Former first lady Roselynn Carter weighs in against the juvenile death penalty:

Adolescents are not adults. They lack full capacity to reason, control impulses and understand consequences. They do not handle social pressures and other stresses like adults do and therefore, are less culpable than adults who commit crimes. Scientific studies demonstrate their lessened responsibility. We previously believed that the brain was fully developed by age 14, but recent studies have revealed that it continues to mature until the early 20s.

We also know that the frontal lobe, which controls the brain's most complex functions -- particularly reasoning -- undergoes more change during adolescence than at any other time. It is the last part of the brain to develop. Such findings have led the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Society of Adolescent Psychiatry to oppose the death penalty for juveniles.

The United States will soon become the last nation on Earth that executes juvenile offenders. There are only four countries remaining where juveniles reportedly are executed, and the United States and Somalia are the only two countries that have not ratified the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits capital punishment for those under 18. Somalia has recently signed the Convention and announced its intention to ratify.

Mrs. Carter urges the Florida Supreme Court to rule the juvenile death penalty "cruel and unusual punishment" in a case set to be determined this year.

Meanwhile, the American public should send a message to the court through their state legislatures that ''evolving standards of decency'' do not tolerate executing juvenile offenders.

Say hello to the new Baghdad blogger Raed in the Middle. He says he used to co-blog on Where is Raed? and describes himself as "a left winged secular muslim."

A hearing in the Rush Limbaugh doctor-shopping investigation case was held today. Roy Black argued that police violated Rush's rights by getting search warrants instead of subpoenas for his doctors' records. Rush Limbaugh invited his radio audience to the hearing by putting videotaped gavel-to-gavel coverage of the hearing on his website.

by TChris

If your allergies act up or you catch a cold in Oklahoma, you're going to need a picture ID to buy popular cold tablets. The Governor just signed a law requiring users of pseudoephedrine to purchase the medication from a pharmacist, who must keep a record of the sale that includes the buyer's signature. No more picking up a box of Sudaphed at the grocery store, unless you get it in liquid or gel capsule form.

Pseudoephedrine is used by do-it-yourself chemists to make methamphetamine, prompting Oklahoma to regulate its sale. The purchase of other items often used in the process of making meth -- including drain cleaner, antifreeze, iodine, and water -- has not yet been restricted.

Wealthy beer magnate Peter Coors will vie for the Colorado Senate seat being vacated by Ben Nighthorse Campbell. Why? Daily Kos says it's a sign the Republicans are giving up on the seat:

Ex-congressman Bob Schaffer was the only one to enter, and a Rocky Mountain poll showed him far behind presumptive Democratic nominee Ken Salazar (49-34). Clear that the national Republican party was surrendering this race for better pickings in the rash of open Democratic seats in the south, the Colorado GOP started looking for a wealthy self-funding candidate.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, is proposing a new rule that would allow federal agencies to use sweat, saliva and hair in federal drug testing programs that now only test urine. SAMHSA's new proposed federal drug testing guidelines re: hair, saliva and sweat testing are now available online here:

“These proposed rules will largely affect federal employees and job applicants in safety and security-related positions,” SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie explained. “Hopefully, federal employees found to be using illegal drugs will seek treatment to allow them to attain a healthy life in the community. At the same time, we believe that drug testing provides a powerful deterrent to the destructive and dangerous conditions drug use creates.”

About 400,000 federal workers in testing designated positions – those who have security clearances, carry firearms, deal with public safety or national security, or are presidential appointees – are drug tested when they apply for jobs. Some are subject to random drug testing during their employment. Other federal employees are tested only if they are involved in a workplace accident or show signs of possible drug use.

by TChris

A Utah woman, charged with murder for failing to follow a doctor's advice to have a prompt Caesarean section, entered a guilty plea to two felony counts of child endangerment. When the procedure was eventually performed, the woman, who has a history of mental health problems, gave birth to a baby girl (since adopted), while a male baby was stillborn. TalkLeft has background information about the woman, Melissa Rowland, and her case here.

