Two big things have happened this week (so far).
First, yesterday the 200,000th comment was posted at Legal Insurrection:
200,000 comments is not a lot for many websites which use third party platforms like Disqus. We have considered many times, and ultimately rejected, the third-party platforms in favor of more control over who comes in the door. This is a gated community. I think that adds to the quality of the comment section.
Second, we picked up many first time commenters, and many new readers because of the Zimmerman trial coverage.
The Zimmerman coverage is typical of what you will find here — we’re like a rabid junkyard dog that sinks its teeth into someone’s leg and never lets go even when beaten over the head with a pipe and filled with buckshot from the police. Okay, maybe not the best analogy. But we do sink our teeth into issues, cases, candidates, politics and the law, and don’t let go until our teeth are ripped from the gums.
The only thing you will not find here are good analogies. But we’re working on it.
So stick around.
BONUS: Rush Limbaugh has some great things to say about Legal Insurrection.
Via Daily Rushbo:
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Comments
Wow. Thank you for allowing me into comment.
I may be a new comment there but I’ve been checking the LegalInsurrection blog daily for quite a while now. I appreciate your decision to keep the comments “gated” it keeps a lot of the trolls out that you see on other websites. Not all of them, but a lot.
Congratulations on the kudos from Rush and others. It is well deserved. Professor Jacobson has a great team assembled. Andrew Branca was great on the trial.
It is moooving.
sorry, I use Dragon NaturallySpeaking and I forgot to review my post before clicking submit. It should say “I may be a new commenter” not “I may be a new comment there”–the people who work with me call those Dragon errors!
My teeth are plastic. The real ones have already been ripped from my guns.
But I like LI anyway. Visited frequently even before the Zim trial. Good job Perfessor.
Yeah. My guns have teeth. My gums do not. LOL.
Please don’t ever find “good analogies” ’cause what we see are GREAT ANOLOGIES.
Carry on junkyard dog! 🙂
Thanks, Prof. Jacobson. I now feel that I have found a good place to discuss issues and some very interesting news as well.
Thank you for the live twitter feed.
Professor Jacobson, I congratulate you, other contributors and the team behind Legal Insurrection for creating a topical and relevant forum that brings a sorely needed pungent and iconoclastic perspective on legal issues and other topics of intrigue. The site has become a place where both attorneys and laypersons can pontificate and opine, with entertaining and informative results. Keep up the good work!
Congrats, congrats congrats!
LI rocks.
The inimitable Andy McCarthy gave Professor Jacobson and Andrew Branca a shout-out in his recent PJMedia post.
Thanks for all you do.
Been visiting LI for a few years now, and have been thrilled to see the good professor’s labor of love take its rightful place among the “Big Guns”.
I especially love the way that he – and now his more-than-capable cohorts – explain the “legalese” of current events in such a way that a non-lawyer like me can easily understand.
Thanks to Professor Jacobson and crew for all of the hard work, and here’s to many, many more years to come. ♥♥♥
What Teresa said! I made a small donation last month in support of this blog. I hope lots of other people chip in as well to reward Prof. Jacobson, Andrew Branca, and A.F. Branco for all their efforts. This is a great blog!
As always, P’fessor, thanks for the great blog and for all you do.
Congrats on the kudos from Rush!!
Jim Croce: Bad, Bad William J
“On the Southside of Ithaca…”
Congrats, Professor, from a long time lurker but only recent commenter. Thanks for the great coverage on the Zimmerman trial.
Nice shout out from Rush!
Proud to be a a long time reader and occasional commenter.
Thank you professor for not using Disqus … there are a number of blogs I will not comment on because of that insidious tool that tracks everything you write, plus wants access to your other social sites. How does anyone permit that in this day and age? You have assembled a great team of reporters and I thoroughly enjoy them all. Like many others I have been riveted by the Zimmerman trial. Thanks for bringing Andrew aboard for this coverage. It has been marvelous.
