Homeschoolers Win National Mock Trial Invitational

I am so very pleased. I support home education. There, I said it.

And, the most recent news out of the home education field is that a Tennessee homeschool mock trial high school team won a National Mock Trial Invitational, the American Mock Trial Invitational in New Jersey.

One of the first things they did when they heard that they had won the competition was congratulate the opposing team.

Terrific social skills!

The result list from this competition can be seen here.

ACLU and the Elimination of Public Prayer

While wallowing in the research and writing of a criminal sentencing appeals brief (due next Monday), I have hardly taken the time to look at the recent news, much less spent any time looking at my emails.

However, one of them took my breath away. As a former agnostic, and now a Christian, I am appalled at the viewpoint of the ACLU, as shown by an important member of the organization.

The disturbing quote, recieved via an email from the Alliance Defense Fund, is: "Their refusal to comply . . . should and must result in their removal from society." From Joe Cook, Executive Director of the ACLU of Louisiana, referring to individuals who insist on praying publicly.

I pray publicly. In my car, sitting on a bench, alone in a meeting room, and while doing other things. Sometimes silently (actually mostly silently), and sometimes aloud. Most of the time alone, and on occasion, with another person. What business is it of the government when and where I do it? Must I always be silent?

Ohio now protected (sort of) from Eminent Domain

Governor Strickland signed some legislation on Tuesday that will (in three months) give Ohio homeowners a tad bit more protection from the sort of thing that happened in Norwood, Ohio.

This legislation is known as Senate Bill 7.

I must read it to see if there is real protection here, or just "shadow protection." I will report on that later.

Homeschool Status Equal to Public Schools?

As you may know, I home educated my children for more than a decade. All three graduated and all three attended college.

I am heartened to note that in a recent U.S. Supreme Court Decision, Morse v. Frederick, Justice Thomas essentially placed home education on an equal footing as public and private schooling. He said "If parents do not like the rules imposed by those schools, they can seek redress in school boards or legislatures; they can send their children to private schools or home school them; or they can simply move.” (page 11 of slip opinion)

The core issue in this case was free speech, which is an important issue, but I took interest in what Justice Thomas said in his concurring opinion. This is, I think, the first time that home education has been mentioned as an alternative to public schooling in a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

San Francisco State University Speech Regulations

FIRE has another university to target for unlawful speech codes: San Francisco State University. More on that here: Students Sue San Francisco State University over Unconstitutional Speech Codes

New Virus

My husband received a virus warning from one of his employer, IBM. The heading on the virus is from the US Department of Justice and states a complaint number, a date of the complaint, and "contact information" for the recipient.

This virus appears to be a .doc. My husband's connection at IBM said he opened it up on his Blackberry, and discovered that it was not a .doc, but a virus, thus saved (potentially) his IBM issued laptop from viral infection.

Funny thing, the message starts with "Dear citizen, A complaint has been filled (sic) against your company in regards to the business services it provides. The complaint was filled (sic) by Mr. Henry Stewart on 6/19/2007/ and his been forwarded to us and the IRS."

I hate to admit it, but it I were in business (other than as a law firm), I would probably open the email and click on the attachment. Shame on me!

Prosecutors Develop List of Problem Police Officers

This, out of Seattle, Washington, earlier today: the prosecutors are developing a list of police officers who have caused problems for the prosecution through their incompetence or lack of credibility.

I think this is very good. It is truly a problem when the defense attorney is the one that successfully impeaches a police officer's credibility. The prosecution is left with a real difficult problem, one that they did not anticipate.

I am all for a real battle at trial between worthy adversaries who are trying an issue that reasonable minds can have conflict about. But, I hate it when either or both sides are tripped by outside nonsense.

Police officers are fond of saying that all criminals lie. Maybe so. But do all police officers always tell the entire truth? Virtually no human being does that, I think. Most police officers are honest and try to do the right thing. That, I firmly believe.

But, I also know that personal bias, history, and just simple anger, can creep into an individual officer's mind and practice, just as they do in regular people's daily activities. Only, we hold police officers to a higher standard. Just so.