Kudos, Justice Sotomayor. To the other ones: Have you no decency?

[marmar]

The Supreme Court for a number of years has sided with cops in police brutality cases.

The justices did it again Monday, issuing an unsigned summary decision granting immunity to a Texas officer who shot and killed a motorist fleeing police, even though the officer lacked training or even specific orders to open fire.

In so many words, the court ruled the shooting death was legally justified.

The case arose from a civil rights lawsuit against Texas Department of Public Safety trooper Chadrin Mullenix, who wasn't involved in the chase but had responded to a checkpoint along its route to help intercept a vehicle driven by Israel Leija. Leija was wanted on an arrest warrant, and had fled when police officers tried to serve the warrant at a Sonic restaurant.

When Mullenix observed that other officers had already set up tire spikes beneath an overpass to disable Leija's car, he considered his own solo strategy: He grabbed his service rifle, hopped atop the overpass and got into "shooting position."

Mullenix had asked a superior for permission to proceed, but by the time he was in position, he claimed, he was to hear the order to stand by to "see if the spikes work first." Once Leija was within his range of vision, Mullenix shot six rounds. Moments later, Leija's car hit the median and flipped over two and a half times. ..................(more)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sotomayor-supreme-court-cop-violence_563cee79e4b0307f2cad466a?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000013&section=politics

[phantom power]

1. Amazing. 8-1.