http://apnews.myway.com/…

A man arrested for allegedly failing to appear for jury duty was released Saturday after spending 83 days in jail, a length of detention that a judge called “unacceptable.”

Douglas Maupin was released a day after The Dallas Morning News brought his plight to the attention of a Collin County judge.

Maupin, a masonry contractor, was arrested Feb. 15 after police pulled him over for speeding. Police then detained him on a 2003 warrant for failure to appear for jury duty.

He wrote a letter to the newspaper about his lengthy jail stay, then said in a jailhouse interview that he, his friends and family could not afford his $1,500 bail.

He said his attempt to get a public defender was rebuffed by a jail clerk.

District Judge Chris Oldner said he was unaware of Maupin’s detention until Friday, even though the case was assigned to his court. The judge who signed the original 2003 warrant had retired, and officials said the case was assigned to the court of his replacement but the offense didn’t fall under that court’s responsibility.

“He should not have spent that much time. This is unacceptable,” Oldner told the Morning News. “I don’t know why the process failed to notify us.”

Oldner also said that Maupin should have been allowed to apply for a public defender.

Maupin, 34, said he just wanted his day in court.

“I do know I have the right to due process and a speedy trial,” he said. “I’ve had neither. It’s not right.”

The judge said he was “disappointed this has happened,” and promised to investigate.

I’m sure that Maupin will receive some sort of restitution for his illegitimate incarceration…

http://www.cbssports.com/…

Police officer Robert Powell, who detained Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats instead of allowing him inside a hospital where his mother-in-law was dying resigned Wednesday.

Officer Robert Powell had been placed on paid leave pending an investigation of the March 18 incident.

“I made this decision in the hope that my resignation will allow the Dallas Police Department, my fellow officers and the citizens of Dallas to better reflect on this experience, learn from the mistakes made, and move forward,” Powell said in a statement issued through his attorneys.

He had stopped Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats’ SUV outside Baylor Regional Medical Center in suburban Plano after the vehicle rolled through a red light.

The officer pulled out his gun and threatened Moats with jail as the player and his family pleaded to be allowed to go inside the hospital. Powell continued writing Moats a ticket and lecturing him even after a fellow officer confirmed that Moats’ mother-in-law was dying.

Jonetta Collinsworth, 45, died of breast cancer before Powell allowed Moats to go inside the hospital.

Powell’s resignation was first reported by Dallas-Fort Worth television station KTVT. He later issued an apology, and Moats said he would accept it.

“I still hope to speak with the Moats family to personally express my deep regret, sympathy, and to apologize for my poor judgment and unprofessional conduct,” he said in the Wednesday statement.

He also said he wanted to apologize to his fellow officers.

A call to Dallas police was not immediately returned Wednesday.

Good. The camera, media and the internet are our most powerful tools. The more these events get recorded and distributed the easier liberty activists lives will be.

http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/…

Sent by Joey Dauben to contact.ipr@gmail.com:

I am one signature away from filing the official paperwork for the candidacy of Barry Cooper (of Never Get Busted fame) for the office of Texas Attorney General.

This will be a statewide race, four-year term, and will be – so far – the first announced LP candidate for this office.

Upon Barry’s signature, we will be the first-to-file so we can begin raising money (I say we because I’ll be working as his campaign manager) for this important race.

So far, two Republicans, Congressman Michael McCaul, R-Austin, and state Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, are looking at jumping into the race. (Current AG Greg Abbott is expected to get into the race for Lt. Governor)

We want a Cooper vs. McCaul match-up because of the congressman’s former federal prosecutor status in the War on Drugs.

With Barry’s notoriety, we could get some major media attention in an election in which Kay Bailey Hutchison will steal the gubernatorial limelight.

We’re planning an official announcement soon, but filing the paperwork for treasurer is the first step that a candidate can (legally) make to raise money and spend it.

I’ve not found anything confirming this but if true this should be entertaining.

Press release from said website:

DALLAS, TEXAS – JUNE 16, 2008 /PRNewswire/—Ross Perot, business leader and former presidential candidate, announced today the launch of “PerotCharts.com,” a public information website that contains objective, factual information about the current economic crisis in America. The site is being launched as an alert and appeal for American citizens to inform themselves about federal government spending. Perot said, “The U.S. national debt reached $9.4 TRILLION on April 30, and it is increasing by more than $1 billion every day. We are leaving our children and grandchildren with debt they cannot possibly pay.”

The rest on the other side of the jump…

Read More…

Richard Fisher, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, spoke today in front the Commonwealth Club of California, the country’s oldest and largest public affairs forum. A transcript of what he said in entirety can be found on the Dallas Fed’s website, here. Cliff Notes on the other side of the jump.

Read More…