Ditto – I completely quit Red States and Weasel Zippers due to the disqus issue – didn’t like the tracking on top of it being user unfriendly.
Have to agree with you on disqus.
Can’t wait to see comments on this press conference by the Sanford PD – I was only half listening to the beginning of Smith’s comments, but I think he pretty much said that the arrest and prosecution were driven by the community demands.
LI had far and away the most complete coverage and it looks like almost every other site linked back to it at some point.
I’m sure you didn’t plan it this way, Professor, but you and Counselor Braca have become Journalists in the most excellent sense of the word.
I can’t believe that after the topnotch work done by WAJ & Branca you call them journalists. Apologize immediately.
Come on – Lawyers write columns, journal articles – and – books.
How about if I call them superb journalists in the most excellent sense of the word??? 😉
Well, that’s sort of like calling someone a superb jackass.
Oh dear. A Pew Poll released today measures American regard for various professions. Second from the bottom is journalists, followed by business execs. At the bottom of their list is….. uh, well….. lawyers.
So, I guess calling Jacobson & Branca journalists is a step up after all. Color me embarrassed now.
http://www.pewforum.org/Other-Demographics/Public-Esteem-for-Military-Still-High.aspx
Well just as it only takes one really bad test to drop your grade point average in school it only takes one or two Mantei types to massively drop the regard with which you profession is held.
Can we find someone to nominate you two for Pulitzer Prizes?
Or the internet blog equivalent anyway!
I’d already looked into that – alas, Pulitzer is only for print media.
Discrimination!!
After the NYT win for promoting Stalin would anyone worthy want to be associated with it?
During the last three weeks I’ve spent more than 80 hours on this site.Very informative indeed.I am surprised by what I see on the live stream and the way that is reported in Canada.It’s like Night and Day !!My internet provider must love you guys for my over-usage.Keep up the great work..
Congrats, Professor! Extremely well deserved compliments from Rush.
You and your blog are the real deal!!
The Zimmerman coverage has lived up to one’s hopes for what the blogosphere could be.
Hey, gs…. did you follow the trial, presumably at another site (cuz I didn’t see your name here)? If so, what was the tenor and tone of it?
Henry, I strongly doubt that the trial should have taken place, so I didn’t follow it. My post referred to the quality of LI’s coverage, not to the topic.
I’m pretty sure there is other quality coverage to be found if one searches for it, e.g. by defense attorney Jeralyn Merritt at talkleft.com .
I see. I knew you frequented other sites, often those more to the left, and was curious as to your specific take on what you might have seen there.
Thank you for this blog and the excellent coverage of the Zimmerman trial. I found this blog because I was fed up with sensationalizing and misleading spinning which had no relevance to the trial I was attempting to watch, I will stay to explore more because its such an excellent site – Thank You!
Dear Professor, earlier this week a potted plant and now a junkyard dog.
What will next week bring….. stay tuned.
I’m betting on junkyard plant or potted dog.
Welcome (former) Althouse commentators!
No hissy fits by the host here, and your thoughtful and informed commentary are more than welcome!
(had to)
Will LI now surpass Althouse in the LawProf blogging stats? Enquiring minds will be watching!
Already is, in July 11 Avvo ratings.
I was a top level quoted and tagged esteemed member of the Althouse commentariat.
No commentariat…Althouse is dead to me. Her blog rankings will sink like a ship. Her site used to be very sticky and now it’s a post-it note that’s been restuck one too many times.
Oops meant to post the link to the ratings I cited.
http://www.avvo.com/stats/top_legal_blogs
I am one of the newbies and was thankful that I was linked here from Breitbart…………having to work the other coverage even the local Orlando channels has been poor and that is me being kind. So this has been a life send for good info. The intelligent and entertaining at time comments have just been a ++ in my book……….Thanks.
“we’re like a rabid junkyard dog that sinks its teeth into someone’s leg and never lets go…”
ROFLMAO! I think you’ll never get a rebuttal on that from Elizabeth ‘Lieawatha’ Warren!
