the meek shall inherit the Earth

Roadside Crosses

The motorcyclists stop there and breathe over the two white crosses tied with yellow and black ribbons. There are a couple of tall white glass candles, the Jesus ones in the Goya section of Wegmans. I think one must’ve been young, so many of them stop by the highway where it leans northeast as you’re……

Protecting humans from search and seizure in a Sanctuary City

There are legal advocates and activists in Sanctuary Cities who think that under the Fourth Amendment all searches and seizures of persons in the United States require the state actor to seek and obtain a warrant, supported by probable cause, signed by a judge, before the search or seizure occurs. The current legal reality is……

What Fourth Amendment?

The below list uses currently binding federal and New York State law.  The Fourth Amendment has so many exceptions to the requirement by the State to seek a warrant based upon probable cause, that a crime has been committed or is about to be committed;  such warrant signed by a judge, whenever the state wants……

President Trump and the Elements of Treason

Trump should be tried and imprisoned for treason “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in……

the changing of the seasons

In Late November, sunlight budges the clouds “NO CUTTING” hisses Autumn– the Politeness Police, apparently, protecting Clouds which were jaywalking to begin with Throwing looks (WHAT?) to the sky. All of them P.I.N.S, practically. “WALK, don’t run,” November says coldly. Meantime the leaves pause (Was the scolding intended for them? Is the interpretation optional?) They……

the fort

The fort in the corner of the field was the safest place I constructed my whole life this far.  I was nine when I built it.  It blocked some of the wind, but not entirely.  The southeast corner of it held a shelf made out of a pine board that I had perched onto the……

the go-ahead for free (hate) speech

Tonight, I read about the First Amendment, especially freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.  I read the per curium opinion in Brandenburg v. Ohio. I read the concurrence by Black and Douglas. I read the Memorandum of Opinion of the judge who, over the objection of the city, granted the permit of the white supremacists……

On search and seizure, sometimes

Did you know the Constitution gave you, once, freedom from unreasonable search and seizures, the government was required to get a warrant signed by judge, based on probable cause, before it could execute a search. Then if the government actor wanted to talk to you, by the same Fourth Amendment privilege, he had to tell……

Wealth-based discrimination: there ought to be a law

I was part of the Housing Group at the Rochester Anti-Poverty Initiative’s planning session last year. We recommended support for a law protecting residents in the City of Rochester against unfairness in housing based on “source of income.” (So, advertisements that say, “No Section 8 NEED apply” would be prohibited. I was very glad to……