Recent Oregon ruling on secret warrants may set troublesome precedent Earlier in March, an Oregon federal court heard oral arguments on a motion in United States v. Battle, a case against five terrorism suspects. The defendants are accused of conspiring to assist al Qaeda forces in fighting U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Arrested last October, the five are predominantly African-American converts to Islam; the government alleges that together, they constituted a terrorist cell. FULL STORY
Patriot II's attack on citizenship A basic principle of American democracy is that members of government serve at the behest of the citizenry, and not vice-versa. The people, being sovereign, can use their votes to "throw the bastards out," even though the government has no reciprocal power to jettison disfavored citizens. FULL STORY
Medicating prisoners for execution: A ruling raises more questions In early February, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit decided the case of Singleton v. Norris. The court there approved the forcible medication of death row inmates who would otherwise be incompetent - that is, too mentally impaired - to be executed. FULL STORY
