Current Event Debate #2

This article talks about how we should keep the death penalty. The writer talks about how the vilest criminals can only be stopped with the death penalty. He discusses the events revolving around Lawrence Singleton, who kidnapped, raped and attempted murder on a woman named Mary Vincent. After serving eight years in prison, he was let out on parole for good behavior. He was relocated to Florida, where he killed a 31-year-old woman. The jury recommended the death penalty, but Singleton died of cancer in prison before he could receive his punishment. He argues that if he had received the death penalty for his first crime, it could have saved the life of the 31-year-old. He explains that with our modern technology, we can avoid false accusations, and the death penalty is a viable punishment for those who commit terrible crimes.

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20130423/death-penalty-deters-criminals-limits-suffering-guest-opinion#disqus_thread

Current Event Debate

This article talks about how the death penalty is declining in Texas due to rulings by the Supreme Court. The rulings limit what crimes may result in the death penalty, and who may be punished. For example, the Supreme Court ruled that anyone under the age of 18 may not receive the death penalty. This has had a big impact on the decline of the death penalty in Texas, because Texas used to lead the nation in sentencing minors to the death penalty prior to the ruling. The death penalty is in decline, but it is nowhere near being abolished in the Lone Star state.

Link: http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/10/texas-death-penalty-executions/382057/

6th Amendment Current Event

The current event I selected deals with the sixth amendment, specifically the Confrontation Clause. A man named by Antonio Vaughn was convicted of dealing cocaine and maintaining a common nuisance. The charges result in a 40 year sentence. During the trial, videos, photographs, and recorded phone calls, along with statements used during the calls, were used as evidence. However, Mr. Vaughn claimed that the evidence was "inadmissable and highly prejudicial hearsay", and violated his sixth amendment right. He also claimed that because the confidential witness did not take the stand, it also violated his sixth amendment right. However, the Court of Appeals rejected the statements, saying that the "Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment does not prohibit “the use of testimonial statements for purposes other than establishing the truth of the matter asserted.”

http://www.theindianalawyer.com/admission-of-video-and-recorded-statements-did-not-violate-sixth-amendment/PARAMS/article/34645

4th Amendment Current Event

This article is about how police officers must get a warrant in order to search the cell phone of a suspect. The law was passed because cell phones may contain a ton of personal data, which police officers don't have the right to access. As Chief Justice John Roberts says, "With all they contain and all they may reveal, they hold for many Americans the privacies of life." The message that Roberts was sending was quite clear: "Get a warrant." This article relates to the Fourth Amendment because the it protects citizens from unreasonable search and seizure of personal effects, such as cell phones.

http://www.theindianalawyer.com/get-a-warrant-to-search-cellphones-justices-say/PARAMS/article/34464

9/11 Hero: Pablo Ortiz

Pablo Ortiz and his family

Pablo Ortiz, also known as one of the "Heroes of the 88th floor" is my 9/11 hero. He sacrificed his life to save others in the North Tower attack. In total, he and his friend Frank Demartini saved the lives of 77 people.

Hour of Code Completion Certificate

Native American Research

Navajo Tribe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navajo_people
http://navajopeople.org/


Sioux Tribe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sioux
http://www.sioux.org/index.php/main/inner/sioux/our_story_our_culture

Hello World!

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