Birdsong's Law Blog

Long Beach, CA: Why do they do such things?  The California Highway Patrol were deluged with calls after a naked man began walking down the middle of the highway and tying up traffic.  It was not just any highway, but the infamous I-405 freeway through Los Angeles.  Patrol officers detained the clothes free 21 year old man and sent him for a psychiatric evaluation.

CUCKOO CUCKOO CUCKOO….

Georgia:  A Georgia minister joined a lawsuit filed by a pro-gun group that seeks to overturn the state’s ban on firearms in places of worship.  The ban also prohibits gun in government buildings, schools, nuclear power plants and bars.

WWJD?  Would Jesus wear a handgun to the very Christian church he founded?

Duluth, MN: Do police now need waterproof vests?  Police in Duluth received a report of a driver brandishing a gun while driving down the highway.  When they pulled the

Virginia Ponder, a student in Professor Birdsong’s spring Refugee Law seminar, has written an excellent paper that examines whether a parent who opposes female genital mutilation, and fears the mutilation of her child, raises a valid claim for protection under U.S. asylum law?  The circuit court responses thus far have been diverse.  Ms. Ponder has given permission to post her paper on the blog.  Read it and see what you think.

THE DILEMMA OF PARENT-CHILD

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION JURISPRUDENCE

Virginia L. Ponder

 God has blessed me.  He made me suffer but He also blessed me. 

I am safe and free in America, surrounded by people who love me. 

Others are not so fortunate.  They are being held in prisons, being

denied asylum, and being sent back to terrible forms of suffering. 

My friends, all the friends I made in prison, cried for joy for me

the day I walked into freedom.  [1]                                                                                                                                                       I.            Introduction

Almost fourteen years ago in the landmark decision In re Kasinga[2], the Board of Immigration Appeals, the highest administrative authority interpreting asylum law, found Female Genital Mutilation[3] (FGM) to be a form of persecution warranting a finding of asylum.  Kasinga’s claim was based on the risk she would be subjected to FGM if returned to her home country and the decision established basic doctrine favorable to such a claim.[4]  It was a milestone in the consideration of gender related asylum cases and advanced protection for women who fear FGM.  Currently a new question regarding FGM is circulating in our immigration courts.  Does a parent who opposes FGM, and fears the mutilation of her child, raise a valid claim for protection under U.S. asylum law?  The circuit court responses thus far have been diverse. 

The “parent-child FGM issue” most commonly presents itself when a non-US citizen parent asserts asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under Convention Against Torture [5](CAT) because she fears her US citizen or resident daughter will

Russia: A 98 year old Russian woman who was very jealous beat her 78 year old husband because he was allegedly eye-balling a lovely neighbor.  In response the husband hit his elderly bride with a rolling pin.  No report on whether arrests were made.

Sounds like one of those May December marriages.  She’s 98 and he’s 78? Wow.

Romania: Here we go again.  A 72 year Romanian widow watched over the body for two weeks of her deceased husband.  She did this because she wanted to make sure he wasn’t faking his death in order to start a new life with his mistress.  The widow woman finally got the hint that he was truly dead when the body started to decay.  She then reported his death.  Police said the husband died of natural causes.

Phew!  Hope she is satisfied now!

Boston, MA: A Boston car dealer was approached by a  jumpy potential buyer who wanted to test drive a car on the lot.  Because the man was so jumpy

Hollidaysburg, PA:  A woman in Hollidaysburg allegedly stole $2,000 from the jail where she had been incarcerated for theft.  When she was released, she got a check for the $6.95 remaining in her inmate account.  Using the routing number on the check, she was able to use jail funds to pay her utility bills and transfer $179 to her husband’s bank account, jail authorities said.

Yep, a stint in the joint always helps make them better criminals when they get out!

Cocoa, FL: Mike Schillmoeller was walking his dog when he saw a homeless man suspected of calling in bomb threats to more than 50 schools, hospitals and other places.  However, he didn’t get the $5,000 reward because he called 911 before tipping off the local crime hotline.  Schillmoeller,  who was understandably upset complained, “They want the public to help — but they don’t want to return the favor.”

That is so bogus!

Syracuse, NY: Two salesmen were charged with reckless endangerment of property after they destroyed a $1,300 mattress