12.15.14
If wars in the 21st century will be fought over water, as this 60 Minutes segment begins, then Justice Mahlon Pitney is the Sun Tzu of the upcoming conflict. In his 1909 opinion in Meeker v. East Orange, New Jersey Chancellor Pitney (who later served on the United States Supreme Court) presaged the arms race […]
12.8.14
Defining Ideas
For the past two years, I have taught a course in criminal procedure at the University of Chicago Law School. A key component of that course dealt with police behavior leading up to an arrest. In the class, I pointed out that relations between the police and the public have improved from the bad old […]
12.1.14
Defining Ideas
As most people by now know, on August 9 of this year, 18 year-old Michael Brown, a black man, was shot and killed by Darren Wilson, a 28 year-old white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. On November 19, the Ferguson Grand Jury decided not to indict Wilson. Few events this year have attracted more attention […]
11.26.14
Forbes
It has been some time since my last Forbes column on Fannie and Freddie. After eight weeks in Court, it appears as though the AIG trial, in which former AIG CEO Maurice (“Hank”) Greenberg is mounting a challenge to recover some $40 billion for shareholders from the United States, by attacking all the steps in the multi-billion […]
11.24.14
Defining Ideas
On Thursday November 20, President Obama delivered a controversial address to the nation on the contentious subject of immigration. In it, he outlined his plan to grant amnesty to some 3.5 million illegal immigrants in the United States. Recent polling data suggests that the President is sailing in choppy waters.
11.19.14
The Libertarian
Richard Epstein critiques President Obama’s call for net neutrality regulations and explains how to preserve online innovation.
11.17.14
Defining Ideas
This past week, we witnessed the occurrence of two events with the capacity to reshape the Internet for the worst. First, the White House offered a full-throated endorsement “for the strongest possible rules” in support of “net neutrality,” which would prevent telecommunications suppliers from offering their customers priority services in exchange for higher rates.
11.10.14
Defining Ideas
In the aftermath of the decisive Republican sweep of the midterm elections, the question on everyone’s mind is how the Republicans will govern now that they control the Senate and have a larger cushion to work with in the House.
11.3.14
Defining Ideas
With the elections upon us, the President’s judicial and political accomplishments are nothing to write home about.
11.1.14
Forbes
Judge Margaret Sweeney should reject the government’s motion and allow the discovery to go forward in her court in accordance with her original order. The arguments here go both to matters of procedure and to substance.