New hearing ordered in Detroit fireman’s death
DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan appeals court has ordered a new hearing to determine the prison sentence for a man whose fire killed a Detroit firefighter.
Mario Willis was sentenced to at least 41 years in prison for second-degree murder. The appeals court says Wayne County Judge Michael Callahan must better explain why he went beyond the usual sentencing guidelines. It’s possible that Willis still will get the same punishment.
Willis was accused of paying a handyman $20 to burn down an abandoned house that was owned by his girlfriend. Detroit firefighter Walter Harris died while trying to put out the fire in November 2008. The roof collapsed on him.
The man who set the fire pleaded guilty and testified against the 31-year-old Willis.
Officers may have to pay fees in lawsuit
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says a South Carolina sheriff’s office can be held liable for attorneys’ fees for stopping abortion protesters in South Carolina who wanted to hold up signs showing aborted fetuses.
Justices on Monday reversed a decision saying the Greenwood County sheriff’s office was not required to pay attorney’s fees in a lawsuit brought by Steven Lefemine and Columbia Christians for Life.
The group was told by officers they couldn’t protest with their signs in November 2005.
A federal judge agreed that the sheriff was wrong, but did not award damages or lawyer’s fees.
The justices threw out that decision without hearing arguments, saying the legal decision that officers could not stop the protesters “supported the award of attorney’s fees.” The case now goes back to the lower courts.
Group again asks for courthouse monument
POTEAU, Okla. (AP) — A veterans group is again asking LeFlore County commissioners to place a Ten Commandments monument on the courthouse lawn.
The plan was approved in 2009 — but was put on hold when a lawsuit challenged a similar monument on the courthouse lawn in neighboring Haskell County.
The Times Record reports that Disabled American Veterans commander Charlie recently to commissioners Lance Smith and Ceb Scott. Smith said he wants to discuss potential legal issues with the District Attorney’s office.
A federal appeals court ruled that the Haskell County monument was an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion and it was moved to the lawn of an American Legion building after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of the ruling.
Woman motorist must wear ‘idiot’ sign
CLEVELAND (AP) — A woman caught on camera driving on a sidewalk to avoid a Cleveland school bus that was unloading children will have to stand at an intersection wearing a sign warning about idiots.
Court records show a Cleveland Municipal Court judge on Monday ordered 32-year-old Shena Hardin to stand at an intersection for two days next week.
She will have to wear a sign saying: “Only an idiot drives on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus.”
The judge ordered her to wear the sign from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. both days.
Hardin’s license was suspended for 30 days and she was ordered to pay $250 in court costs.
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