Notre Dame legal experts stand behind Judge Roberts
\nSOUTH BEND -- Supreme Court Chief Justice nominee John Roberts, who was elevated following the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist Saturday, has not been told when his official confirmation hearings will begin. \nBut Notre Dame University legal experts gave the potential justice their seal of approval and said the process is unlikely to create controversy. \nNotre Dame law professor Richard Garnett, who clerked for Rehnquist in 1996 and 1997 and has met Roberts, said he saw the nominee argue before the Supreme Court several times. \n"He was fabulous," Garnett said. "It was kind of like, when the word got out that Roberts was arguing, people would drop what they were doing and go watch because it was going to watch a real craftsman." \nSimilarly, law professor A.J. Bellia, who clerked for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in 1997 and 1998, called Roberts "phenomenal." \n"He's the best Supreme Court advocate I had ever seen in action," Bellia said. "I think he's an excellent choice. He strikes me as somebody being concerned about the law of the case as opposed to the politics of the case." \nGarnett said Roberts' confirmation was a "sure thing," although he predicted around 25 or 30 no-votes.\n
Skin infection could have come from exercise mats in gym
\nWASHINGTON -- George Washington University officials said at least one student contracted a skin infection that may be linked to improper cleaning of exercise mats at the Health and Wellness Center. \nIsabel Goldenberg, director of Student Health Services, confirmed that her office treated a student with complaints of a skin ailment two weeks ago, although other officials said up to two more students might have been infected. She said she initially contacted the athletic department because the patient had been exercising on the mats at the Health and Wellness Center. \n"As a public health monitor, I called them to tell them this is what we detected here," Goldenberg said. "We don't know if they got it (from the mats), but they did go there ... We don't want any more cases." \nGoldenberg spoke with Tony Vecchione, assistant athletics director for facilities, advising that his department clean the mats more, a task that was previously left mainly to mat users. Vecchione said that the Health and Wellness Center will sanitize the mats on a more regular basis to prevent future incidents. \n"You should wipe it off after you're done using it, but a lot of people, because they're in a rush or in a hurry, don't do that," Vecchione said. "It's just a matter of (us) cleaning more." \n
2 former BYU players acquitted in rape trial
\nPROVO, Utah -- A Provo, Utah, jury acquitted two former Brigham Young University football players Friday of charges alleging they raped a 17-year-old girl in their apartment last year after a night of drinking. \nB.J. Mathis and Ibrahim Rashada left the courtroom innocent of all charges. Mathis and Rashada were found innocent on two counts of aggravated sexual assault, one count of obstruction of justice, and one count of furnishing alcohol to a minor. \n"They are as innocent as they were when they first walked in here," said Jere Reneer, defense attorney for B.J. Mathis. "I've never felt prouder to be a lawyer. I don't know that I've ever felt proud to be a lawyer right until this moment." \nAfter almost five hours of deliberation Friday, the jury returned to the courtroom deadlocked with five jurors opting for acquittal and three for delivering a guilty verdict. Judge Samuel D. McVey read the jury more instructions concerning the burden of proof resting upon the state and sent them back out for another try at reaching a verdict. \nThe jury came back to the courtroom about 45 minutes later to deliver their verdict -- not guilty. Jury members said they felt there was not enough evidence to convict "beyond a reasonable doubt." \nTears of joy fell from Mathis' grandmother's eyes as she cried on a friend's shoulder when the verdict was read, saying "Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, Jesus"