A plea agreement calls for the prosecution to recommend concurrent terms of zero to five years in prison, as well as probation and drug treatment. The woman's lawyer says she wanted to resolve the case as quickly as possible. She will be sentenced April 29.

by TChris

According to a statement issued by U.S. Marines, rockets were fired at, and a 500 pound bomb was dropped upon, the mosque compound in Fallujah that was the subject of a posting earlier today. But a statement released by the Marines says that "one insurgent was killed and that there were no reports of civilian casualties."

Contrast this report:

U.S. marines in a fierce battle for this Sunni Muslim stronghold bombed a mosque compound filled with worshippers Wednesday and witnesses said as many as 40 people were killed.

An Associated Press reporter saw cars ferrying the dead and wounded from the mosque.

So which is it? One dead insurgent and no civilian casualties after Marines bombed a mosque compound out of "military necessity"? Or 40 dead after Marines bombed a mosque compound filled with worshippers?

The truth may get sorted out eventually, but the incident remains bad press for an occupying country trying to gain the support of Iraqi citizens. Even more troubling, from the standpoint of winning the hearts and minds of Iraqis, is this statement in the AP report about a different incident:

Sixteen children and eight women were reported killed when warplanes struck four houses late Tuesday, said Hatem Samir, a Fallujah Hospital official.

Addendum: William Beeman explains why the Bush administration's approach to the governance of Iraq hasn't worked, isn't working, and won't work after the transition to sovereignty. His thesis -- that the administration failed to win the confidence of the Iraqi people in the early days of the occupation, when it might have been possible to gain trust by providing adequately for basic needs -- is sound. It should be obvious even to the Bush administration that policing a country by killing the innocent will not inspire trust or good will.

Lea Fastow, wife of indicted Enron exec Andrew Fastow, appeared in court for sentencing today. She had a deal with prosecutors, not binding on the judge, for a five to ten month sentence, with five months in jail and five on house arrest. The Judge said no dice, he wanted to give her 10 to 16 months. She exercised her right under the plea agreement to withdraw her plea, and now must go to trial.

Her lawyer says it's back to the drawing board. Andrew Fastow's deal with the feds to cooperate against others in exchange for ten years won't be affected by his wife's decision.

"The government pointed out if she hadn't been Lea Fastow, she probably wouldn't even have been charged," he said. "This is not a case about Enron. She had no part in the fall." DeGuerin suggested that perhaps the judge had something to prove: "that you can't bind Judge Hittner to a sentence."

The sentencing memo filed by Mrs. Fastow's lawyers yesterday is here.

by TChris

In an effort to strike back after four American private security guards were killed in Falluja last week, American and Iraqi security forces yesterday "began to push inward in search of rebels and suspects connected to the killing." The effort is unlikely to win support among the Iraqi people, however, in light of reports that a U.S. helicopter fired three missles into a mosque as worshipers gathered for afternoon prayers.

Witnesses say that more than 40 people were killed in the attack.

by TChris

A priest in Ohio has been placed on probation for two years after pleading guilty to growing marijuana in his church residence. Rev. Richard Arko told the court he was cultivating the 35 plants for medical use, and says he prays for the day that Ohio recognizes the benefits of marijuana.

Although probation would be the norm for a first offense in Ohio, prosecutors asked for a prison sentence, arguing that a priest should be held to a higher standard than others. Fortunately, Judge Patricia Cosgrove declined to make an example of Rev. Arko, citing letters she received from parishoners attesting to Rev. Arko's positive contributions to their lives.

The marijuana plants were discovered after an informant purchased marijuana from a man who was living in the parish house. After Rev. Arko's arrest, the informant, Andrew Smith, claimed that Rev. Arko has been sexually assaulting him since he was 15. However, Smith is accused of stealing credit cards and checks from Rev. Arko and the parish, rendering his belated abuse claims suspect.

Amnesty International has just released the results of its study of world executions for 2003. The top three: China, the U.S., and Iran. Together with country #4, Vietnam, they account for 84% of all executions.

Amnesty International's figures also showed that 77 countries had abolished the death penalty for all crimes by the end of 2003....This year's figures show that as the majority of countries follow an abolitionist path, others choose to remain on the wrong side of the justice divide", Amnesty International said. "Countries retaining the death penalty because of its supposed power as a unique deterrent to crime are flying in the face of scientific studies that fail to establish any such effect."

Amnesty further reports: