Author Archives: Michael Froomkin

Not the Smartest Thing to Wear to Court

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Michael Froomkin

A man accused of drug trafficking showed up for court Friday in Fort Lauderdale sporting a jacket that bore a cartoon-style recipe for cooking crack cocaine.

…

The man’s white jacket looked like a how-to guide for making crack cocaine, with a series of little pictures of a white substance with a spoon, a carton of baking soda and a little pot over a fire. The end product was a "rock," slang for the drug.

via MiamiHerald.com, Man wears ‘crack jacket’ to court.

My question is whether this sort of thing is common only in Broweird, as we so fondly call it, or is this more common? I sort of fear it might be national.

Posted in Florida, Law: Criminal Law, Law: Practice | Comments Off on Not the Smartest Thing to Wear to Court

Today’s Bizzaro Polling Experience

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Michael Froomkin

This was my strangest polling experience yet. First, the call was to my office rather than to my home. I don’t think I’ve ever been called with a poll at work before.

Then there was how it went (this is a very close paraphrase, probably not verbatim):

– Hello, says the nice voice, I am calling from Harris Interactive and was wondering if you could answer some questions about China and its relation to the US.

– How long will this take? I ask nervously, looking at the pile of exams.

– It could take as long as 15-20 minutes depending on your answers, says the voice.

– Oh, OK, I say, thinking the exams will have to wait. China is important. Too much giving in to scary mercantilism out there.

– To begin, what is your job title?

– Professor

– Let me look that one up … wait a minute… well, that’s all the questions we have for you today, thank you very much.

How about that?

Posted in Politics: International, The Media | 2 Comments

Victory in the Culture Wars

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Michael Froomkin

I never read comic books as a child (or adult), but I still think this signals victory in the culture wars:

The January issue of Life with Archie will feature the marriage of hometown hero Kevin Keller, to his partner, an African-American, physical therapist, Clay Walker.

via ACLU Blog, Wedding Bells in Riverdale.

(And who knew that Batwoman “is a Jewish lesbian”? Did they do that in the movies too?)

Posted in Law: Con Law: Marriage | Comments Off on Victory in the Culture Wars

The Ultimate Case of Obama Derangment Syndrome

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Michael Froomkin

Conspiracy Theory Claims President Teleported to Mars.

(“Obama Derangement Syndrome” explained.)

Posted in Politics: Tinfoil | 3 Comments

Internet Kill Switch Talk

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Michael Froomkin

Slides from my talk on the Internet ‘Kill Switch’ bill, SB 3480. (link fixed, thanks MD)

Posted in Law: Internet Law, Talks & Conferences | 1 Comment

Going to AALS 2012 in Washington, DC

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Michael Froomkin

I haven’t been to the AALS in a long time — maybe not since 2005? — but I’m going this year. The American Association of Law Schools annual convention is the largest meeting of US-based law professors, with some 2,500 attendees. It’s part trade association meeting, part academic conference, part social event. I’m not convinced it does any of those three things terribly well, although there were always some sections that I thought put on good programs including the section on Administrative Law and the section on the Internet and Computer Law.

The main reason I’m going is that I’m speaking on the Internet and Computer Law Section’s panel on the “The Legal and Policy Implications of the Internet Kill Switch,” scheduled for 4:00-5:45 p.m. on Friday, January 6th in Delaware Suite A on the Lobby Level of the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. I think it will be an interesting panel, and I will post my slides once they are more polished.

I’ll also be doing some publicity for the online law journal I edit, Jotwell, plus hosting an informal event for Jotwell editors and reviewed authors.

As usual, I’ve neglected the social side, so please email me if you are reading this and want to get together. I’ll be around Thursday – Saturday.

Posted in Talks & Conferences | Comments Off on Going to AALS 2012 in Washington, DC