Glad to be part of the community!
Keep it up William!
New here and like it. Very informative. Was in legal litigation for 12 years at large corporation although very minor position.
After first commending the professor on this fine blog I’ve been honored to frequent for a couple years, and after thanking Branca for a superb job on the GZ trial, I’d like to point out to new visitor/commenters:
1) Tip Line – Link button at upper right just under the prof’s pic, where we post tips and tidbits we think the site might want/need to know about. Excellent source of all manner of current events and breaking news.
2) College Insurrection – Companion site to Legal Insurrection, taking conservative thought and considerations to the college campus.
3) Support This Blog – This is one of the few blogs that doesn’t beg for money all the time, but I’m guessing donations are always welcome. See Support This blog on right just below Video Of The Day. Speaking of which…
4) Video Of The Day – The one chink in the LI armor. Here you’ll see an, uh, eclectic selection of music videos of the sort you might expect from a rabid junk yard dog or potted plant. No Barry Manilow as yet, nor Justin Bieber, and often you’ll see a great old find there, but let’s just say that it sometimes serves to illustrate that beauty is in the flea-bitten ear of the beholder. (j/k)
Comparing Manilow to Bieber is an insult to Manilow.
You are correct, sir, and have my sincerest apology.
Not really. Both are an insult to music in general
Also true, with apologies as well.
Yes, I will defend Barry Manilow. Exhibit #1 (and don’t make me have to give you others):
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc97xZdcTHM
Dude, get help.
(j/k)
Henry, I’m a Dude-ette. You can throw your cloak over the puddles any time….
What a great site! I’m a first time LI follower. Wish more sites filtered content with posters addressing opinions making important distinctions between what the evidence is vs. inflamed rhetoric. I served several yrs as a mayor in Fl. I’m grateful for the experience and opportunity even though it was one of the most difficult & thankless jobs I have ever had. While not unique to Fl, we’re certainly seeing more & more policy/law making & law enforcement based solely on the tides of public opinion. All while Effective leadership nowadays seems to be a rare commodity. Thank you for such a great site!
LI rocks!
Thanks to Professor Jacobson for this very informative site. I just was told about it at the start of the Zimmerman trial. I especially want to compliment Andrew Branca for his insightful and sometimes amusing commentary. Thanks so much!
I keep reminding myself that the Duke Lacrosse case went against the students, in the media, because the coverage was very biased. Turns out poor Mangum (sp?) was bonafide nuts. And, the media failed to pick up on this.
Only later would Nifong be disbarred.
Has “To Be Nifong’ed” entered a slang dictionary yet?
Will “That’s retarded, sir” make it in?
Yes, I think there’s a market up ahead for years to come. For tee-shirts, certainly. Maybe, board games. If one gets done the cards can be the witness cards that O’Mara used in his close. The board could be Twin Trees Retreat. With the “lakes” being zones like “jail” or “go immediately to trial.” And, the pieces used could include a truck. A community watchman. And, the “grey rubber guy” in miniature.
Why won’t there be books, ahead?
Why won’t there be a dump of evidence into the public sector, ahead?
Heck, besides the verdict, I do want to know how Trayvon’s cell phone got into someone’s hands where they were able to delete messages. And, how this, on an evidentiary scale, the State failed to provide this evidence to the defense in a timely manner. I think there should be special cards for all of half-nelson’s judicial errors, too.
Also, isn’t it possible while the jury is deliberating, O’Mara and West are reviewing their “what/if” options?
If inserted in this is the possibility of riots … we could guess how many of the ghetto’s liquor stores go up in smoke. And, where exactly will the “aggrieved residents” go to when they want to buy a container of milk?
By the way, should there be “riots,” they’ll only take place in front of media trucks. Maybe, like the Boston Marathon, having media trucks around is a good thing? At least that may be the thoughts running through media exectuvies’ heads right now?
