How lawyer navigates sea of secrecy in bizarre case

By Henry Weinstein, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 15, 2007


SAN FRANCISCO — Oakland lawyer Jon Eisenberg calls the case of Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation v. George W. Bush the strangest he has ever handled. How strange? Eisenberg was required to write one of his briefs in a windowless government office, without notes or lawbooks, under the watchful eye of two federal security guards.

When he got hungry, one of the guards brought him a banana. And when he finished, a security official shredded all his drafts — and even the banana peel, Eisenberg said.

The brief-writing session was just one facet of the extraordinary secrecy surrounding the Al-Haramain case, Eisenberg said. Al-Haramain is one of dozens of plaintiffs across the nation that have filed suit, claiming they were illegally spied on by the government as part of the war on terror.

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LINDSAY LOHAN: LAWSUIT OVER CAR PURSUIT

Lindsay Lohan was sued Tuesday for assault and negligence by a passenger in a car the actress allegedly chased while drunk last month
“What Miss Lohan did that night was extremely dangerous and reprehensible,” Tracie Rice, the woman who filed the suit, said in statement, according to the Associated Press. “Someone could easily have been killed or seriously hurt because of her irresponsible decisions that evening.”
Rice’s attorney, Paul Hoffman says: “My client, Tracie Rice, thought she was going to die that night, and wants Ms. Lohan to be held accountable because Lohan’s behavior was so extreme and outrageous. Ms. Rice is still traumatized from the incident.

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ON THE RIGHT TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA PRIVACY

Oregon subpoenas worry medical marijuana advocates

PORTLAND (AP) — Federal subpoenas seeking medical records of 17 Oregon medical marijuana patients have growers and users upset and nervous even as a federal judge considers whether to throw the subpoenas out.
Sunday, August 12, 2007 2:54 AM PDT

‘‘It’s crazy. It’s really scary. If they can get my records, they can get Gov. (Ted) Kulongoski’s, they can get yours,’’ said Donald DuPay, a former Portland police officer and 2006 candidate for Multnomah County sheriff.

DuPay says his records are among those subpoenaed.

A federal grand jury in Yakima, Wash., issued the subpoenas in April as part of an investigation of some growers in Oregon and Washington.

The patients are not targets of the grand jury.

A Seattle spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Administration declined comment.

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HEMP CAN MAKE US COOL AGAIN by Jay Good

Remember when the US was considered cool and happening? John Lennon once compared NY to Rome, and moved here to be near the action. Unfortunately our government tried to deport him on a drug charge, but Lennon stayed cool, retained a lawyer, and got his greencard. Soon afterwards Rome began to burn, Lennon was gunned down, we began to lose our cool. Too bad Lennon kept his...

Today our government continues it's domestic drug war as it battles overseas for position. The biggest change for the Globe in the last 25 years it turns out, is the one we can't see; our ozone layer.

To no ones surprise George Bush is ducking out on this one, but we are still a savvy nation with brilliant minds like Al Gore to help shine the light and lead the way. Let's us keep politics off to the side so that we may begin to affect change and rebound. Once we take those first steps in our fight against global warming, the eventual restarting of US hemp production will be much more feasible, perhaps one day, even a no brainer.

After that we can go all out green. Just think we'll be known as a lean green global machince. Hey, won't that make us cool, once again.

HEMP FACTS

PHIL SPECTOR JURORS VISIT CRIME SCENE

Phil Spector Jurors to Visit Crime Scene

By LINDA DEUTSCH
The Associated Press
 Thursday, August 9, 2007; 10:01 AM

LOS ANGELES -- Attorneys want jurors in the Phil Spector trial to stand in the foyer of his home and see for themselves the spot where actress Lana Clarkson's body was found.
The jury will head to Spector's mansion, 15 miles northeast of Los Angeles in Alhambra, on Thursday to get a firsthand look. The question of where Spector was standing when Clarkson was shot in the mouth and how far blood can travel have been key issues in the case.

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Check out Allison's Phil Spector Video on her prediction on the case's outcome

GO ASK ALLISON - ON THE DA & LOW LEVEL MARIJUANA CASES

LA's Dopest Attorney Allison Margolin talks about a recent incident where a Torrance District Attorney intimidated and coerced a medical marijuana patient to plead guilt

SEATTLE HEMPFEST 07 SHAPING UP TO BE THE DOPEST

Invitation to speak at Hempfest 2007

Dear Allison Margolin,

Seattle Hempfest is one of the world's foremost drug policy reform events, the largest pot rally on earth. On behalf of our one thousand strong volunteer crew, the Hempfest speakers crew extends our deepest thanks for the work you do. We would like to invite you to speak at this year's event, to be held August 18-19, 2007 at Myrtle Edwards Park on Seattle's waterfront

I would love to be there and I graciously accept!