November 14th: House Judiciary Committee Hearing Thread

[TheEngineer]

[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) rated A+
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) rated F-

I guess that's a wash

[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Catherine Hanaway, US Attorney, Missouri
-- she has been an active opponent of ours, prosecuting the BetOnSports case and the Sporting News gambling ads case
bad news there: www.casinoportalen.dk/news/externalnews.asp?curpage=86&id=980 . She's a real crusader against all Internet gaming.

[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Professor Joseph Weiler, NYU School of Law
-- expert on the dispute settlement mechanism of the WTO
I don't know where Weiler stands on Internet gaming or on the specific free trade issues relative to Internet gaming and the WTO. Just the fact that this is being discussed at all in Congress means it's a positive for us.

[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Michael Calopy, Aristotle, Inc.
-- he testified last time on technology to prevent underage IG
He was very solid at the June 8 hearing...excellent for us

[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Valery Abend, Treasury Department
-- adviser on IG ( US Treasury - Valerie Abend)
As an admimistration official, I believe she's against us. I guess we'll see.

[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Annie Duke
She's a good speaker, especially for this type of situation.

So, there are two people strongly for us, (Duke and Berkley), one person on our side (Calopy), one person who's testimony will be good for us (Weiler), one person somewhat against us (Abend) and two people strongly against us (Goodlatte and Hanaway). Could be worse.

[oldbookguy]

[ QUOTE ]
Here is the lineup for the hearing:

[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV)

[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Catherine Hanaway, US Attorney, Missouri
-- she has been an active opponent of ours, prosecuting the BetOnSports case and the Sporting News gambling ads case
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Professor Joseph Weiler, NYU School of Law
-- expert on the dispute settlement mechanism of the WTO
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Michael Calopy, Aristotle, Inc.
-- he testified last time on technology to prevent underage IG
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Valery Abend, Treasury Department
-- adviser on IG ( US Treasury - Valerie Abend)
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Annie Duke

[/ QUOTE ]

This will ne no cake walk like the last hearing.
We need to be writing letters to the committee.

I wrote concerning age verification as follows:

Chairman Conyers and Members Judiciary Committee;

I am very pleased to see that a hearing is being held concerning Internet Gaming.

To begin with, I do hope a change is coming and this hearing will be web cast for myself and all who are interested to watch; much is at stake.

Though I am in no way opposed to Internet Gaming, I would very much like my government to establish a viable and working framework for International commerce to be secure and safe.

I note that Mr. Michael Colopy, Senior Vice President of Communications, Aristotle, Inc. is going to testify concerning the viability of age verification to prevent minors from accessing gaming.

Additionally, I note with interest that such Internet giants as AOL and MSN as affiliates of World Winner and World Winner itself, a Newton, Ma. company has no problem concerning this.

World Winner provides ‘SKILL’ gaming now in the United States to 39 states. As a testament to the reliability of the software used in age verification by this American Gaming Company, they even allow AOL and MSN to market these games via link on the same page as children’s games and have no problems I have read concerning underage gaming.

Sincerely,

XXXXX XXXXX
XXXXX, XX

[JPFisher55]

I don't get the inclusion of Catherine Hanaway. Somehow having a prosecutor in an ongoing case concerning online gambling that might be affected by the WTO decision rubs me the wrong way.
First, the bias is obvious. Also, Skall, could she not prejudice the defendants in the BetOnSports case? I would not have expected any of the participants in that case to be testifying before Congress while the case is still open and active.

[TheEngineer]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't get the inclusion of Catherine Hanaway. Somehow having a prosecutor in an ongoing case concerning online gambling that might be affected by the WTO decision rubs me the wrong way.
First, the bias is obvious. Also, Skall, could she not prejudice the defendants in the BetOnSports case? I would not have expected any of the participants in that case to be testifying before Congress while the case is still open and active.

[/ QUOTE ]

She used to be the Republican Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives as well. Prior to that, she ran "F" rated U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond's district office in St. Louis in the early 1990s.

[ QUOTE ]
LEGISLATIVE STANDS Hanaway's legislative record reflects her conservative beliefs. She has voted with the anti-abortion camp, earning the endorsement of Missouri Right to Life. In debate, she tried to amend a school safety bill to require a shortened version of the Ten Commandments in every Missouri classroom. She has also opposed collective bargaining for public employees.

[/ QUOTE ]

and

[ QUOTE ]
The Guardian says that Hanaway (42) led George Bush's presidential campaign in Missouri and was rewarded by the White House with the US attorney's job even though she had not practised criminal law for a decade. Her previous role was as the first woman speaker of the Missouri house, where some Democrats described her as "contentious" and "bludgeoning". One electoral opponent dubbed her "the bully of Jefferson City".

[/ QUOTE ]

[Skallagrim]

She's baaaaad. But not particularly smart. That might help if she's asked some hard questions. But she is a crusader, no doubt, and will stand her FOF friendly ground.

As long as she does not mention the BetonSports case's specific facts, the line is not crossed. If she relates specific facts, I would expect Kaplan's lawyers to move for dismissal (which they wont get) and then a change of venue or her recusal from the case (which they might).

Skallagrim

[JPFisher55]

It's not her obvious bias. Rep. Goodlatte can testify. But Ms. Hanaway represents the federal government in an ongoing criminal case involving online gambling. I guess without a gag order by the court, then she can legally testify. But IMO, she can only hurt the government's case in the BetOnSports case. I guess I am old fashioned and believe that attorneys in ongoing cases should not comment publically on a case in which they are involved or the law surrounding it. I would think that this would be especially true for prosecutors. But what do I know. I am not a litigator and have never been involved in a criminal case in any capacity.

[KEW]

[ QUOTE ]
I hope there is some kind've webcast posted.

I would love to watch this.

Berge(or anyone else) can you share with us the implications that this could have?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hopefully this is the webcast link???

http://judiciary.house.gov/schedule.aspx

[TheEngineer]

They just added an FoF guy:

Tom McClusky
Vice President of Government Affairs
Family Research Council

[TheEngineer]

Witness List

Panel I:

[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] The Honorable Shelley Berkley
U.S. House of Representatives Nevada, 1st District
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] The Honorable Bob Goodlatte
U.S. House of Representatives Virginia 6th District

Panel II:

[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] The Honorable Catherine Hanaway
United States Attorney
Eastern District of Missouri
U.S. Department of Justice
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Joseph Weiler
New York University
School of Law
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Tom McClusky
Vice President of Government Affairs
Family Research Council
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Valerie Abend
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Critical Infrastructure Protection and Compliance Policy
U.S. Department of the Treasury
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Annie Duke
Los Angeles, CA
[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Michael Colopy
Aristotle

[oldbookguy]

Very good, they have added it!

At least if C-span is covering other things we can watch.

obg