Author Archives: Michael Froomkin

Wikileaks: Judge Vacates Both Orders

The NYT has a good summary at Judge Reverses His Order Disabling Web Site, but the headline is a bit misleading. In fact the judge didn't just vacate the TRO against Dynadot, as the full text of the order makes clear, he vacated both orders.

It's no so much a ruling on the merits as a recognition that there are substantial First Amendment issues, a real question as to whether the court has jurisdiction over Wikileaks if it is based outside the US, and that the order wasn't working anyway.

TROs and injunctions were part of the equity jurisdictions of courts (we've merged law and equity in the US, but the sources still matter sometimes). The court doesn't quote it, but there's an old maxim that “equity will not do a useless thing”. As much as anything, that, plus an excellent campaign of judicial education by EFF and the ACLU, explains the outcome.

Posted in Law: Free Speech | Comments Off on Wikileaks: Judge Vacates Both Orders

Sen. McConnell Sings the Congressional Republican Songbook

Sen. Mitch McConnell revives an American Classic of political song in this little video, Elephant Feathers: or Whatever It Is, Mitch Is Against It!

Posted in Politics: US | 1 Comment

Secret Service Tightens Obama Security

OK, this is more like it: Security tight at Obama rally in Fort Worth. But it does make you wonder about the earlier claims that all was well with transparently inadequate security.

Previous items:

(thanks to D. for the link)

Posted in Politics: US: 2008 Elections | Comments Off on Secret Service Tightens Obama Security

17 Is A Nice Prime Number

According to The Race to the Bottom: Faculty Blogs and Influence: The Top 50 Most Influential Law Blogs (In Order) this here blog is tied for #17 with Workplace Prof Blog, Prof. Rafael Gely's far more serious production.

As you would expect, many of the top 50 are group blogs.

What shall I do with all this power and influence?

Posted in Discourse.net | 4 Comments

Wikileaks: Hearing Tomorrow, Posturing Today

Tynan on Technology (beta), Bank Julius Baer emerges from hibernation, issues official statement (which Tynan kindly deconstructs for us).

Meanwhile, the next hearing is tomorrow.

Posted in Law: Free Speech | Comments Off on Wikileaks: Hearing Tomorrow, Posturing Today

The McCain Songbook

From the folks at Bravenewfilms comes, John McCain sings “Bomb Iran”:

Posted in Politics: McCain | Comments Off on The McCain Songbook