The Fairfax County Naked Guy Is Innocent of Indecent Exposure!

You remember this story from late last year, the link is to my earlier post on the subject of Eric Williamson who was prosecuted in Fairfax County, Va for being naked in his own house.  Virginia has an interesting system of misdemeanor adjudication.  He was found guilty by a magistrate and upon appeal he received a jury trial where he was acquitted of the charge of "indecent exposure."  The report is at the Washington Post, crime scene blawg.

By the way I intend not to post much over the next couple of days because I do not wish to detract from the wonderfulness of being invited to "blawg" on Shakespeare, and I'm hoping you will take the time to look at that post and wander over to my friend, Gayle's Bard Blog where she has posted this very deep meditation on the courtroom scene from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. I was very honored to participate in the cross-posting here at Bad Lawyer.  My regular posting schedule will resume on the weekend.

Cops Demand Nude Cyclists Wear Protection

This just in, New Zealand police are stopping nude cyclists and demanding that they wear helmets.  The report from the New Zealand Herald is pretty bare, but one can infer that personal protection is motivating the concern of authorities, downunder.

Poperly equipped cyclsits are pictured, left.

Just Because You're Paranoid Doesn't Mean They Don't Have You On a List

Tempe, Arizona citizen Eleanor Holguin is a long-time resident and gadfly critic of Tempe's mayor and police chief.  If reports are true, she might be a little paranoid, for instance she has a security camera outside her house.  Recently her father became ill at the residence and 911 was called for medical assistance.  Police cars showed up along with the ambulance, why?  Turns out she's on a local law enforcement "HAZARD LIST."  What is a hazard list, you might ask?  Apparently it is this Orwellian listing of addresses deemed by the authorities to present a hazard to law enforcement who might find themselves responding to a call at the location.  And, get this...you can't find out why you're on the list.  Huh?

Thing is,this is not just an invention of Tempe, Arizona--this system is in use nationwide.  It is designed to provide safety forces with informtaion about addresses where they might encounter dangerous situations based on--well, who knows?! 

In Mrs. Holguin's case there is no known reason apart from the fact that she is an outspoken critic of local government, particularly the chief of police, according to The Arisona Republic.  To her credit, and the credit of the Tempe police they sat down with her and hashed out the situation and she was removed from the "Hazard List."  Paranoia strikes deep, the question is:  who's paranoid Mrs. Holguin or the cops.  If you're reading this or you've read any of the posts, here at Bad Lawyer, you know where I'm putting my money.

Ridiculous Moments in the Law--the Fairfax, Va Prosecution of Indecent Exposure

The local affiliate of Fox News in DC is reporting that Fairfax, Virginia's  Eric Williamson is guilty of indecent exposure for being nude in his own house.  This crazy story is just one of those ridiculous moments when nosy neighbors and municipal authorities with too much time on their hands make a mockery of personal liberty. 



TheAssociated Press'  print report is at the link and that report explores the Court's reasoning.  I would like to see an appellate court opinion on the issue. As annoying as this guy Williamson appears to be, how something like this occurence ends up being charged and prosecuted escapes me.  I don't want to be hyperbolic and compare local authorities to the Taliban, but c'mon folks--don't we pride ourselves on personal liberty.  Mere nudity is not "indecent exposure"--I see more (unintentional?) indecent exposure at the local grocery store--let's not even talk about Wal-Mart!