Finally Free!!!!!!!!

Mychal Bell was finally released yesterday from custody. Thousands had begged and pleaded for his release and their prayers were finally answered when the juvenile court judge decided to lower his bond to $45,000. Earlier in the day, Mr. Bell was transferred to a juvenile facility since his case was rightfully transferred to juvenile court. Authorities in the town of Jena, Louisiana have been criticized for their handling of this case. Mychal and five other teens were all charged with attempted murder following a fight with a white student. Those charges were eventually lowered, but the three white students who hung nooses from a tree at their high school were never charged criminally. All three white students were only suspended from school.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/27/jena.six/index.html
http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/0928/jena_ap.html

A man from Guatemala worked for 11 years in the United States - living frugally to save up money to take back to his home country. As a dishwasher, Pedro Zapeta, made around $5.50 an hour. He was able to save up $59,000, but when he tried to return to his country, US customs officials seized his money. Now, nearly 2 years later, Pedro is still fighting to get his money back.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/27/immigrant.money/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Mistrial

The jury in the murder trial of Phil Spector announced they were hopelessly deadlocked and could not reach a verdict. Judge Larry Fidler declared a mistrial. The jurors were in their 12th day of deliberation, and this is the second time in 8 days that the jurors announced they could not reach a verdict. The two sides will meet in court again on October 3rd. The prosecutor indicated he would seek to retry Mr. Spector.
http://www.courttv.com/trials/spector/092607_ctv.html

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/26/spector.verdict/index.html

Death Penalty

Today the United States Supreme Court agreed to hear the case of two Kentucky prisoners currently on death row. In 2004, two prisoners filed suit alleging that the death penalty method of lethal injection is unconstitutional. Both Ralph Baze and Thomas Clyde Bowling, Jr. claim that it is cruel and unusual punishment.

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/0925/lethal_ap.html

Martin Lee Anderson

Jury selection began today in the Martin Lee Anderson boot camp death case. Seven guards and a nurse who were employed by the boot camp are charged with manslaughter as a result of his death.

http://www.courttv.com/trials/anderson/092407_jury_selection_ap.html
http://justiceformartin.tripod.com/

Jail Overcrowding

A federal judge ruled that inmates could not be forced to sleep on the ground in county jails, stating that such action is unconstitutional. What will this mean for all the county jails that currently force inmates to sleep on the ground?

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/0924/floor_ap.html

Phil Spector

The jurors in the Phil Spector murder trial have deliberated now for 33 hours over a nine day period. This, following 5 months of testimony and a change in the jury instructions following a deadlock among the jurors. The defense has maintained all along that the victim in this case, Lana Clarkson, committed suicide. However, the prosecutor argued that Phil Spector pointed a gun at her and shot her.

http://www.courttv.com/trials/spector