How Laws Are Made

Here's a great graphic that illuminates how laws are made in our country. Honestly, its amazing anything gets passed at all.

Supreme Court

I've been spending a fair amount of time lately reading about the history of the Supreme Court and two articles appeared that provide some insight on the current Justices. One is an argument that John Paul Stevens is the most important Associate Justice in Supreme Court history based on his jurisprudence and the significance of his opinions in important cases. Another observes a recent commencement address by the retired David Souter whereby he generally characterizes his approach to the law as opposed to those who take an originalism philosophy (like Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas). Both are interesting, especially if you've read Jeffery Toobin's The Nine.

Sad Day in US History

The Senate once again shames itself. At least my two Senators voted against the torture bill (S3930), although it is dissapointing that a filibuster was not at least attempted. Go read Glenn Greenwald for some of the moronic and backwards reasoning that some Senators used to rationalize a yes vote (including some Democrats).

More Legal Shenanigans

Geoffrey Stone, UC Law Professor, has a post concerning the Bush administrations attempt to rewrite the law concerning torture, interrogation, the courts and their Constitutional implications. Here are the first couple of paragraphs; go read the rest.

A good deal has been made in recent days of the objections raised by Senators Lindsey Graham, John McCain, Olympia Snowe, and John Warner to President Bush's proposed legislation authorizing the use of military tribunals to try enemy combatants. I applaud the actions of Graham, McCain, Snowe, and Warner. What I find astonishing -- and deeply distressing -- is that other Senate Republicans have not rallied to their support.

Senators Graham, McCain, Snowe, and Warner have objected to several provisions of the Bush proposal, including those expressly authorizing the prosecution to use hearsay evidence, secret evidence, and evidence obtained by coercion involving degrading and inhuman treatment. Each of these proposals represents a profound and radical departure from the fundamental standards of fairness and decency that have long governed both criminal courts and military tribunals throughout the history of the United States. Each of them is legally, constitutionally, and morally unwarranted.