tagged w/ Supreme Court Justice
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Host Conor Knighton takes a whirlwind tour through the week in media, including Larry King's retirement from CNN, Elena Kegan's Supreme Court confirmation hearing, Joe Biden's ability to make a GE executive pass out, the Daytime Emmy Awards, babies taking bong hits, "The Doctors" sperm facial, Chris Brown's emotional tribute to Michael Jackson at the BET Awards, the limits of Drake's superstardom--and then there's Gary Brooks Faulkner, the one-man Bin Ladin hunting machine.
infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Erin Gibson, Ben Hoffman, Bryan Safi and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Times and can be found online at http://current.com/infomania/ or on Current TV. And make sure to check out our facebook profile for special features at http://facebook.com/infomania.Host Conor Knighton takes a whirlwind tour through the week in media, including Larry... more
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Animal-rights groups and free-speech advocates squared off in a major First Amendment battle Tuesday, as the U.S. Supreme Court prepared to decide whether videos of illegal dogfights are protected speech.
In oral arguments, the Obama administration asked the justices to reinstate the Federal Depiction of Animal Cruelty statute. The 10-year-old law prohibits the sale of videos and other depictions of animal cruelty in jurisdictions where the activities shown are illegal unless they have "serious value."
But Virginia filmmaker Robert Stevens argued in court filings that the law is too broad and violates his constitutional right to free speech. In 2005, Stevens was convicted of producing violent videos of dogfights and sentenced to 37 months in prison, but a federal appeals court found the law unconstitutional and overturned his conviction.
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At issue in U.S. v. Stevens is whether animal cruelty should be categorized as expression so reprehensible that it does not deserve First Amendment protection. That hasn't been done since the court's landmark 1982 ruling on child pornography.
During arguments Tuesday, several of the justices indicated that they may agree with Stevens.
"Why not do a simpler thing?" Justice Stephen Breyer asked a lawyer for the government. "Ask Congress to write a statute that actually aims at the frightful things they were trying to prohibit."
Stevens' lawyer, Patricia Millet, said Congress must be careful when restricting an individual's right to free speech, noting lawmakers should use "a scalpel, not a buzz saw."
Representing the government, Deputy Solicitor General Neal Katyal said Congress was careful to exempt hunting, educational, journalistic and other depictions from the law. Katyal urged the court not to wipe away the legislation in its entirety, but to allow courts to decide on a case-by-case basis whether videos are prohibited.
Justice Samuel Alito asked whether the court should focus on the potential prosecution of hunters, "or do we look at what's happening in the real world?"
Congress passed the law in 1999 with an eye toward limiting Internet sales of "crush videos," which show women crushing small animals with their bare feet or while wearing high-heeled shoes, according to Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA), who sponsored the anti-cruelty legislation.
"Other crimes often go hand in hand with animal fighting, including illegal gambling, drug trafficking and acts of human violence," Gallegly said in a statement on his Web site. "Virtually every arrest for animal cruelty has also led to additional arrests for at least one of these criminal activities. Moreover, gratuitous cruelty toward animals dehumanizes all of us and is simply wrong."
The case has generated a large amount of interest, in part because of the dogfighting conviction of pro football player Michael Vick in 2007. Vick served nearly two years for running an interstate dogfighting ring from his home in Virginia and was released in May.
Stevens, a pit bull enthusiast, has said he opposes animal cruelty. In court documents, he maintained he did not stage the dogfights and that the videos were intended to be instructional guides for pit bull owners.
He has garnered support from major news organizations and free-speech advocates, who argued that the law could discourage efforts to investigate such activities as seal clubbing or animal testing in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries if video or photographic images are obtained.
"Images of bullfighting in Spain, historical footage of cockfighting in Louisiana and documentaries about clubbing seals in Canada all could be prosecuted under the statute," the American Civil Liberties Union stated in a court brief supporting Stephens.Animal-rights groups and free-speech advocates squared off in a major First Amendment... more
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U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Ginsburg was hospitalized on Thursday after feeling faint and light-headed. Ginsburg was taken to the Washington Hospital Center according to a press statement from the court.U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Ginsburg was hospitalized on Thursday after feeling... more
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Sonia Sotomayor became the Supreme Court's newest justice Saturday, pledging during a brief ceremony at the high court to defend the Constitution and administer impartial justice.
Sotomayor, 55, is the first Hispanic justice and only the third woman in the court's 220-year history.
She took the second of two oaths of office from Chief Justice John Roberts in an ornate conference room, beneath a portrait of the legendary Chief Justice John Marshall. Her left hand resting on a Bible that was held by her mother, Celina, Sotomayor pledged to "do equal right to the poor and to the rich."
Minutes earlier, she swore a first oath in a private ceremony in the room where the justices hold their private conferences.
Sotomayor wore a cream-colored suit and her right ankle, fractured in a fall a couple of weeks after her nomination to the court, was unbandaged. Her 60 or so guests included Justice Anthony Kennedy, White House counsel Greg Craig and other members of the Obama administration team that helped prepare her for her Senate confirmation hearings, family and friends.
Roberts, wearing his black judicial robe, said that once the oaths were done, Sotomayor could "begin work as associate justice without delay."
President Barack Obama scheduled a White House reception for Sotomayor on Wednesday.
The court is set to hear arguments Sept. 9 in a campaign finance case. The entire court will convene the day before for a formal ceremony to welcome Sotomayor.
Sotomayor has been a federal judge for 17 years. Obama nominated her in May to take the place of Justice David Souter after Souter announced his retirement. The Senate confirmed Sotomayor's nomination Thursday by a 68-31 vote.
The oath that Sotomayor took in private is prescribed by the Constitution and required of all federal officials. The second oath, taken in front of a television audience, is spelled out in the 220-year-old federal law that established the federal court system.Sonia Sotomayor became the Supreme Court's newest justice Saturday, pledging... more
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