Today most habeas involves the federal courts overriding state convictionswhere it used to be mostly the reverse.

The struggle between centralization and decentralization is at the core of American history.

As the nation-state has monopolized habeas corpus … on balance we have far more people in prison, federal and state, than ever.

Just because you can watch half-nude women on afternoon television or gay men kissing on the streets of nearly any major city does not mean America is free, as complacent liberals might think, much less too free, as conservatives often suggest. Just because most dissidents are left alone doesn't mean there is no police state, for that would be convenient indeed for the police statists: the idea that people ought not complain so long as they have the right to do so.

For years, liberals have demonstrated a near religious devotion to the cause of 'cleaning up elections' with campaign finance reform, the wondrous panacea that would finally rescue our great country from corruption in politics. ... How anyone could believe that corrupt politicians could or would legislate away their own corruption is completely beyond me.

The most destructive thing governments do is divide people against each other, all in competition over the reins of the state.

Today most habeas involves the federal courts overriding state convictionswhere it used to be mostly the reverse.