Finally some good news on the pushback to asset forfeiture…
(Via Reason) Some great news in asset forfeiture reform is coming out of Florida. S.B. 1044, approved by the legislature earlier in the month, was signed into law today by Gov. Rick Scott.
The big deal with this particular reform is that, in most cases, Florida police will actually have to arrest and charge a person with a crime before attempting to seize and keep their money and property under the state’s asset forfeiture laws. One of the major ways asset forfeiture gets abused is that it is frequently a “civil”, not criminal, process where police and prosecutors are able to take property without even charging somebody with a crime, let alone convicting them.
This is how police are, for example, able to snatch cash from cars they’ve pulled over and claim they suspect the money was going to be used for drug trafficking without actually finding any drugs.  (read more)

Against my better judgement, and acquiescing to a rather overwhelming number of requests, here is the official FBI released video of the LaVoy Finicum shooting near Burns Oregon:

There are several reasons why we have chosen not to dig into this specific aspect of this event, after posting the first three research articles.  Here’s the ones we’re comfortable stating: (more…)

The Maryland Appeals Court has stepped in to halt the trial against Officer Caesar Goodson on the day jury selection was scheduled to begin.   In an earlier appellate court ruling the forced testimony of accused police officer William Porter was blocked.  The State’s cases are falling apart due to inept legal application and ideological motives to prosecute.

Baltimore State Attorney Marilyn Mosby is now claiming without Porter’s testimony her cases against both Caesar Goodson and Alicia White will not stand:

[…] not being able to call Porter as a witness would “result in irreparable harm to the People of Maryland by effectively gutting their government’s prosecution” of two of the officers. (link)

On its face this is an absolutely absurd position.  (more…)

Developments In Malheur Wildlife Refuge Standoff !

We’ve been following the story of the persecution of the Hammond family in Oregon from a position of trying to identify the real motive and real agenda behind the MSM headlines.

Previously we outlined the full back story to the origin of the Hammond family problems – HERE – Later we shared how the motive of the Oregon U.S. Attorney, Amanda Marshall (Obama appointee) was brutally obvious – HERE –

Both part 1 and part 2 focus on revealing the depth of official corruption within the federal legal authority and BLM apparatus in the Oregon ranchers story. There are parts of this story the U.S. federal government does not want to reach sunlight.

The discoveries continue….. (more…)

Well, we can put the entire question about whether Judge Barry Williams is an “activist judge” to rest.  This ruling is a direct contradiction to the 5th Amendment and an accused person’s right not to testify in trial.  The state cannot force a defendant to accept immunity.

Officer Porter’s trial ended in a “mistrial” (hung jury); as a consequence, the prosecution has announced their intent to re-try Porter later in the year which means any testimony he gives can/will be used against him at a later trial date; despite the judge saying the prosecution cannot use such testimony – it becomes impossible testimony to parse.

In addition the federal DOJ has previously announced their intentions to investigate/charge based on civil rights violations, so any testimony carries an additional overture of concern with future prosecution.

Judge Barry Williams says he finds himself in “uncharted territory”.  Really?  Not-so-much, the law is very clear on this matter.   It would not be surprising if an appellate court strikes down this judicial decision as clearly outside the bounds of legal authority.

(Via Baltimore Sun ) Baltimore Judge Barry G. Williams ordered that Officer William Porter be compelled to testify at the upcoming trial of a fellow Baltimore Police officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray, a ruling Porter’s defense attorneys said they would immediately seek an injunction to block.

Williams said he found himself in “uncharted territory” as he granted Porter a type of immunity that allows his charges to stand but which precludes his testimony from being used against him. Attorneys and legal observers agreed that such a ruling against a co-defendant was a first in Maryland. (more…)

Obviously the black grievance industry is furious at the non-indictment.

(Via ABC ) An Ohio Grand Jury has declined to indict two police officers in the death of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old boy who was shot dead by a Cleveland police officer last year, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty said today.

McGinty said he also recommended that no charges be filed. (more…)

Back in May 2015 we presented the following consideration. Against today’s news, we are presenting it again:

(May 2nd 2015) The professional grievance crowd has all of the Marxist planets aligned. They have the DNC approved black female mayor Stephanie Rawlings; they have their rock star activist attorney Marilyn Mosby, and they have a strategically planned opportunity to win by losing. (more…)

The jury is now deliberating in the case against Officer William Porter.  Baltimore Mayor Rawlings-Blake has activated emergency operations in anticipation of the verdict – in case of riots.  Legal observers think it could go either way depending on the emotional influence in the jury.   (Legal Insurrection has a breakdown of the closing arguments HERE)

(Via Baltimore Sun) Prosecutors said in closing arguments Monday that Officer William G. Porter‘s failure to help Freddie Gray turned a police arrest van into a “casket on wheels,” while Porter’s defense attorneys said the state’s case was based on theories and asks jurors to fill in the blanks.

While prosecutors had hinted at it during trial, Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Michael Schatzow directly accused Porter of lying about his account and suggested a “coverup.”

Defense attorney Joseph Murtha said there were high legal bars for the state to reach with its evidence in order for jurors to convict — bars they had failed to reach. (more…)

This is interesting and deserves being back on the radar.  In South Carolina the prosecution of Officer Michael Slager (Walter Scott Shooting) continues.

In a remarkable similarity to the fraudulent prosecutorial investigation of State Attorney Angela Corey in the ’12/’13 Zimmerman case, in South Carolina another rogue and racially inspired prosecution appears to be heading down a similar path adverse to Officer Slager.

Despite defense requesting “preservation of evidence”, and despite a judges order affirming the presentation, the State of South Carolina prosecutorial team shipped the Taser out of state without trying to protect DNA evidence: (more…)

According to a new CNN report Chicago Mayor Rham Emanuel has fired the police chief in the wake of the Laquan McDonald shooting and community outrage over the length of time it took the police department to act to the shooting.

(CNN) Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Tuesday that he has asked for the resignation of Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy.

The announcement at a news conference came amid angry protests in Chicago over the way the city responded when a white police officer shot a black teenager 16 times in October 2014. Dashboard camera footage of Laquan McDonald’s killing was not released until last week after a judge ordered it be made public.

“Superintendent McCarthy knows that a police officer is only as effective as when he has the trust of those he serves,” said Emanuel, speaking at City Hall. (more…)