Juror Reveals Trial Biases

Hazel Thornton, a former juror from the Menendez brothers’ first trial, has come forward to discuss the impact of homophobia and sexism on the outcome of the case. Thornton, who voted to convict the brothers of voluntary manslaughter, believes these biases affected the verdict. Full details can be read in the original article on TMZ.

Newstro Quick Facts

• Hazel Thornton, a juror in the 1994 trial of Erik and Lyle Menendez, claims that homophobia and sexism among male jurors played a significant role in their decision to convict the brothers, disregarding testimony that the brothers were molested by their father, José Menendez.
• Thornton explained that the trial’s prosecutor focused heavily on Erik Menendez’s alleged homosexuality, which she says influenced the jury’s decision and downplayed the brothers’ claims of abuse, despite testimony from over 50 witnesses about other forms of abuse.
• Thornton also mentioned the recent claims that José Menendez abused Roy Rosselló, a former member of the boy band Menudo, and believes this new evidence strengthens the argument for overturning the brothers’ convictions.

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U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Rules Against Alex Jones in Sandy Hook Case

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has been denied the use of personal bankruptcy as a means to evade defamation verdicts related to his false claims about the 2012 Sandy Hook elementary school tragedy, as per a recent ruling by a U.S. bankruptcy judge.

Quick Facts

• Defamation Verdicts: Alex Jones made repeated false statements about the Sandy Hook massacre, leading to legal consequences.
• Bankruptcy Limitations: While bankruptcy can erase certain debts and legal judgments, it doesn’t apply to “willful or malicious injury” caused by the debtor.
• Damages: Courts in Connecticut and Texas have mandated Jones to pay up to $1.5 billion in damages for intentionally defaming the families of the victims.

Infowars founder, Alex Jones, has been a controversial figure for his conspiracy theories, especially those concerning the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting. His false claims about the incident have led to significant legal repercussions. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston, Texas, clarified that while bankruptcy can be a tool to nullify debts and legal judgments, it cannot be used in cases where the debt arises from “willful or malicious injury” inflicted by the debtor.

Earlier, courts in both Connecticut and Texas had determined that Jones had intentionally defamed the families of the children who tragically lost their lives in the Sandy Hook massacre. As a result, they ordered him to pay a staggering $1.5 billion in damages. Judge Lopez’s recent ruling emphasized that these debts cannot be fully discharged through bankruptcy. However, there remains some ambiguity regarding the exact amount attributed to “willful” and “malicious” falsehoods as opposed to those deemed “reckless”.

The implications of this ruling are significant for Jones, who might face substantial financial consequences. The distinction between “willful or malicious injury” and other forms of conduct in the context of bankruptcy is crucial, as it determines the extent to which individuals can evade financial responsibilities arising from their actions.

For Further Reading

Defamation: Defamation is a statement that injures a third party’s reputation. The tort of defamation includes both libel (written statements) and slander (spoken statements). To win a defamation case, a plaintiff must show four things: 1) a false statement purporting to be fact; 2) publication or communication of that statement to a third person; 3) fault amounting to at least negligence; and 4) damages, or some harm caused to the person or entity who is the subject of the statement. [Wikipedia]

Q&A

What did Alex Jones falsely claim about the Sandy Hook massacre?

Alex Jones repeatedly propagated the conspiracy theory that the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting was a hoax and that the victims’ families were actors. This has been proven false, and such claims have caused immense distress to the families of the victims.

Why can’t Alex Jones use bankruptcy to avoid the defamation verdicts?

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez ruled that bankruptcy cannot be used to evade debts arising from “willful or malicious injury” caused by the debtor. Since the courts determined that Jones intentionally defamed the Sandy Hook victims’ families, his debts from these verdicts fall under this category.

As states across the U.S. continue to legalize recreational cannabis use, there has been a significant surge in demand for cannabis seeds, with many residents eager to cultivate their own plants at home.

Quick Facts

• Minnesota’s legalization: On 1 August, Minnesota legalized recreational cannabis, leading to an immediate spike in demand for cannabis seeds.
• Seed sales boom: Retailers like Jim Cramond’s Strains of the Earth and James Bean’s Seeds Here Now have experienced a surge in seed sales, especially during the pandemic.
• Legal ambiguity: While cannabis remains a Schedule I controlled substance federally, cannabis seeds, due to their negligible THC content, occupy a unique legal position, potentially classifying them similarly to hemp.

Minnesota’s recent legalization of recreational cannabis use has led to an unprecedented demand for cannabis seeds. Retailers like Jim Cramond of Strains of the Earth witnessed a significant influx of customers on the very day of legalization. This trend isn’t isolated to Minnesota; as more states legalize cannabis, many residents are showing interest in home cultivation, seeing it as both a cost-saving measure and an opportunity to nurture a plant from seed to flower.

However, the journey of cannabis seed retailers hasn’t been smooth. James Bean, who runs Seeds Here Now, an online cannabis seed bank, has faced challenges with shipments being seized by the U.S. Postal Service. The legal status of cannabis seeds remains complex. While the cannabis plant is considered a controlled substance due to its THC content, seeds contain little to no THC. This has led to debates about whether they should be classified similarly to hemp, which was legalized for production in the 2018 Farm Bill. The “Pennington letter,” an official determination by the Drug Enforcement Agency, agreed with this perspective, though the area of law remains new and untested.

Interestingly, the legal ambiguity surrounding cannabis seeds mirrors that of magic mushroom spores. Both contain negligible amounts of their respective psychoactive components but have the potential to produce controlled substances with cultivation. This has led some sellers to market their products with disclaimers, emphasizing their use as “souvenirs” or “collector’s items.”

For Further Reading

Hemp and the 2018 Farm Bill: The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the production of hemp, a type of cannabis defined by its low THC levels. Hemp has a wide range of uses, from energy production to manufacturing. Due to its low THC content (<0.3% when dry), hemp doesn’t produce a high. The legalization of hemp has implications for the cannabis seed industry, as seeds with negligible THC might be classified similarly to hemp. [Wikipedia]

Q&A

Why are cannabis seeds in demand?

With the legalization of recreational cannabis in various states, many residents are interested in cultivating their own cannabis plants at home, leading to a surge in seed demand.

What challenges do cannabis seed retailers face?

One of the main challenges is the legal ambiguity surrounding cannabis seeds. Shipments can be seized, and retailers have to navigate the complex intersection of botany and law.

How do cannabis seeds differ from the cannabis plant in terms of THC content?

Unlike the cannabis plant, seeds contain little to no THC, the psychoactive component responsible for producing a high.

Source: The Guardian