Jefferson Guilty, Napoleon Not, Scalia Decides in a Mock Trial

[kskiska]

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 20 — Justice Antonin Scalia nodded, agreeing with his fellow jurists that Thomas Jefferson was guilty of prolonging slavery, deporting American Indians and discriminating against the French in Louisiana.

Justice Scalia joined federal and state judges on Friday to hear the testimony of Jefferson and Napoleon in a mock trial to review lingering legal and historic questions about the Louisiana Purchase.

(snip)

Jefferson's lawyer jumped to his feet, outraged, and demanded an appeal.

Napoleon flashed a grin and a thumbs-up sign after being acquitted of abandoning the people in the Louisiana province when he struck the land deal with Jefferson in 1803.

(snip)

Friday held the final act of this three-part yearlong trial organized by French-speaking Cajun lawyers. It was performed mostly in French and also celebrated the movement to preserve the French language in the United States.

more…
http://nytimes.com/2003/12/21/national/21LOUI.html

[madrchsod]

1. oh yes the 200 yr

celebration of the purchase..that`s right bush couldn`t say anything because it`s a "french thing" and all the morans would be pissed. can`t have the guy who runs france over to celebrate,nay,bush won`t speak to him. dam, what a bunch of shit-maybe in 50years we will have some sanity again and we can celebrate with the french the 250 anniversity

[kskiska]

2. So they send Gale Norton

Insulting.

[schultzee]

3. Considering republican hell, I wish France still owned Louisiana

because then we could mover there and live in a democracy that also has health care and other things that the republicans are trying so hard to make so expensive that no one but the greed pigs will be able to afford it.

[wryter2000]

4. Feh

Scalia couldn't carry Jefferson's jock. Blech.

[benfranklin1776]

5. Of course Antonin would rule in favor of an imperial dictator....

..over the author of the Declaration of Independence.
It is consistent with his judicial philosophy. According to Antonin, All people are created equal only when necessary to stop the counting of Florida ballots, and the soveriegn state must have unbridled power (to search and seize without regard to the fourth amendment and to imprison and punish without regard to the eight amendment) and concordant immunity from responsibility ( no coverage under the ADA and severe limitations on civil rights actions against state actors) no matter the cost to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.