Satellite image of the village of Doro Baga (aka Doro Gowon) in north-eastern Nigeria taken on 2 Jan 2015. Image shows an example of the densely packed structures and tree cover.Satellite image 2, taken on 7 Jan 2015, shows almost all of the structures razed. The inset demonstrates the level of destruction of most structures in the town. The red areas indicate healthy vegetation. Amnesty International today released satellite images that show the impact of a horrific Boko Haram attack in northeast Nigeria last week. The images, combined with several testimonies, provide shocking evidence of how the conflict is dramatically escalating, with dire consequences for civilians. Our analysis has generated some much-needed attention on a widely overlooked massacre, creating major stories on established and new media sites. From Joseph Kony to SOS signs, satellite images can show a lot that is relevant for human rights investigations. And no, George Clooney was not the first to use…
The Story Behind The Nigeria Satellite Images
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Bottom-side amicus briefs in Ohio v. Clark
[Updated Jan. 15, 2015, 5:20 pm]Here are the other bottom-side amicus briefs in Clark:First, the brief of the Innocence Network.Second, a brief of the Amicus Project of Southwestern Law School and affiliated parties.Third, a brief of the Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice and defense lawyers associations from Connecticut and Iowa.Fourth, a brief of the Family Defense Center and other organizations.Fifth, a brief of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.And just to present them all in one place, here again is a link to the brief I put in with Steve Ceci.
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Houston Traffic Ticket Attorney
By Justin Coquat | Traffic Ticket SA The Coquat Law Firm resolves thousands of traffic ticket citations every single year across South Texas. The Coquat Law Firm primarily works along the i-35 corridor and serves cities like San Antonio, Austin, San Marcos, Corpus Christi, and more! However, one area we don’t serve is Houston, Texas. At The Coquat Law Firm we care about providing the best service possible to our clients and strive to offer the best quality of service and representation to every single traffic ticket and traffic citation client. That is why we recommend that anyone with a traffic ticket citation in Houston call the Houston Traffic Ticket Attorney Scott J. Markowitz at (713)521-7568 or visit the Markowitz Law Firm website. Your Houston Traffic Ticket Attorney. The Coquat Law Firm wants it’s clients to receive the best even if we are not personally handling your traffic ticket. That is why we encourage you to call The Traffic…
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Staatspolitische Kommission des Nationalrates will Personendaten besser vor Missbrauch schützen
Gemäss Medienmitteilung vom 16. Januar 2015 sprach sich die staatspolitische Kommission des Nationalrates (SPK-N) mit 13 zu 9 Stimmen bei 1 Enthaltung für die parlamentarische Initiative "Schutz der digitalen Identität von Bürgerinnen und Bürgern" von NR Fathi Derder (FDP/VD) aus. Danach soll eine neue Bestimmung in der BV verankert werden, um Personendaten besser vor Missbrauch zu schützen. NR Derder hat für seine Initiative am 20.06.2014 folgenden Text eingereicht: "Die Bundesverfassung wird wie folgt geändert:Art. 13 Schutz der PrivatsphäreAbs. 1Jede Person hat Anspruch auf Achtung ihres Privat- und Familienlebens, ihrer Wohnung, ihres Brief-, Post- und Fernmeldeverkehrs sowie all ihrer eigenen Daten.Abs. 2Die Daten sind Eigentum der betreffenden Person; diese ist davor zu schützen, dass die Daten missbräuchlich verwendet werden.BegründungImmer grössere Mengen von Daten über unser…
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Nurses, Physicians, Architects and other Professionals
Nurses, Physicians, Architects and other Professionals: What are the Reporting Requirements / Ramifications of an Arrest or Conviction? A New York Criminal Lawyer said that, criminal arrests are upsetting to everyone but can be particularly problematic for financial and securities professionals because of the possible employment and licensure consequences. Brokers, traders, bankers, financial advisors, and other financial professionals typically have to be licensed through FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Some of the most common licenses include Series 7 and Series 63, but there are many. For those licensed professionals, criminal arrests and convictions may trigger updating of the U4 FINRA form. Attorneys are human beings and make mistakes just like everybody else. Unfortunately for them, those mistakes that result in criminal arrests can have especially dire professional consequences. In New York, New York State Judiciary Law § 90(4) requires…
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Rolling down your window at a check point
By Jessica Towne There's a "controversial" YouTube video by the Fair DUI flyer folks about how to get through a DUI checkpoint without comprising your 4th amendment rights or even worrying about your Miranda rights. In the video, which was shot in Florida, the driver has placed his drivers' license, proof of insurance and registration, along with a "fair DUI flyer" which reads "I remain silent. No searches. I want my lawyer" inside a clear baggie which hangs outside his window. Will the cops let him through? They do! A miracle! You can watch it here. Will this work in Georgia?
