I’m traveling today with only an iPad and inconsistent Wifi for Internet access, so pardon the short post and untidy formatting in what has been a VERY interesting news week.
1. The court of appeals heard the electronic sweepstakes case this week, as the News and Observer notes here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/10/26/1595110/court-weighs-video-gaming.html
2. John Edwards lost his motions to dismiss his federal criminal case concerning the campaign finance laws, as discussed here:http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2011/10/27/charges-against-edwards-survive-motions-to-dismiss/
3. Superior Court Judge Abe Jones ruled that man convicted of multiple felonies many years ago has a Second Amendment – not just state constitutional – right to possess a gun, even though he isn’t eligible under the new rights restoration statute. The case merits a full discussion, which I’ll save for another time. For now, a good summary and a link to the opinion is here: http://volokh.com/2011/10/27/second-amendment-protects-felon-whose-convictions-were-30-years-ago/
4. The News and Observer ran an editorial arguing that District Attorneys respond to looming elections by taking more cases to trial and by prosecuting more minor crimes. The author is a university economist. See what you think: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/10/25/1592125/do-district-attorneys-campaign.html
5. Finally, huge news in the world of federal criminal law: Vermont’s congressional delegation is pushing to make it a felony to represent something as Maple syrup that isn’t. (It’s currently a misdemeanor.) Be warned: http://volokh.com/2011/10/25/making-fake-maple-syrup-a-felony/