The other day I met a University of Texas Law School first-year student. He told me about a legal research project that included a budget—the students were to keep track of their time, value it at 250 (imaginary) dollars an hour, and stick to an imaginary $4,000 budget. When he thinks of quitting, he says, he thinks about that $250 per hour. I'm not entirely sure UT

(I'm pretty sure my title is a JDogism.) In my recent Texas First Amendment Update I omitted one of the statutes I'm challenging: Texas Penal Code Section 21.12(a)(3), the Improper Relationship Between Educator and Student statute. You'll realize by now that the titles of Texas penal statutes often inaccurately describe the forbidden conduct. For example, the Online Solicitation of a Minor statute forbade non-soliciting communications to adults;

It is clearly free speech. Waving a dildo around to convey a message is symbolic speech, which is speech. Waving a dildo around to protest guns on campus is not obscenity, and it falls into no other historically recognized category of unprotected speech. This, to First Amendment lawyers, goes without saying. And what are the chances that the University of Texas would arrest, ticket, or discipline a

My client was charged by information with intentionally and knowingly display[ing] a deadly weapon, namely, A FIREARM, in a public place and in a manner calculated to alarm This is an accusation of disorderly conduct under Section 42.01(a)(8) of the Texas Penal Code: Sec. 42.01. DISORDERLY CONDUCT. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly: . . . . . (8) displays a firearm

In Ex Parte Fournier, the Court of Criminal Appeals rejected an actual-innocence claim from a guy who had gone to prison for violating Section 33.021(b). I hadn't had a lot of hope for the actual-innocence claim—I figured the state would find a way to wire around the damage done to it by Ex Parte Lo so that it wouldn't have to pay millions in civil claims. Judge

Thus spake Patrick Zarrelli: We called you honestly and professionally about our client. We work in cyber bullying, a real field, that’s important. You instantly began to swear at me, after admitting that you and Greenfield are friends who support each others blogs for SEO purposes. In this case to SEO under my clients name for advertising. Then when I told you why I called, and you

Dear Gary, I had forgotten, to tell you the truth, that I'd written this little bagatelle about your ridiculous Gary Ostrow Lawyer Announces He Is Taking on All Celebrity Criminal Cases in Florida press release. It'd been a couple years, and it wasn't a big deal at the time. It attracted a few comments then slipped my mind. Then I got a phone call today from some

I did not enter into any agreement called a “deferred prosecution agreement” nor even words to that effect.  This statement is false and defamatory and damaging to my professional reputation. . . . . . I never entered a deferred prosecution agreement with the government.  This statement is defamatory and causing me real, financial harm which is calculable. —Dean Boland, October 2015. On the criminal side, the

Email to me from Gaslamp's lawyer Tim Sutherland, subject "post comments": Mark, I called your office to discuss the post on your website. If you would, please provide me with a time that you are free. Thanks, Tim My response: Sure, Tim. As soon as you release the full door video. I have not yet received a response. I'm not holding my breath because my bet is,

Hot air dryers have the potential for depositing pathogenic bacteria onto the hands and body of users. Bacteria can also be inhaled and distributed into the general environment whenever dryers are running. It is recommended therefore that the use of hot air dryers should be carefully considered on health grounds, especially in sensitive locations such as hospitals, catering establishments and food preparation areas. Hot air hand dryers