West Texas Beat (WTB)
is a monthly publication
of Blind Justice Project,
addressing relevant
local news and topics
in a national context. Its
content also appears in
the West Texas Beat
newsletter.
is a monthly publication
of Blind Justice Project,
addressing relevant
local news and topics
in a national context. Its
content also appears in
the West Texas Beat
newsletter.
| Our Team: |
Zena Crenshaw-Logal,
Managing Editor and
Correspondent
Managing Editor and
Correspondent
Dr. Andrew D. Jackson,
Editor and National
Correspondent
Editor and National
Correspondent
C. Lynnette Thomas,
Investigations Director
and Correspondent
Investigations Director
and Correspondent
Rodney A. Logal,
General Manager
General Manager
George Stokes, Sr.
Community Liaison
and Correspondent
Community Liaison
and Correspondent
| Join Internet Radio Host George Stokes, Sr. as he helps keep West Texas in touch with Our Nation and full of High Hopes! Connect by internet or dial-in to listen. Your Concerns; Your Communities; Your Voices |
We Are OAK
- a national
consortium
of grassroots
advocates.
Learn More
- a national
consortium
of grassroots
advocates.
Learn More
All Rights Reserved
This month West Texas Beat (WTB) borrowed a modified version of the
website header for one of our sister organizations, National Judicial Conduct and
Disability Law Project, Inc. (NJCLDP), a nonprofit judicial reform group. We
thought NJCDLP's imagery was appropriate for this edition of WTB because it
shifts our coverage somewhat from the important privacy issues of Crenshaw-
Logal v. City of Abilene, Texas to the interesting -- some would say troubling
way that the case was resolved by the U.S. district court sitting in Abilene,
Texas.
As announced on the internet radio show High Hopes with George Stokes,
Judge Sam R. Cummings denied on February 10, 2011 Crenshaw-Logal's
"Motion For Relief from (the) Judgment and Order (of December 20, 2010)"
dismissing her underlying case. A copy of the judge's 2011 order is linked
below.
Crenshaw-Logal and other judicial reformers joined our own George
Stokes, Sr. as guests on the March 10, 2011 airing of High Hopes with George
Stokes. Crenshaw-Logal shared her impressions of Judge Cumming's latest
order against her and her "next steps" given that order. To get the most out of
this exciting and popular episode, be sure to read our earlier coverage of
Crenshaw-Logal v. Abilene, Texas, including key documents from the case -- all
of which is linked in the right margin below. If you have not already, you are
encouraged to listen to an overview of the Crenshaw-Logal case from the
January 6, 2011 episode of High Hopes with George Stokes. That episode is
also linked below.
Here's our January / February 2011 story:
You may recall our first edition featuring the story, "Law Enforcement
Watchdogs Rally In West Texas". The article relates to a pro se federal
lawsuit against the City of Abilene, Texas, filed by our own Zena Crenshaw-
Logal.
The referenced lawsuit is case number 1-10CV-132 C before the
Northern U.S. District Court of Texas at Abilene; at least the case was in
federal court. On December 20, 2010, the Honorable Judge Sam Cummings
granted the City of Abilene's motion to throw Crenshaw-Logal's claims out of
court, purportedly on the grounds that her case lacks merit.
Crenshaw-Logal contends that her lawsuit "challenges the ability of law
enforcement to seize computers and files from advocates monitoring their
conduct." The underlying dispute began on April 9, 2010. On that date police
seized computers and files from Abilene resident Michayl Mellen based on
unindicted allegations against him for possession and / or promotion of child
pornography. Mellen categorically denies the charges and suggest they stem
from his high-profile criticism of local criminal law enforcement.
Our August 2010 edition began an unusually detailed review of the
Crenshaw-Logal case against Abilene. We explained that "(o)rdinarily a
community publication such as West Texas Beat would summarize rather than
website header for one of our sister organizations, National Judicial Conduct and
Disability Law Project, Inc. (NJCLDP), a nonprofit judicial reform group. We
thought NJCDLP's imagery was appropriate for this edition of WTB because it
shifts our coverage somewhat from the important privacy issues of Crenshaw-
Logal v. City of Abilene, Texas to the interesting -- some would say troubling
way that the case was resolved by the U.S. district court sitting in Abilene,
Texas.
As announced on the internet radio show High Hopes with George Stokes,
Judge Sam R. Cummings denied on February 10, 2011 Crenshaw-Logal's
"Motion For Relief from (the) Judgment and Order (of December 20, 2010)"
dismissing her underlying case. A copy of the judge's 2011 order is linked
below.
Crenshaw-Logal and other judicial reformers joined our own George
Stokes, Sr. as guests on the March 10, 2011 airing of High Hopes with George
Stokes. Crenshaw-Logal shared her impressions of Judge Cumming's latest
order against her and her "next steps" given that order. To get the most out of
this exciting and popular episode, be sure to read our earlier coverage of
Crenshaw-Logal v. Abilene, Texas, including key documents from the case -- all
of which is linked in the right margin below. If you have not already, you are
encouraged to listen to an overview of the Crenshaw-Logal case from the
January 6, 2011 episode of High Hopes with George Stokes. That episode is
also linked below.
Here's our January / February 2011 story:
You may recall our first edition featuring the story, "Law Enforcement
Watchdogs Rally In West Texas". The article relates to a pro se federal
lawsuit against the City of Abilene, Texas, filed by our own Zena Crenshaw-
Logal.
The referenced lawsuit is case number 1-10CV-132 C before the
Northern U.S. District Court of Texas at Abilene; at least the case was in
federal court. On December 20, 2010, the Honorable Judge Sam Cummings
granted the City of Abilene's motion to throw Crenshaw-Logal's claims out of
court, purportedly on the grounds that her case lacks merit.
Crenshaw-Logal contends that her lawsuit "challenges the ability of law
enforcement to seize computers and files from advocates monitoring their
conduct." The underlying dispute began on April 9, 2010. On that date police
seized computers and files from Abilene resident Michayl Mellen based on
unindicted allegations against him for possession and / or promotion of child
pornography. Mellen categorically denies the charges and suggest they stem
from his high-profile criticism of local criminal law enforcement.
Our August 2010 edition began an unusually detailed review of the
Crenshaw-Logal case against Abilene. We explained that "(o)rdinarily a
community publication such as West Texas Beat would summarize rather than
- quote extensive passages from court documents."
However, we essentially began an online "community
workshop on the contentions of Crenshaw-Logal vs. the
City of Abilene."
This special edition includes a verbatim rendition of
Crenshaw-Logal's motion and brief to set aside Judge
Cumming's judgment against her in favor of Abilene.
Fortunately you have a solid five (5) weeks to read and
ponder Crenshaw-Logal's motion and related court
documents.
In detailing claims, arguments, and court rulings
from the Crenshaw-Logal case, we do not presume you
are or want to be a legal scholar or practitioner. The case
is relatively complicated. Some lawyers may find it
difficult to follow all the relevant Supreme Court
precedent. Yet it is our hope that you read enough of the
Crenshaw-Logal case to understand and compare its most
obvious, fundamental points as made by Crenshaw-Logal,
the City of Abilene, and Judge Cummings.
Crenshaw-Logal refreshed our memory about the
background and importance of her case against the City of
Abilene as the January 6, 2011 guest of "High Hopes with
George Stokes", an internet radio show hosted by our own
George Stokes, Sr. Listening to George's debut episode
for 2011 (link to the right) provides a good context for
considering the documents (also linked to the right) as well
as Crenshaw-Logal's following "Motion for Relief from
Judgment and Order": Read the Motion
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