The criminal justice system is overburdened not by the demands of actual trials but by the enormous preparation required for phantom trials, that is, those that get to the starting gates but not out of them Dealing the hard reality of justice
But sometimes the road to justice is a long one. Korematsu's case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which sided with the government in a 6-3 decision. Ordinary man, extraordinary courage
Eye on Politics & Law Lords: John Paul’s Duality: Neither Left nor Right
John Paul II, born Karol Joseph Wojtyla, was an authentic, formidable, brilliant man who lived in direct and energetic engagement with the world’s people.
To him, this seems to have been the essence of his calling as leader of the "universal church." The Holy Father of the Catholics was not embarrassed to present himself as the brother of every human being, without regard to religious persuasion or ethnic origin. So as he is laid to rest, many outside the church feel impelled to try to assess him with the rigor, candor and compassion that shaped his charismatic persona.
But it is wiser not to pretend to comprehend him too quickly. Although deeply involved in the political struggles of his time, he wasn’t a politician who could be easily categorized in simple monochromatic terms. Behind the images of the warm pastor and the global celebrity were the intellectual and the mystic. In struggling to both adapt and defend an ancient faith, he was complicated and sometimes contradictory.
• Joe Conason, New York Observer [Big Elections in Britain and France - Cragg Hines, Houston Chronicle Over there: head-banging treats for electorally needy ; Public transport pulled over to the slow lane ]
• · Poker machine king Len Ainsworth believes the NSW police licensing unit waged a "vendetta" against him for decades, including writing a letter from a retired policeman which implied that he was not fit to hold a gaming licence. Police out to get me, says pokie king ; Councillor tried to persuade accused to change his tune Andrew Smyrnis tried to convince fellow councillor Adam McCormick to roll over to ICAC
• · · Air quality is under threat because the NSW Government is failing to shift people out of their cars and onto public transport, the Auditor-General has warned. Auditor-general pulls veil on Sydney's dirty air ; The federal and state governments are headed for a fight over the Howard Government's plans to change the way the nation's health system operates. Carr and Abbott trade blows over health
• · · · The Federal Government was so sure Zaky Mallah planned a suicide attack on its offices in Sydney he was the first man in NSW charged under new counter-terrorism laws. Yesterday, he was the first acquitted. Not a terrorist, just an angry loner starved of attention ; A major security scare at Parliament House: Plot to execute Premier uncovered - A former staffer of the Opposition Leader charged with making death threats against the Premier was previously suspected by police of making phone threats to his former Liberal Party boss and a NSW Democrats official. These suspicions were contained in an intelligence report compiled by Special Crime Unit detectives on Julian Evans, 21, who worked for nine months first as a volunteer and then as a paid researcher for the Liberal leader, John Brogden, between 2003 and early last year. Man threatened to slash Carr with dagger, court told ; Google: Threat to slash Carr at 3.06pm
• · · · · Arshad and Samina Ladha have spent six years working seven days a week. What has driven them to work so hard was the dream of owning two investment properties in Sydney. Sell, sell, sell: why one family is getting out of property ; Their biggest fans may only be toddlers, but The Wiggles are proof the children's entertainment business is a lucrative one Wiggles outgun Kidman
• · · · · · There's a certain ambivalence about the Czech Republic's plans to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II - Germans not invited, Red Army honored and state goes low-key Uneasy politics surround WWII anniversary ; Joe Stiglitz questions whether Bush can spread democracy abroad when he undermines it at home. When all is said and done, George Kennan was right: America’s most powerful tool in international affairs is our example Democracy Starts At Home