60 Minutes v. Wade

60 Minutes had another interesting piece on tonight...this time a look at the prosecutorial misconduct of the infamous Henry Wade.

Henry Wade was the Dallas County, Texas District Attorney for over 30 years...In fact, Roe v. Wade was the first case he ever lost. He was also the prosecutor in the Jack Ruby trial.

Apparently Wade's modus operandi was to ignore evidence that might exonerate his defendants, thereby ensuring that anyone he charged went away to prison for decades, if not the rest of their lives.

The 60 Minutes piece examined the 15 cases of Wade's that Project Innocence Texas has overturned so far, primarily through exculpatory DNA evidence. The freed men gave moving interviews. And kudos to the current DA, who is cooperating with the Project Innocence Texas folks to expedite the claims.

Ad Hominem Attack

Saw Justice Scalia on 60 Minutes tonight, briefly. When confronted with the Bush v. Gore controversy, he spat out his disdain.

His beady squint, and the way he licks his lips, were evocative of a lizard, say a Gila monster.

Gila monster saliva has been analyzed, though, and a new diabetes drug, exenatide, is derived from it.

Something tells me there is nothing useful or therapeutic in Scalia's spittle.