I don’t know what the jurors will do. But I give a very low priority to “riots.” Because? You need participants. And, I’d bet you can’t fool Blacks into believing Trayvon was St. Skittles. They get injured to often by cads like this.
I’m also guessing the best way the jurors can recover from this ordeal is to acquit. Other stories come along and take over from this show trial. (Where are Casey Anthony’s jurors now?)
As to obama giving a speech (let’s say to “keep calm and carry on”) it will go unnoticed by most people. Obama’s in such a lame duck status now, a riot won’t help him. And, most Americans are tuning out his speeches. (I even think they’d tune him out in Egypt.)
And, if I had a wish that could come true? I’d see to it that Eric Holder got impeached. Alas, too bad, we only elect jerks to congress.
A most excellent post, M’aam. Regarding your question on access to the cell phone, Ramsey Electronics sells a shielded enclosure to hold a cell phone as evidence. It is RF shielded so that it can’t be read or altered by external commands from the cell company (or the NSA).
Thanks for a great site, Professor! I’ve greatly enjoyed Andrew Branca’s excellent coverage of the Zimmerman Kangaroo Court, to the point of buying his book and even hitting the Tip Jar.
Now I can only wait and hope that logic, reason and facts still matter in courts of law. Who am I kidding, when has it ever?
I’ve also donated to George Zimmerman’s legal defence, and have the utmost respect for the Defense team. They’ve done a great job.
Stick around… well sure. This might be the fisrt I have registered to comment but I have been reading your posts for years.
IMO this site is the best legal blog on the internet.
Thank you for all of the work you have done with the Zimmerman posts…it freed me from swimming with the kool-aid race baiters over at other sites.
From reading their posts, I imagine a lot of the people that found LI recently would have enjoyed, as I did, your posts last fall before the election. Especially the ones about the Indian woman(chuckle)running for MA Senate seat.
Speaking of “Lie a Watha”…. did someone post the fun contrast between Zimmerman and Warren?
Warren is a white woman with a dubious claim to Indian ancestry 3 generations back being defended by the media for claiming to be a Native American woman.
Zimmerman with both Hispanic and Black ancestors in his immediate family tree can’t get the media to stop claiming he’s white.
I have come here on and off over the years as friends have sent me links to certain articles. I never commented until this trial. It was during this trial that I really began to explore the whole site. What did I find? At last a place of sanity. Thank you Professor.
I guess I should that LI and LOSD are now in my regular bookmarks. Keep up the good work guys.
[Hahahahahaha – wait till all these newbies find out this is really a life insurance sales website]
I’ve been a long time casual reader, but the trial coverage has been extremely impressive.
Have you considered carrying on with that? Finding other real trials to cover — perhaps ones that *you* think are important, rather than ones the MSM has chosen to highlight?
A HUGE heartfelt “Thank You!” to all of the people behind this site. It has been the single reliable place where information about the railroading of George Zimmerman could be found. (Oops! Did my bias slip through there?)
You have presented the facts and some very masterful analysis of the daily happenings in this trial-by-farce, when the alphabet news organizations have largely kept on with their obvious racial agenda. (I wonder where Al Sharpton is anyway? At Tawna Brawley’s, perhaps?)
Keep up the wonderful work. You’ve gain a loyal follower here!!
Earlier today Dershowitz said ‘If the judge had any guts, she’d have directed a verdict of not guilty!.
Thanks Professor, thanks Andrew! Well done!
I’m one of the new commenters, and I will definitely be checking your site more often in the future. I like facts. In lots of places it’s hard to find those.
MSNBC, “Facts? We don’t need no stinkin’ facts!”
MSNBC? Are they still in business?
While we’re all waiting around for the verdict, Drudge is carrying (among his headlines on this case), information on how half-nelson got elected to the bench. She’s a life long democrat. In 1999, or 2000, she got donations for her campaign from both O’Mara ($200). And, West ($100). She was a Jeb Bush appointment. But the terms she wins at the ballot box are six years long. And, she’s won 3 races. Usually, without an opponent. This started in 2000. So how can she be impeached, now?
