Liberally Lean From The Land Of Dairy Queen

4.22.2013

Forgot To Mention How Uncle Ruslan Just Killed It On Friday

News That Broke On Friday Which Must Be Mentioned

Last Thanksgiving I read the two part Texas Monthly series on the wrongful conviction of Michael Morton. It was shocking then. It's shocking now. Afterwards, a "Court of Inquiry" was created to investigate the DA who prosecuted Morton to make a determination of whether he intentionally withheld evidence. Talking to folks, I constantly heard, "That DA needs to be in jail" -- a phrase which most Texans had never uttered before.

But most of my friends in the criminal justice had never heard of a Court Of Inquiry and really didn't know what power, if any, it had.

Well that Court at least believes it can issue a warrant for the arrest of the Former DA and that's what happened on Friday.

Edit: Here's the judge's detailed order.

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

And when it was all said and done, the remaining Boston Bomber was caught by a guy who went outside for a cigarette.
A lot of people were freaking out that the bomber may not have been his Miranda rights. The only consequence for not doing so is that any statement made post-arrest without the benefit of Miranda can't be used against him. That doesn't impact any other proof against him. No reason to freak.
But then the experts started talking about a "public safety" exception to Miranda. I've been practicing criminal law for over twenty years and not one time have I ever heard of that exception being invoked.
London Marathon wheel chair wreck. Man, those things move too fast to be in there with runners.
While doing yard work, I got hit up by a little Cub Scout to buy a $20 discount card. I shelled the money out on Cuteness Principles.
Reese Witherspoon got arrested for Disorderly Conduct over the weekend while her husband was being subjected to field sobriety tests. Apparently, she kept getting out of the car despite instructions to remain inside. After being told to return to the car, she “stated that she was a ‘U.S. Citizen’ and that she was allowed to ‘stand on American ground,’” police say. Nice touch.
Al Michaels got a DWI arrest but I'm not sure he'll suffer much of a consequence since his breath sample was right at the legal limit of .08.
On Sunday, the UIL's Medical Advisory Committee unanimously recommended limiting football programs to 90 minutes of full-contact, game-speed practices per player per week during the regular season and playoffs. I didn't think much of it until I read that Committee has never had one of its proposals rejected.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, Rick Perry, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz all did a photo op at West, Texas.
The old Uncle Julio's on Greenville Avenue burnt/burned down overnight. I feel like I ate their back in the day, but really have no specific memory of the place.
60 Minutes had a feature last night on the 9/11 Museum which is being built under Ground Zero. It looks perfectly done.
The Family Puppy has opened its eyes and is trying to stand up. Every female in the house tells me the little thing has already been sold, but they sure are acting brave about its impending departure if that is true.

4.19.2013

Above The Fold

Wow. Just wow.

	Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
4/19/13, 8:00 PM Is the Boston killer eligible for Obama Care to bring him back to health?

If the news is right (who knows), the Boston Bomber is dead in a boat behind this house

Let's now hear from a constitution loving U.S. Senator.

It's Been A Long Week

John Cornyn Goes To West, Texas And Just Dropped Huge News

UPDATE: Sen. Cornyn says 60 people remain missing after fertilizer plant explosion on Wednesday night in West, TX.
— FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) April 19, 2013

Edit: He might have been a little careless.

McLennan Co. Commissioner says list of unaccounted for hasn't been compared with list of hospitalized bit.ly/11K3BSU h/t @wacotrib
— Nick Dean (@bynickdean) April 19, 2013

DWI Warning Of The Day

Think someone could get a DWI conviction for driving a golf cart at the Texas Motor Speedway? An opinion released today demonstrates that it happened.

Although the DWI statutes require a person to be driving a "motor vehicle", the definition is so broad that the State "offered a horse and buggy as an example [during jury selection] and elicited from the jury panel other examples, including a bicycle, a skateboard, a moped, a golf cart, and a tractor."

"Motor vehicle" is defined as “a device in, on, or by which a person or property is or may be transported or drawn on a highway.” See Texas Penal Code Ann. § 32.34(a)(1)

The Bomber On The Run Used To Be A High School Wrestler

Random Friday Morning Thoughts

Dead Boston bomber's photo gallery named "Will Box For Passport".
"Boston Bombing Suspect Posted Video on Al Qaeda Prophecy on YouTube."
Those guys are Caucasians from Chechnya but they'll be remembered for being Islamic.
Google map of the area where the cops think the Bomber-On-The-Run is located right now. (Although it is sounding like he may not be there.)
What a weird society: Someone has created a fake twitter account for the bomber.
And the surviving bomber is 19 years old and has been in the U.S. for almost a decade?
This guy claims to be right next door to the house the police are surrounding, he's posting pics, and it seems authentic.
Stolen from Twitter: "So far the least interesting news story this week is an Elvis impersonator trying to poison the President." And that's absolutely true.
The Uncle of the Bombers was told about the death of his nephew on live TV.
Man, CNN's John King is taking a ton of heat, as he should, about reporting an arrest of a "dark skin man" two days ago.