Author Archive for: bmaz
About bmaz
Bmaz is a rather large saguaro cactus in the Southwestern Sonoran desert. A lover of the Constitution, law, family, sports, food and spirits. As you might imagine, a bit prickly occasionally. Bmaz has attended all three state universities in Arizona, with both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Arizona State University, and with significant post-graduate work (in physics and organic chemistry, go figure) at both the University of Colorado in Boulder and the University of Arizona. Married, with both a lovely child and a giant Sasquatch dog. Bmaz has been a participant on the internet since the early 2000’s, including active participation in the precursor to Emptywheel, The Next Hurrah. Formally joined the Emptywheel blog as an original contributing member at its founding in 2007. Bmaz grew up around politics, education, sports and, most significantly, cars; notably around Formula One racing and Concours de Elegance automobile restoration and showing. Currently lives in the Cactus Patch with his lovely wife and beast of a dog, and practices both criminal and civil trial law.
At Mastodon: @[email protected]
Entries by bmaz
5th Amendment Silence: One Day In Salinas We Let It Slip Away
/19 Comments/in Ideas and Ideology, Law/by bmazThere is a famous line in the famous Kris Kristofferson song “Me and Bobby McGee” that reads: Then somewhere near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away Today the United States Supreme Court let a bit of the 5th Amendment backbone right to silence slip away down the slippery slope. In the case of Salinas […]
Fast Times At Monaco High – Memorial Day Trash Talk
/48 Comments/in Trash Talk/by bmazHey there fellow lugnuts at the Emptywheel garage, how about some Memorial Day Holiday Trash Talk? We haven’t taken out the trash lately, so it is time. There are a few things on tap to chat about. First up is the Gran Prix de Monaco, the crown jewel of the Formula One season. F1 is […]
Federal Judge Blasts Joe Arpaio’s Racial Profiling and Detention Policy
/13 Comments/in Arizona Politics, Culture, Law/by bmazIn a scathing decision just entered by Judge Murray Snow in the District Court for the District of Arizona, the court has hammered the racial profiling and detention policies of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The case is Melendres v. Arpaio, and the Arizona Republic described the decision thusly: The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has […]
Scott Bloch Sentencing Blocked By The Court
/8 Comments/in Blogs Internet and New Media, Bush Administration, Congress, Department of Justice, Law, Obama Administration, Press and Media/by bmazI have been a bit busy lately, so this is a tad late; but I should probably give the update on the Scott Bloch criminal sentencing that was scheduled for 9:30 am Monday morning May 13 in DC District Court in front of Judge Robert L. Wilkins. As you will recall, this blog has covered […]
Former Bush Special Counsel Scott Bloch Bullies Journalists and Threatens 1st Amend Speech Before Criminal Sentencing
/13 Comments/in Blogs Internet and New Media, Bush Administration, Congress, Department of Justice, Law, Leak Investigations, Obama Administration, Press and Media/by bmazWhen this blog last substantively left the continuing saga of Bush/Cheney Special Counsel Scott Bloch, it was with these words: So, between August 2, 2011 and December 21, 2012, a period of nearly a year and a half’s time, the DOJ has done nothing whatsoever in furtherance of prosecuting Scott Bloch. Until today. And the […]
Tsarnaev: Right to Counsel, Not Miranda, Is the Key
/65 Comments/in Congress, Department of Justice, Domestic Policy, Law, Obama Administration, Terrorism/by bmazSince Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was taken into custody just over a week ago, the hue and cry in the public and media discussion has centered on “Miranda” rights and to what extent the “public safety exception” thereto should come into play. That discussion has been almost uniformly wrongheaded. I will return to this shortly, but for […]
Final Four Championship Trash Talk
/42 Comments/in Trash Talk/by bmazBIG CHAMPIONSHIP GAME UPDATE! Well, I was two for two in my predictions for the semi-final games Saturday. Considering the poor quality of my prognostications lately, that is smokin hot. So, I am back for more! The scouting really has not changed; Louisville still has the three headed punch and the big game skilz of […]
Odds and Ends
/14 Comments/in Department of Justice, Indefinite Detention, Law, Obama Administration, Terrorism/by bmazFirst off, let’s wish Marcy a big Happy Birthday! The woman is doing nothing but getting younger and smarter. Amazing. Secondly, my fine Emptywheel friends, I’d like to apologize, I got a little sidetracked today with some work and duties with my daughter, Jenna. And, honestly, far more of my day was spent learning about […]
DOMA’s Day At The Supremes
/31 Comments/in Congress, Culture, Department of Justice, Domestic Policy, Elections--Historical, Ideas and Ideology, Law, Obama Administration, prop 8/by bmazUPDATE: HERE IS THE AUDIO OF TODAY’S ARGUMENT HERE IS THE TRANSCRIPT OF TODAY’S ARGUMENT I am going to do something different today and put up a post for semi-live coverage – and discussion – of the DOMA oral arguments in the Supreme Court this morning. First, a brief intro, and then I will try […]