Good morning . . .
The poster girl for prisoner abuse in the Abu Ghraib scandal is expected to plead guilty today.
PFC Lynndie England whose pictures became synonymous with prisoner abuse is hoping to make a plea agreement with the Army.
The 22 year-old Army reservist is expected to plead guilty to two counts of conspiracy, four counts of maltreating prisoners, and one count of dereliction of duty. In exchange for her plea, prosecutors are expected to drop charges of committing an indecent act and failure to follow a lawful order.
If the plea is accepted by Army judge Col. James Pohl, England could receive up to eleven years in prison.
England to Plead Guilty in Abu Ghraib Case - Yahoo! News
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With the recent kidnapping and murder of several Florida girls, Gov., Jeb Bush (R) signed into law legislation that strengthens punishment and monitoring of child sex abusers.
The Jessica Lunsford Act sets a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life for people convicted of molesting children under the age of 12. If offenders serve less than life they will be required to wear a global positioning device after their release.
The bill which sped through the Florida legislature is named for the 9 year-old girl killed by convicted sex offender, John E, Courey. Courey had moved into the young girl's neighborhood, but failed to report his new address to authorities.
The tracking requirements applies only to future offenders. Current sex offenders who violate their parole will be either sent back to prison or ordered to wear the GPS device.
Fla. Governor Signs Jessica Lunsford Act - Yahoo! News
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The US Supreme Court will decide whether the government can deny federal funds to college and universities who refuse to allow military recruiters on campus because of the Pentagon's ban on gays and lesbians.
The justices agreed to hear the case from a Philadelphia appeals court that blocked the government from enforcing the law because it violated the schools right to free speech.
The case will be heard during the new term which starts in October.
US court to decide campus military recruiting case - Yahoo! News
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The Supreme Court declined to hear a pilot group's challenge to a federal rule requiring them to retire at 60.
Justices let stand a ruling in favor of the Federal Aviation Administration which says the rule for commercial pilots is necessary for safety.
The 1950's rule automatically bars airline pilots from flying after the reach their 60th birthday regardless of health.
Low-fair carrier Southwest Airlines supported the pilots in a "friend of the court" brief.
"The 1950s-era age 60 rule, coupled with the FAA's rigid implementation of it, arbitrarily deprives Southwest Airlines of some of its best pilots at the peak of their careers," the airline wrote.
Court Declines to Review Pilot Retirements - Yahoo! News
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More later.
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