So our favorite idiotic law Professor from yesterday appears to have had a change of heart. I guess my prediction about it not surviving a motion to dismiss can probably never be tested now. The Plaintiff, Professor Donald Jones of the University of Miami, voluntarily agreed to dismiss the case under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(i)(B). He still has the ability to refile, but I highly doubt he is that stupid.
How a Smart Person Can Look Really Stupid
November 3, 2009It seems that University of Miami Professor of Law Donald Jones has it perfected.
Step 1:
Get accused of soliciting an undercover cop for sex in exchange for a payment of $20.
Step 2:
Get said “record” “expunged” after the case is dismissed.
Step 3:
File a lawsuit against a satirical legal blog that found your case hilarious. Make sure to write at a 9th grade level in the complaint and include, by my count anyway, at least one comma splice in the first two pages. Do not retain the services of a lawyer. Because you spend several pages of the complaint beating your chest about being a law professor, you can be sure that the services of another attorney are useless (not to mention that you are not sure anyone will take this frivolous case). Make sure to repeatedly point out that the people who made fun of you are actually racists, and that is why they find it hilarious that a law professor was arrested for (allegedly) breaking the law.
Step 4:
Watch the blogosphere explode with links to your complaint, while even more people laugh at you than before. Ain’t free speech great?
The Irrational Basis for Chief Illiniwek Hatred
November 2, 2009I entered an “argument” today with a Chief Illiniwek hater. I say “argument” because I was not given any analysis as to why our Chief should have been removed from our campus, but rather, conclusions reinforcing the opinion that Chief Illiniwek’s removal from our sporting events was necessary.
Hilarious Political Cartoon from the Daily Illini
October 29, 2009
This was printed in the Daily Illini today.
Of course this is a massive overstatement of the problem, but it is still hilarious. A strike by the graduate students would be a disaster, but revoking Herman’s tenure would be nearly impossible. I do believe that process should begin immediately, but I won’t hold my breath.
In the mean time, enjoy the cartoon.
Jose Padilla’s Case Goes Forward
October 28, 2009
Some of you may be aware of Jose Padilla, the American citizen who was held without charges for years as an “unlawful enemy combatant.” If hearing that part of the story does not shock you into disbelief, his case against former Deputy Attorney General (from the Bush Administration) and current University of California-Berkeley Professor of Law John Yoo will. Yoo is the author of the famous “torture memos” that supposedly authorized the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques on those held as unlawful enemy combatants.
Chancellor Richard Herman Resigns!
October 21, 2009Chancellor Richard Herman resigned yesterday. Here is his final email:
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff, As you likely know, I have given the Board of Trustees my resignation. It has been the great privilege of my life to serve for 11 years as your Provost and Chancellor. I will not reiterate the complicated and agonizing steps that have brought us to this place, except to say that I regret the circumstances. I'm confident that Illinois will be stronger for all that we have learned from the controversy. Ours is a great university--great because of its distinguished history; its brilliant, dedicated and hardworking faculty and staff; and its smart and idealistic students. I am proud that many initiatives launched during my time will continue: the 100 new faculty excellence professors, the ethnic and multiracial studies programs, the Institute for Genomic Biology, and the Illinois Promise Program that has brought 700 students from low income families to campus with the promise that they will graduate debt-free. Yet I did none of this alone. We did it all together. We achieved great things on our watch because greatness is built into the bone and sinew of Illinois. Never doubt it. Always strive for it. And remember that great aspirations must always precede great achievements. The excellence and creativity long embedded in our university was always the source of my inspiration. I thank all of you for helping to make Illinois better. I prepare to step down as Chancellor knowing that my contributions are left behind for others to build upon, as I built upon the contributions of those before me. It would be disingenuous for me not to acknowledge that my resignation pains me deeply. But I do not worry about the University of Illinois. Great institutions are stronger than any one person who leads them. And Illinois is a great institution. As I return to become a member of the faculty, I plan to do my small part to continue to contribute, and I know all of you will do the same. At Illinois, as always, we will go onward and upward.
I’m just glad this trash will be his last. Herman should have been gone in May when I called for his resignation. The best part is this man thinks he will be teaching mathematics at this university. This is alongside former University of Illinois President B. Joseph White, who claims he will be teaching “ethics” in our business school. God help us all.
He will also be taking a year off and drawing his $244,000 Professor salary in the mean time. I cannot fathom how he is worthy of sabbatical leave, but if any of my readers can explain this, I would welcome your comments.
Somehow I am not so sure that Herman will be producing high-quality scholarship while he is on sabbatical leave.
A View Inside the Supreme Court of the United States
October 10, 2009This documentary is perhaps the most wonderful that I have seen showing the inside of the Supreme Court of the United States–the area in which “the nine,” the most prestigious Court in all of our land, hears cases of particular relevance–those in which the path, and the future, of our liberties are tested, won, and, in some cases, are lost as well.
I hope some of my readers will take the time to view this excellent video. Special thanks to Professor Orin Kerr, an author at The Volokh Conspiracy, for providing this link.
Chicago Tribune Sues the University of Illinois over Admissions Scandal Records
October 8, 2009The University of Illinois is engaged in a new fight in the admissions scandal that has been widely reported in the media. This time, it is in court.
The Chicago Tribune newspaper, which first broke the scandal in May, filed a lawsuit in June regarding the names and other details relating to the students who were admitted under Category I, the university code name for the secret admissions list that allowed less-qualified applicants to obtain admission to the elite university. The Daily Illini recently reported that the lawsuit was amended this week, which seeks the names, ACT scores, and high school GPAs of the applicants.
I support this. We live in far too private a society, which has no benefits and substantial costs to our freedom. The words of Justice Brandeis ring loud and clear in this instance:
I think this university needs an awful lot of sunlight to fix this mess.
Chicago Olympic Bid Fails!
October 2, 2009I have not expressed my distaste towards Chicago’s 2016 Olympic bid, but I am glad that it failed. NPR reported that Rio de Janeiro will host the 2016 games. Chicago placed fourth, behind Tokyo, Japan and Madrid, Spain.
Posted by Tim
Posted by Tim
Posted by Tim