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AG Holder announces notable new limits on civil forfeitures to fund local police
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#DearObama: Use Your State of the Union to Reject Politics of Fear
Dear Mr. President, Here comes the fear again. In the aftermath of the Paris attacks, some in the broadcast news media are attempting to turn the public’s shock into full-fledged hysteria – the kind that fuels not only their ratings, but suspicion, hate and a bunker mentality. In your State of the Union address, you can do what President Bush failed to do immediately after the 9/11 attacks: reject the politics of fear. Refuse to exploit the public’s anxiety to justify the policies of a permanent national security state. Condemn the vilification of religious and racial minority groups, which assigns them collective blame and punishment for horrific attacks by armed groups and individuals – and attempts to justify human rights abuses against them. This is not a hypothetical. Your personal commitments to close Guantanamo, end torture and rein in surveillance are at stake. Some members of Congress – and even officials in your own administration…
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Eighth Oxycodone and Heroin Distribution Ring Member Sentenced in Federal Court
BOISE – Christopher Deleongurro Snyder, 24, of Boise, Idaho, Wednesday became the latest member of a Treasure Valley oxycodone and heroin distribution ring to be sentenced to federal prison, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Court Judge Edward J. Lodge sentenced Snyder on January 14, 2015, to 87 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone. Judge Lodge also ordered Snyder to complete 200 hours of community service and forfeit $1,000,000 in cash proceeds. Judge Lodge found that Snyder was a manager and supervisor of an extensive criminal organization. Snyder was the eighth defendant sentenced as a result of the dismantling of a large-scale trafficking ring which distributed heroin and tens of thousands of oxycodone pills throughout Boise between 2012 and March of 2014. He pleaded guilty to the charge on September 10, 2014.Others who have been sentenced are: …
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News Scan
DNA Evidence Leads to Cold Case Arrest: Authorities in Texas have revealed that recently tested DNA evidence has resulted in the arrest of a suspect in a double-murder that occurred more than 30 years ago. The Associated Press reports that the suspect, 57-year-old Edmond Degan, is accused of sexually assaulting and murdering two adult sisters in Houston in 1984. Degan has a lengthy criminal past and has been convicted of a variety of felonies including aggravated robbery, assault, and making terrorist threats. NJ Bill Would Improve Megan's Law: A New Jersey assemblyman is sponsoring a bill to strengthen Megan's Law. Kevin McArdle of New Jersey 1015 reports that the bill would add a sex offender's employment address and information about their school enrollment. The bill also requires public notification whenever an offender can not be located or has violated registration requirements. Additionally, information…
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Fourth Amendment Under Attack, Again
After the October 6, 2014 argument in front of the United States Supreme Court, attorneys for Nicholas Heien and the attorneys for the state of North Carolina finally received a decision on December 15, 2014 for the Heien v. North Carolina case. The United States Supreme Court affirmed the North Carolina Supreme Court’s decision in the lower case docket. The decision was an overwhelming 8-1 majority, with Justice Sotomayor filing the only dissenting opinion. Nicholas Heien and another passenger, Javier Vasquez, were driving on an interstate in North Carolina where Sergeant Darisse was on duty and looking for “criminal indicators of drivers and passengers.” After Darisse began following the car, he noticed the car only had one working brake light; Darisse believed this to be a violation of local traffic laws. While issuing a ticket, Darisse felt that Vasquez and Heien were behaving suspiciously and asked Heien if he could search Heien’s car, where…
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As Long As It Was Policy
Imagine, if you will (and if you won’t, go away).Someone you know and care about is murdered. Viciously. The evidence points to you.Police come, show your mother the incriminating evidence, and ask her if you did it.No, she says. I’ve reviewed the evidence and find that he’s innocent.Police leave, satisfied because his mom cleared him.Welcome to the world of internal affairs where police investigate themselves and conclude that they behaved properly.It’s not just police, of course. Government agencies do it all the time with their employees. Decades ago, back when he was a federal prosecutor, Scott Turow was accused of ethical impropriety. He wrote of the experience in the NY Times Magazine.Indeed, the most dismal -and disappointing - moment I have endured as a lawyer arose last year in a sharp dispute over ethical duties. In June 1987, a Federal appellate court in Georgia rebuked me severely for my role as a United…
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Injury Crash Eastbound I84 At Garrity
IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE - generated by our News Release ListServer DO NOT REPLY --------------------------------------------------------------------------- IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE District 3 Patrol 700 S. Stratford Dr., Meridian 83642 (208) 846-7550 Fax (208) 846-7520 For Immediate Release: 01/16/2015 4:22 p.m. Please direct questions to the District Office On Friday, January 16, 2015 at 9:08 a.m., the Idaho State Police investigated an injury crash eastbound on I84 at milepost 38, the Garrity exit. Diana L. Torres, 27 of Nampa, was traveling eastbound on the Garrity on-ramp merging onto I84 when she lost control of her 2005 Nissan Altima. The vehicle spun around and was struck on the passenger side by a 2015 Peterbuilt semi tractor pulling a 2012 Utility trailer traveling eastbound on I84. Upon impact the Nissan continued across the lanes hitting the median Jersey barrier, coming to rest in the middle of the left lane. The driver of the semi truck, Denny…
