I watched just the tail end of President Obama's press conference last night but have read the full transcript this morning and want to start by saying that, on paper, Obama's performance was brilliant. His command of the facts, the policies and concerns of the American People demonstrate why his approval ratings right now are so high and why I still have very high hopes for his Presidency. I noticed much less deference from the President for the Masters of the Universe of Wall Street. Perhaps the President has gotten tired of hearing their excuses, whining and dissembling. Perhaps the stress tests have opened his eyes. I get the feeling the Geithner's rope has been shortened on these matters. But actions will speak louder than words. More . .

Kearie Brown is charged with felony murder in Kansas City. She allegedly shot a 16-year-old in the head as he tried to drive away from a carjacking. Kearie was 13 at the time.

Understandably, the victim's father finds it difficult to wrap his head around the accusation that a 13-year-old girl killed his son.

"It's hard to even begin to know how to feel about it. I can't hate a child," said [Scott] Sappington Sr.

At 14, Kearie is indeed a child. But when she goes to court she'll be tried as if she were an adult. It is as if the juvenile justice system hates children. [more ...]

We don't really need another open thread yet, but American Idol is on and the Denver Nuggets are in the playoffs. 47 million people voted last night in AI. My prediction: Allison or Matt goes home tonight. I hope it's Matt.

Update: Adam is in the bottom two with Matt. Really a surprise. Next, Matt goes home, not a surprise.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

President Obama is on TV talking about his first 100 days. I just tuned in. He's answering a question, off the cuff, going through a list of emotions from surprise to enchanted to humble.

It's refreshing to see him speak without a teleprompter.

Your reactions to the presser?

A Nebraska resident petitioned a Lancaster County judge to change his name from Jonathan Thomas to Sinner Lawrence Bilskirnir. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

Thomas will probably spend the next five years finishing up his felony sentences, a fact that influenced the judge's denial of Thomas' request. Law enforcement and correctional agencies, as well child support enforcement agencies, need to keep track of Thomas, according to the judge. That's fine, but wouldn't it be easier to keep track of Sinner Lawrence Bilskirnir than Jon Thomas?

Thomas asked for the name change “because he is a heathen and Thor is his ‘High God.’” The judge was unimpressed. “Simply because a person is a Christian, a Jew or a Muslim, they do not change their name to Moses,” he ruled. It seems that Moses Malone was fortunate to have parents who made him a Moses from the start.

Politics, like life, is full of trade-offs. As Mick Jagger and Keith Richards reminded us long ago, You Can't Always Get What You Want. But in politics as in life, sometimes you can get what you want, particularly if you're in a superior bargaining position.

Arlen Specter apparently got what he wanted from Harry Reid: retention of the seniority he earned while serving on Senate committees as a Republican. In exchange, Reid got what he wanted: a new Democrat. Win-win? Not for Democrats who might get bumped by Specter's seniority.

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For the reasons expressed here, I'm disappointed to report that the Hate Crimes Law has passed the House. It's H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

As if murder doesn't already carry life in prison? As if assault with a deadly weapon, attempted murder, using a bomb or firearm in commission of a crime don't already carry stiff sentences?

At least the bill stops short of authorizing a penalty of life plus cancer.[More..]

Update: Here is the letter 75 organizations and law professors sent to the Senate urging the complete elimination of the disparity.

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As I wrote here, this is a bill we need. It now has 23 sponsors in the House. It would end mandatory minimums in all drug cases.

Major Drug Trafficking Prosecution Act of 2009 - Requires the Attorney General's prior written approval for a federal prosecution of an offense under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) or the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (CSIEA), or for any conspiracy to commit such an offense, where the offense involves the illegal distribution or possession of a controlled substance in an amount less than that specified as a minimum for an offense under CSA or, in the case of any substance containing cocaine or cocaine base, in an amount less than 500 grams.

Modifies CSA (Controlled Substances Act)and CSIEA to delete specified mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment.

Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzón has decided he will investigate allegations of torture by four released Guantanamo detainees.

Via Center for Constitutional Rights:

The writ did not name specific officials as defendants but speaks of investigating the roles of those responsible for authorizing, planning and executing the torture program, particularly in light of the newly release torture memos and the Senate Armed Services Committee report. The case could lead to arrest warrants in Europe....

This is a different and broader investigation than the one we've written about here. [More...]

BTD is traveling this afternoon. Here's an open thread for you, all topics welcome.

Update: In the news: Via Sentencing Law and Policy, a Utah woman was sent to jail for 30 days for contempt for texting in court.

As I wrote yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing this morning on the need to revise the disparate 100:1 ratio of penalties for crack and powder cocaine. Here is Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer's written testimony.

The Administration believes Congress’s goal should be to completely eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine.

Until that change from Congress comes:

However, we recognize that federal courts have the authority to sentence outside the guidelines in crack cases or even to create their own quantity ratio. Our prosecutors will inform courts that they should act within their discretion to fashion a sentence that is consistent with the objectives of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) and our prosecutors will bring the relevant case-specific facts to the courts’ attention.

[More...]

Economy shrank by 6.1% in 1st Quarter:

The U.S. economy contracted at a surprisingly sharp 6.1 percent rate in the first quarter as exports and business inventories plummeted. The drop in gross domestic product, reported by the Commerce Department on Wednesday, was much steeper than the 4.9 percent annual rate expected by economists and followed a 6.3 percent decline in the fourth quarter. GDP, which measures total goods and services output within U.S. borders, has now dropped for three straight quarters for the first time since 1974-1975.