http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.home A Pursuit of Justice is the blog of Retired / Recalled Judge Steven I. Platt. The blog posts on topics related to the intersection of law, economics and politics. Sun, 20 May 2012 06:26:02 GMT http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/113/prosecuting-corruption-cases-in-an-economy-of-influence.cfm Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}  “The line is blurry between the exercise of constitutional rights and the commission of a crime.  That line needs to be straightened and brightened.”  It needs to be straightened with a vision of what the Supreme Court recognized in Caperton v. Massey Coal, but then ignored in Citizens United-whether under a realistic appraisal of psychological tendencies and human weakness there is such a risk of actual bias or prejudgment by an official as a result of campaign contributions that the practice must be forbidden if the guarantee of due process is to be adequately implemented.” Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/113/prosecuting-corruption-cases-in-an-economy-of-influence.cfm http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/112/the-economy-of-influence--can-we-live-with-itcan-we-live-without-it.cfm  “The great threat to our republic today comes now from the hidden bribery of the Gilded Age, but from the Economy of Influence, which has normalized a process that draws our democracy away from the will of the people”…If money is speech as the majority in ­Citizens United held, its vocabulary is severely limited." Fri, 02 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/112/the-economy-of-influence--can-we-live-with-itcan-we-live-without-it.cfm http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/111/corruption-defies-legal-definition.cfm "Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once said about pornography, “We can’t easily define it, but we know it when we see it”.  That is apparently also the case with corruption.  It needs to change because as Aldous Huxley said ominously in this case – “Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored”.  The ”fact” of corruption will continue to cast a dark cloud over the operation of our government and financial institutions if we can’t define it enough to control it." Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:00:00 GMT http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/111/corruption-defies-legal-definition.cfm http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/110/2012-new-years-resolutions.cfm  "We should all listen to the voices of our “gentle ghosts” at least a little more in 2012 than before.  Have a happy and fulfilling New Year" Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:00:00 GMT http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/110/2012-new-years-resolutions.cfm http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/109/corporate-networks-power-and-money-precipitate-crises-of-the-old-order.cfm  “Somehow, somewhere, the backing of formerly mainstream business organizations provided to candidates and organizations whose platforms were thought to thrust toward “limited government” morphed into backing for “knuckleheaded” politicians who interpreted this support as a license if not a mandate to abolish all regulation, all taxes and most government.” Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/109/corporate-networks-power-and-money-precipitate-crises-of-the-old-order.cfm http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/108/the-politics-of-the-shift-of-economic-risk.cfm  “The shifting of economic risk has been successfully undertaken. Dodd-Frank was and is not so much an attempt to shift risk back to the corporate sector as it is to reduce it quantitatively by regulating it.” Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/108/the-politics-of-the-shift-of-economic-risk.cfm http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/107/loss-of-public-trust-and-confidence-caused-by-corruption.cfm 96 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} "The phrase “crony capitalism” has not yet been defined by either Representative Bachman or Governor Palin. I will therefore suggest that Katie Couric be recalled to ask both of them what it means and that neither candidate be permitted to use the phrase again until she has responded to Couric’s inquiry with an answer that is coherent and consistent with well settled principles of law and economics." Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/107/loss-of-public-trust-and-confidence-caused-by-corruption.cfm http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/106/corruption-precipitates-crisis-in-cofidence.cfm "Overly cozy relationships among elites in western societies are ethically dangerous even when they do not involve outright criminality.  These unhealthy links between power , the media and money may be politically explosive as societies become more unequal due to financial and economic crisis." Wed, 24 Aug 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/106/corruption-precipitates-crisis-in-cofidence.cfm http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/105/corruption-may-explain-the-previously-unexplainable.cfm  “Corruption is noticed and scrutinized in a way that is often unwelcome by the business and political elites who are the targets of the media’s focus.” Wed, 27 Jul 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/105/corruption-may-explain-the-previously-unexplainable.cfm http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/104/midnight-in-paris-for-politicians.cfm  "Our politicians don't need to be rescued.  They just need to go to the movies and see "Midnight in Paris."  Then they need to think about it with a view to putting their lives and careers in perspective." Thu, 30 Jun 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/104/midnight-in-paris-for-politicians.cfm http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/103/when-is-the-right-time-to-negotiate.cfm  "These decisions bring into question the continued viability of the institutions and the integrity of the collective bargaining process itself." Wed, 25 May 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/103/when-is-the-right-time-to-negotiate.cfm http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/102/destructive-partisanship-march-canbe-halted.cfm "Those who want to posture and bicker to gain public approval are demonstrably not true partisans because the constituency they most consistently respond to is the combination of their own personal insecurities and their desire for recognition, validation and even adulation from those who feed on them." Mon, 16 May 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/102/destructive-partisanship-march-canbe-halted.cfm http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/100/republicans-and-democrats-as-sunnis-and-shiites.cfm "The type of personality who gets involved in politics for social and/or psychological validation forgets what he believed originally motivated his involvement and morphs into a publicity seeking caricature of himself." Thu, 17 Mar 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/100/republicans-and-democrats-as-sunnis-and-shiites.cfm http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/99/whats-wrong-with-our-broken-political-process.cfm "What is it about these idealogical adversaries that enabled them to sit down with each other, negotiate, and solve problems and why can't politicians learn from them or even emulate them?"  This writer's short answer is the right people must be in the room and their mindset must be reality-based. Wed, 23 Feb 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/99/whats-wrong-with-our-broken-political-process.cfm http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/98/lessons-from-the-conflict-resolution-profession-to-the-world-of-politics.cfm "The Conflict Resolution Profession has some very valuable insight and lessons to offer.  Skillful communication can turn information into power and conflict into opportunities- opportunities for greater understanding, more meaningful solutions and a stronger sense of community."   Mon, 31 Jan 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://apursuitofjustice.com/index.cfm/blog/98/lessons-from-the-conflict-resolution-profession-to-the-world-of-politics.cfm