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Mike Hoeflich

Recent stories

Opinion: Ruling may not settle marriage ban
March 27, 2013
As I am writing this, the Supreme Court of the United States is preparing to hear arguments in the case of Hollingsworth v. Perry, the case arising from California’s Proposition 8. Proposition 8, approved by California voters, banned same-sex marriage in California. Mike Hoeflich
Opinion: Drone policy must be debated
March 13, 2013
The killing by drones in Yemen of American citizens Anwar al-Awlaki, in September 2011, and his son, Abdulrahman, a few weeks later has continued to be a major issue among lawyers and constitutional scholars, and a subject of discussion and debate since the deaths were announced. The legality of the killings became national news recently when Sen. Rand Paul mounted a 13-hour filibuster to delay the confirmation of John Brennan, President Obama’s former national security adviser, as the new director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Fuel was also added to this legal fire by the leak of a “summary white paper” of the legal opinion that justified the use of drones to kill American citizens who had not been tried or convicted of any crimes by an American court.
Opinion: Cyberattack is a real threat
February 13, 2013
The last few weeks have seen an increasing number of articles in the media about the dangers of cyberwar. In part, this increase in the volume may be due to the current confirmation hearings in Congress for the new director of the Central Intelligence Agency and, in part, because of a recent major conference on cybersecurity, the S4, held in Miami. But the truth is that the danger is all too real, as is the perception that the United States is not prepared for what appears to be inevitable: a major cyberattack on American interests.
Opinion: Taxes pose human question
January 30, 2013
As the Kansas Legislature continues to debate whether to cut taxes and government services further, I have been thinking about the purpose of government at the state level. By Mike Hoeflich
Opinion: Renewed draft could curb gun violence
January 2, 2013
In the light of the massacre at Newtown, Conn., and the murder of two firemen in Webster, N.Y., national attention has again turned to how we can reduce gun violence in America. The responses have been predictable.
Opinion: Emergencies bring out best, worst
October 31, 2012
Like millions of Americans I have been watching the progress of Superstorm Sandy for the past few days out of concern for those people in the path of the storm and, perhaps, out of a bit of morbid curiosity. As I have watched I have been particularly interested to see how state and local authorities, as well as the federal government, have been preparing to deal with the storm.
Opinion: Foliage, history are worth the trip
October 18, 2012
I’ve just returned from a ten-day trip to the Adirondacks, to a small town near Lake Champlain. My wife and I drove both ways with one of our dogs, a small Corgi named Fanny. It was an extremely interesting trip on several counts.
Column: A fond farewell to a friend
September 26, 2012
It is hard to lose a dog. It’s losing a friend and a family member.
Notes on judges, terrorists
September 12, 2012
As I do on occasion, I want to cover a couple of subjects briefly in today’s column. An appropriate headline for it might be “Dispatches from the Legal Front.”
Court knowledge is lacking
August 29, 2012
Last week a popular legal blog, Findlaw.com, released the results of a survey it had done designed to test the average American’s knowledge of the U.S. Supreme Court. Those findings were both remarkable and depressing.

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