The Supreme Court issued its decision on Arizona SB 1070 "papers, please" law. the upshot, most got struck down but Arizona law enforcement officials can report undocumented persons to the feds.

Of particular note is Justice Scalia's bizarre rant in dissent:

Would the States conceivably have entered into the Union if the Constitution itself contained the Court’s holding [that the national government has supreme jurisdiction over immigration policy]? [...] Through ratification of the fundamental charter that the Convention produced, the States ceded much of their sovereignty to the Federal Government. But much of it remained jealously guarded[. ...] Now, imagine a provision—perhaps inserted right after Art. I, §8, cl. 4, the Naturalization Clause—which included among the enumerated powers of Congress “To establish Limitations upon Immigration that will be exclusive and that will be enforced only to the extent the President deems appropriate.” The delegates to the Grand Convention would have rushed to the exits.

Never before in my memory has a justice questioned that ""[t]he Government of the United States has broad, undoubted power over the subject of immigration and the status of aliens. See Toll v. Moreno, 458 U. S. 1, 10 (1982)[.]"

Until today.

Open Thread.

The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, today ruled that juvenile sentences to life without parole violate the 8th Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

The opinion is here.

The Supreme Court has invalidated three of the four parts of Arizona's controversial immigration law, SB 1070, but it left intact for now the "show me your papers" provision, saying that part could take effect, although it may be subject to future challenges. The opinion is here.

The clueless Governor of AZ called the decision a victory. [More...]

Mark O'Mara has filed this motion seeking a new bond for George Zimmerman. The motion will be heard June 29. [More...]

104 degrees today, another record broken. The town of Manitou Springs, outside of Colorado Springs, was evacuated today due to the spreading Waldo Canyon Fire. More than 11,000 people have been ordered to leave their homes.

All eyes will be on the Supreme Court this week, as the fate of the Affordable Care Act and Arizona's Immigration law will be decided. Also this week: A decision on whether life without parole for juveniles violates the 8th Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

I've made a new category called "Reference Docs" for the George Zimmerman case. It is for handy access to things like the witness interviews and case photos and maybe some legal documents. I'll be adding to it over the next few days.

I also made a special set of commenting rules for the George Zimmerman case. Please read them.

On to witnesses: Many have focused on Witness 6 (John) and Witness 13, but I'd encourage everyone to listen to the later interviews of W-11, who was the first to call 911 and lives with Jeremy at 1211 Twin Trees Lane. Her audio interviews are available here. [More....]

The New York Times reports on what a Supreme Court defeat of the Affordable Care Act may mean for Obama.

Paul Krugman on the problems with prison privatization.

Dick Cheney is delighted over daughter Mary's marriage to her partner Heather.

Mexico goofs in drug arrest. It parades a 24 year old in front of the cameras, proclaiming to the word he was Chapo Guzman's son. Turns out, he was an innocent car salesman with no connection to Guzman.

BTD -Spain-France at 2:45. Must see at the Euros. Also too, Yanks to avenge loss to Mets yesterday. Let's go SPAIN! Let's go Yanks!

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Jerry Sandusky has been convicted of 45 of 48 counts. He was not guilty of assault on victim 2 (McQueary count), Victim 5 and Victim 6.

He was remanded into custody immediately. He didn't display any emotion. Some of the counts have a 10 year mandatory minimum. Sentencing will be in 90 days. NBC says he will be sentenced to at least 60 years, an effective life sentence.

The cheering by the mob outside the courthouse was disgusting to watch. Do they think this is a football game?

His lawyer said earlier he would be shocked by an acquittal and the atmosphere at the Sandusky residence is like a funeral home.

We need another thread to continue the analysis of the George Zimmerman statements, interviews with police and crime-scene re-enactment.

So many were released yesterday, I doubt anyone but true case afficionados have listened to them all. I know I haven't. Yet across the internet, people are cherry-picking, pointing to minor variations as if they are contradictions affecting the totality of George Zimmerman's version of events.

If George Zimmerman told the exact same story over the course of days, people would say it was rehearsed and false. Variations are to be expected, human memory is not like a video recorder, it changes over time. So what is a reasonable test? How about this? [More...]

Too busy, no blogging.

Open Thread.

Attorney Mark O'Mara has released George Zimmerman's written statement, his audio interviews and the video of the re-enactment of the scene (which disappointingly doesn't show anything but a parked car -- it's really an audio of the re-enactment.)

All of the recordings are available here.

I've only read the written statement and listened to the re-enactment so far, so I'll update later today with my thoughts after I've had an opportunity to listen to all the interviews.

Update: For reference, here is the transcript of the 911 call.

Congressman Jared Polis grills DEA Chief Michele Leonhart on the dangers of heroin and meth as compared to marijuana. Great job by Polis. Not so great job by Leonhart who couldn't answer the simple question of whether methamphetamine or heroin is worse for your health than marijuana.

The hearing was held yesterday by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security and the subject was Oversight of the DEA. Here is Leonhart's prepared testimony. [More...]