Yes, I can understand the “need” to donate money to a judge’s campaign if your bread and butter is trial law in various Florida courthouses. But what surprised me was that this incompetent judge got appointed by Jeb Bush. What exactly is going on inside the republican party in Florida? Are we dealing with the brain dead?
Then, of course, coming in from the outside, I know Rick Scott threw himself in, in the 2010 primary, using his own money ($25-million’s worth)to win the slot to run in November 2010. Which he does win. He sold himself as the candidate who could make quick decisions. Was an outsider. And, was fiscally responsible. (I don’t have to tell you that Florida is one of the “sand states” … and what that means in terms of debt and deficits.)
IF Rick Scott was an outsider, why did he go after Zimmerman, who is obviously an innocent man? (I’m booking the answer is on the plausibility that Scott thought attention to this trial would boost him so high … come 2016 he could compete with Jeb Bush in their race for the presidential nomination.) Of what country you might ask? Well, ours, of course.
I wouldn’t vote for either Jeb Bush (or any Bush, anymore). And, I certainly won’t vote for Rick Scott. Even though, politically, Rick Scott right now may be as grey as the naked dummy brought into Zimmerman’s trial by Guy, his dancing partner. For me, the most memorable moment, of the many we saw, was when O’Mara went and retrieved the “gray man” and put him on the floor. And, mounted it. His expression was priceless. He was, in fact, uncomfortable. While some of the jurors rose from their seats … just to see him demonstrating how easy it was for Trademark Trayvon Martin to grab George Zimmerman’s head and pound it into the cement.) Obviously, we are free to choose our favorite moments.
As a matter of fact, I think in 2014 it’s the democrats who may be racing to put in “one of their own” (against Scott) who wouldn’t have to worry about being “primaried.” Won’t that be an interesting race to watch?
This language of “white Hispanic” throws me. I’ve never seen that done before. Though I know there’s a Cuban community. A Peurto Rican community. A Mexican one. And, then one you can divide among other Spanish speaking nations, who migrate to America. Who even knows if the Jewish community hasn’t been offended, because between the race baiters and Scott there may have been a belief that Zimmerman was really Jewish?
Politics is a strange business. Oh. And, we know white people don’t riot. (Unless we go back in our history and see what happened when white farmers in Massachusetts got real angry at being taxed by the British.)
Heck, the first things those white farmers did (to revolt), was to dress up like indians. And, climb aboard ships in the port delivering tea. (Yeah, so this time around, Massachusetts elected democratic nominee who was a faux indian to the senate. No longer surprising to me that she wins out over the GOP candidate. And, if Scott Brown wants to run for John Fraud Kerry’s seat? He’s gotta depend on conservatives to send him money.) This is no way to run a party!
The people who really like the GOP have got to get a little bit smarter in how they play the game.
Now, ahead when you take a scalpel to dissect this Zimmerman Case, I hope you include a chapter on political shenanigans. Both parties are up to their eyeballs in promoting the likes of half nelson’s. Which also goes to explain how turds like the racial baiters actually have a forum where they can be paid MILLIONS!
Oh, yes. I hope and pray ahead when we see the race baiters playing their hoaxes in front of the media’s cameras, we can carry signs that say “GO JUMP IN THE LAKE. In the name of ZIMMERMAN’s condo complex. And, that tree branches don’t fly off to cause abrasions when a mugger sucker punches you in the face. Sprinklers don’t rise up to hit you when a mugger pushes you to the ground. And, that carrying a concealed weapon makes more sense than not.
I want obama to flounder and then drown. Along with all his stinking cohorts.
I’ve visited LI many times but only started commenting when this trial began. It’s an excellent resource and I’m grateful to Professor Jacobson for making it available and inviting Andrew Branca to contribute.
I’ll be making a contribution to the building fund.
