayor and prominent labor leaders.

Alina Habba, a lawyer for Mr. Trump who is now New Jersey’s interim U.S. attorney, said that Mr. Baraka had been arrested because he had “ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself,” and had chosen “to disregard the law.”

… Mr. Baraka was allowed past the front gate but was not allowed to accompany the members of Congress inside, according to a video taken by Viri Martinez, an immigration activist who witnessed the arrest.

“Congressmen are different, congresswomen are different,” a Homeland Security Investigations agent told the mayor, the video shows. The agent added: “That is the last warning. You will be placed under arrest.”

… After leaving the facility, the members of Congress joined Mr. Baraka in an area inside the front gate, according to the video.

Ms. McIver said that Mr. Baraka then went to a public area where other protesters were gathered. “He walked himself out,” she said.

Mr. Menendez can be heard on video telling Mr. Baraka: “They’re talking about coming back to arrest you.”

The mayor replied: “I’m not on their property. They can’t come out on the street and arrest me.”

Mr. Baraka, 55, was taken into custody by a team of masked federal agents wearing military fatigues while outside the gates in a driveway swarming with protesters and reporters….”

 

[nycfan]

“… Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, called the episode a “bizarre political stunt” in a social media post. She said Ms. Watson Coleman and Mr. Menendez, along with “multiple protesters,” had “holed up in a guard shack.”

Ms. McLaughlin shared a video of the mayor’s arrest that she said showed a “mob” assaulting ICE agents outside the gates. …”

 

[nycfan]

“… Late Friday, people waiting in a steady rain outside the ICE office in Newark for Mr. Baraka to be released chanted, “Let him out.”

After his release, Mr. Baraka said he had done nothing wrong.

“What’s happening now in this country, everybody should be scared of,” he said, adding: “They’re using the courts. They’re using everything else to justify what they’re doing.” “