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Criminal Mischief
This weekend as I drove through my neighborhood, I noticed a street sign had been knocked down... it apparently, had been run over. I remember thinking, "Somebody in Jacksonville had a good time last night." My criminal defense lawyer hat wasn't quite on yet, but I did briefly start to think that someone could potentially be in need of a good DUI attorney. I made a right turn and drove on after I snapped a quick picture of the sign. As I drove further down the street, I noticed that the pole with the flashing light that warns you to slow down in the school zone was also missing; it had also been mowed down. Just after passing the school, I made a left and discovered more signs had been run down. Tire tracks in the dirt made it clear that a vehicle had been used to destroy these signs. It was now obvious that the first sign I found was no accident, but part of an episode of criminal mischief, which is defined as willful and malicious destruction of…
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Holder Makes Huge Change in Seizure Policy
This is really big news. AG Eric Holder has gutted the equitable sharing of money, property and car seizures between local cops and the feds. It's the first I'm hearing about it, and it's going to affect a lot of cases. The only... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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New SCOTUS Cases
The U.S. Supreme Court has taken up a number of new cases for full briefing and argument. All the buzz is about the same-sex marriage cases, off-topic for this blog. There is one actual criminal case, McFadden v. United States, No. 14-378. The question presented is:Whether, to convict a defendant of distribution of a controlled substance analogue - a substance with a chemical structure that is "substantially similar" to a schedule I or II drug and has a "substantially similar" effect on the user (or is believed or represented by the defendant to have such a similar effect) - the government must prove that the defendant knew that the substance constituted a controlled substance analogue, as held by the Second, Seventh, and Eighth Circuits, but rejected by the Fourth and Fifth Circuits.Kind of an interesting "mental state" question, but not a big case. There is also a law-enforcement-related civil case, Kingsley v.…
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3 vehicle injury crash on I15
IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE - generated by our News Release ListServer DO NOT REPLY --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Idaho State Police District 5 5205 South 5th Ave. Pocatello, Idaho 83204-2299 (208) 236-6466 FAX: (208) 236-6068 For Immediate Release: January 16, 2015 4:50 p.m. Please direct questions to the District Office On January 16, 2015, at approximately 1:30 p.m., the Idaho State Police investigated a three vehicle injury crash on Interstate 15 near milepost 63. Tracy Godfrey, 40, of Logan, Utah, was driving northbound in a 1989 Chevrolet Celebrity when he lost control and the vehicle slid across the lanes. Godfrey's vehicle was then struck by a 2012 GMC pickup driven by Isaac Chatterton, 30, of Pocatello, and a 2008 Dodge pickup driven by Michael Baker, 59, of Ammon. Godfrey was transported via ground ambulance to Portneuf Regional Medical Center. It is unknown at this time if Godfrey was wearing a seatbelt;…
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2014.21: How to Ask for Advice
Sarah “Bennett’s Brain Emeritus” Wood of the Harris County PD’s Office is the queen of all things mentorly. After the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association had tried for years to create a functioning mentorship program it was Sarah who created the Second-Chair Program, which has been cranking out better-trained criminal-defense lawyers for at least six years. Sarah also runs the PD’s internship program and the Future Appointed Counsel Training Program (FACT), which connects Gideon’s Promise-trained young lawyers with experienced mentors for a two-year stint. One component of the Harris County criminal bar’s mentorship regimen is monthly brainstorming sessions, also organized by Sarah. We’ll gather in the ready room on the seventh floor of the courthouse at lunchtime, HCCLA will order in food, and people will share their case issues and ask for advice from more-experienced lawyers. These sessions are often frustrating for the…
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Aggravated First Offense OUI with a CDL
If you are facing a charge of aggravated First Offense OUI with a CDL, you need to be aware of the impacts to your lifestyle. Aggravated First Offense OUI charges result in you facing a significant mandatory minimum fine, jail time and license suspensions. If your blood alcohol level is above a 0.15, the 1st […] The post Aggravated First Offense OUI with a CDL appeared first on The Nielsen Group.
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Ward on Retreat and Self Defense
Cynthia V. Ward (William and Mary Law School) has posted 'Stand Your Ground' and Self Defense on SSRN. Here is the abstract: The Article examines the historical background of Stand Your Ground (“No Retreat”) rules in the U.S. and evaluates...
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