There aren’t really words adequate to express how much your refined, classy, and knowledgeable style in running LI is appreciated. Discovering that there is, indeed, still men and women in the halls of academia and in the legal world who are honest, dignified and forthright is reassuring on so many fronts. Certainly LI is an oasis in the desert.
Many thanks to Mr. Andrew Branca for his extraordinary coverage and astute insight into the world of legalese, and the Zimmerman trial in particular.
Though I’m an RN, it still feels quite comfortable to be able to participate here.
Congratulations.
Lady, as a regular here I’d guess that most are not attorneys here. I’m not, fer instance. (And my wife’s an RN).
I have been a long-time reader through Instapundit but have never commented until this travesty of a trial has overwhelmed my ability to keep my mouth shut. Thank you for the outstanding coverage that vastly outstrips the quality of anything being reported in traditional media, both in factual accuracy and in quality of analysis. You and Mr. Branca both do great work.
Yep, LI deserves all the acclaim it can get, especially since I also agree with that same acclaim. There is an excellent balance of people commenting here and your decision to have it run as a gated community has proven to be a great one.
Great blog to read and very much the cream of that crop.
Legal Insurrection is a great site to follow the trial and learn the relevant legal issues. Thanks for the wonderful coverage and the trenchant analysis. You have become in the past month my ‘go to’ site.
Drudge has up (in red) that the jurors have suspended deliberations for the night. Does this mean the judge has to go to work tomorrow? In case the jury has questions?
Drudge also has up an article from inside the courtroom, as Guy did the rebuttal, and one juror was seen wiping tears from her eyes.
Is it possible the longer they sit the more likely they’re split? I hate the thought of a “sisterhood” that can compromise. And, yes. This is an intelligence test for females. Where the judge has appeared boorish. And, pro-prosecution.
It’s like racial politics. Women have benefited from Affirmative Action without really showing competence in combat. What hasn’t worked in this “multi-culti” system is any sign that groups merge and honor each other as MLK said “to recognize the character within.”
I am so afraid of the outcome, now.
Hi Prof. Jacobson, I was heading home today listening to Rush when he blurted out your Blog. While your Zimmerman coverage has been awe inspiring, I don’t consider you just a ‘legal’ blog as Rush inferred today. You cover a broad swath of issues and I dig the Music Box on the side.
Cheers and congrats on the mention.
Ditto on the congrats to the Professor and the LI crew for their great coverage. Long time reader, rare commenter and not a big fan of disqus either. 🙂
Wow! Get ready for an avalanche of blog traffic.
I just listened to the clip you linked and Rush says “William Jacobson of Legal Insurrection does a FABULOUS job.
It’s a great blog on legal matters.”
Then he talks about a recent post.
Congrats again!
Oh heck, we old-timers here know how much Rush respects the Professor.
Rush’s first personal Tweet was about this blog: https://legalinsurrection.com/2012/03/when-a-rush-tweet-flapped-its-wings/
🙂
[…] It turns out Rush is a fan of William’s work at LI. Today he was talking about the Zimmerman case when he brought it up. Listen to the clip below… […]
Love this description, “We are a gated community.”
Personally I like the Professor’s optimism and focus on getting things done. He might cuss out the situation but he moves on without moping. A lot of conservatives have been pretty darned pitiful since last November.
Aye- it is a very different world since November.
Congrats Professor. It’s people like you who allow me to “keep the faith” that saner minds will prevail:)
Congratulations Professor Jacobson! I’m one of the people who discovered the site when finding the info about Zimmerman trial, and posted my only comment only. I was totally shocked with majority of the comments on twitter so here on LI I like reading comments not less than reading articles.
I quite like the idea of a “gated community” but what I really miss is the possibility to quickly see only top rated comments or comments from the most respected members of the community (i.e. members whose comments received the most positive votes on all their comments), otherwise it’s really time-consuming even to glance through all pages of the comments on popular topics as mentioned Zimmerman trial coverage.