Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The civil liberties organization says a bill designed to restrict protests near schools in Baltimore County violates the First Amendment.
A bill that would prohibit protests within 300 feet of any school in Baltimore County is being called offensive and unconstitutional by the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland. "This bill is flagrantly unconstitutional and frankly offensive," said David Rocah, a staff attorney for the Baltimore-based civil liberties organization. "The idea that students need to be protected from political free speech is about as offensive an idea as I can think of. I think Councilman [Todd] Huff ought to be ashamed." The bill, introduced March 18 by Huff, a Timonium Republican, would prohibit any protests within 300 feet of any public or private school in Baltimore County. If passed, protests would be prohibited during school hours or within one …
Monday, July 30, 2012
Four-page opinion hints that justices will likely overturn Maryland ruling involving the collection of samples from people charged with felonies.
UPDATED (6:00 p.m.)—U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts continued a stay in the Maryland Court of Appeals ruling that had stopped police departments in Maryland from collecting DNA samples from some arrestees. With the delay continued, police in Maryland can continue to collect the samples until the Supreme Court issues an opinion. Roberts, in a four-page order, wrote that there is a reasonable chance that Maryland could win its appeal and overturn the Court of Appeals ruling. "[The Maryland Court of Appeals] decision conflicts with decisions of the U. S. Courts of Appeals for the Third and Ninth Circuits as well as the Virginia Supreme Court, which have upheld statutes similar to Maryland’s DNA Collection Act," Roberts wrote. …
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
State sought delay in implementing ruling that declared Maryland's "good and substantial reason" requirement for a gun permit was unconstitutional.
UPDATED (4:16 p.m.)—A U.S. District Court judge has lifted a stay on a federal court ruling that declared Maryland's permitting process to wear and carry a gun unconstitutional. The order, issued by Judge Benson Everett Legg, lifts a stay sought by the state as it appeals the decision made last year. Legg's ruling, which goes into effect in 14 days, lifts the stay sought by the state after a federal court ruled that the law requiring those seeking a permit to carry a gun must have "a good or substantial reason to wear, carry, or transport a handgun, such as a finding that the permit is necessary as a reasonable precaution against apprehended danger." David Paulson, a spokesman for Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler, said the ruling "is…
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Collection resumed at 6 p.m., just one day after Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts stayed a Maryland Court of Appeals ruling.
UPDATED (6:45 p.m.)—Baltimore County police have resumed collection of DNA samples from people arrested on felony charges. County Police Chief Jim Johnson announced the decision late Thursday afternoon. Johnson, in a statement, ordered the resumption of DNA collections beginning at 6 p.m. The decision to once again collect the samples comes one day after Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issues a stay on a Maryland Court of Appeals ruling banning the practice. County officials initially said Wednesday, following Roberts' order, that police would likely wait to resume collecting the samples until after opponents had an opportunity to file a response with Roberts. State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger said he changed his mind after he …
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Chief Justice John Roberts stays Maryland Court of Appeals ruling striking down the collection of DNA samples from people arrested for felonies.
UPDATED (6:21 p.m.)—Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger said a Supreme Court order Wednesday will not result in the immediate resumption of collecting DNA samples from people arrested for certain crimes. "I'm not prepared to tell county police to start collecting DNA from arrestees," Shellenberger said. "I think we need something a little more solid before we start changing procedures." Chief Justice John Roberts' order stayed an April Maryland Court of Appeals ruling that barred law enforcement from collecting DNA samples from people arrested and charged with felonies. The Court of Appeals made the 5-2 ruling in the case of Alonzo King who was arrested in 2009. Wicomico County collected King's DNA at the time of his …
Thursday, June 28, 2012
In Baltimore County, there are mixed reactions to the Supreme Court ruling.
Baltimore-area hospital CEOs and health care providers sounded off on the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Health Care Act. "I'll be honest. My initial reaction was kind of shock because I didn't expect that the entire act would be upheld, but I was incredibly pleased, because I am an absolute believer that we must redesign our health care system," said Dr. John Chessare, president of GBMC HealthCare. "It is letting down the American people." Chessare detailed what the decision means for Greater Baltimore Medical Center in a post on the hospital's blog. Chessare worked in Massachusetts during then-Gov. Mitt Romney's campaign for a similar bill on the state level and said he was "proud" of Romney's work there, saying it …
Do you think President Obama's re-election efforts have been helped by court's ruling?
Much of Maryland is split on Thursday's Supreme Court ruling. Some analysts felt President Barack Obama scored a huge win Thursday. Some officials felt Republican challenger Mitt Romney will benefit from conservative momentum following the decision. Either way, Thursday's Supreme Court ruling—one that upheld the individual mandate that requires the purchase of insurance as a tax—thrust health care to the top of the list of campaign topics heading toward November. We want to hear from you. Vote in our poll. Then tell us in the comments if Thursday's ruling has changed or cemented your vote this November.
Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger explains the benefits of "The Affordable Care Act."
Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger is hailing the Supreme Court's decision to uphold The Affordable Care Act, according to a release from the Baltimore County Democrat's Timonium office. So what does this mean for Maryland? Predictably, conservatives are anticipating the downfall of the United States. Ruppersberger has supported the measure, providing six benefits that will continue under Healthcare Reform. Take a moment to cast a vote in our poll and post your reaction to the Supreme Court's ruling here. (Over 400 votes in an hour.) From the Timonium Office of Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger: “This ruling is not about a victory for Democrats or a loss for Republicans. It’s about providing all Americans with access to quality, affordable …
What does the Supreme Court's ruling on Affordable Health Care mean to you?
Various media are reporting that the Supreme Court has upheld the individual mandate that requires the purchase of insurance as a tax. Stay with Patch throughout the day for updates and local reaction. What does it mean to you? Vote in our poll. While you're at it, don't just vote. Tell us why. Leave a comment, sharing your take on today's ruling. ——— NOTE: This poll is published throughout Maryland's network of Patch sites.
Families USA praise court decision. Rep. Andy Harris calls for the repeal of the law.
UPDATED (3:11 p.m.)—The Supreme Court, in a split decision, has upheld the individual mandate that requires the purchase of insurance as a tax. The announcement allows the Affordable Care Act championed by President Barack Obama to move forward. It's expected that the law would offer health care to more than 30 million Americans, according to the Huffington Post. In a 5-4 opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the majority of the court rejected arguments that the law violated the Constitution's interstate commerce clause. "The individual mandate forces individuals into commerce precisely because they elected to refrain from commercial activity," Roberts wrote. "Such a law cannot be sustained under a clause authorizing Congress to “…
Buck Harmon
10:19 am on Friday, March 29, 2013
Huff is creating his own track record of pulling some pretty dumb stunts...this violation of first amendment rights being just one...if he were truly good at what he does he would be shining...not failing...he might want to re consider mounting tires and doin oil changes... more ›