Deciding the Fate of the Pardoned; 4-Year-Old Forced Outside in Snow
MALVEAUX: Here's a rundown of some of the stories we're covering. First, the prisoners pardoned by Mississippi's governor may not stay that way. The state Supreme Court is hearing challenges right now. And outrage over a video on YouTube. A father records his 4-year-old son running almost naked in the snow. He says he's trying to toughen him up. And then, a judge gives a bizarre sentence to a man accused of domestic violence.</s>JUDGE JOHN HURLEY, BROWARD COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT: He's going to get a card, he's going to get flowers, and then he's going to go home, pick up his wife, get dressed, take her to Red Lobster. And then, after they have Red Lobster, they are going to go bowling.</s>MALVEAUX: The rules are catching up with the reality of women serving in combat roles in the military. Today, the Pentagon is expected to lift some of the restrictions on what women can and cannot do. Now, current policy prevents them from serving in small infantry or ground units involved directly in combat, but the definition of the front line has changed. Women are already serving close to combat action and putting their lives on the line. The Pentagon says more than 140 women have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 860 have been wounded. So it brings us to our "Talk Back" question. Should women in the military be allowed to serve closer to the front lines? The move is getting mixed reactions. Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Robert Maginnis tells "TIME" magazine, "This does not dismiss the sexual tension issues, nor does it dismiss the difference psychologically between men and women in terms of cardiovascular fitness." But a family former Marine captain says the rule changes do not go far enough and still prevent women from getting promoted to the highest ranks. Anu Baghwati, who is with the Service Women's Action Network, says qualified women should be able to serve in full combat roles. She says, "It's time military leadership establish the same level playing field to qualified women to enter the infantry, Special Forces, and other all-male units." So, what do you think? Should women in the military be allowed to serve closer to the front lines? Leave your comments at Facebook.com/SuzanneCNN. We're going to air some of your responses later in the hour. And now, the Mississippi Supreme Court is hearing arguments over pardons granted to 200 criminals. A hearing is under way on those controversial pardons made by the former governor, Haley Barbour, during his last days. Now, those he pardon included four convicted killers who had worked at the governor's mansion in an inmate program. David Gatlin shot his estranged wife in the head while she held their baby in her arms. Anthony McCray was also convicted of killing his wife. Charles Hooker was a middle school teacher convicted of murdering his school's principal. And Joseph Ozment shot to death a store clerk. In all, Barbour pardoned 14 murderers. Others had been convicted of rape, armed robbery, drunk driving, and numerous drug-related offenses. Well, the Mississippi attorney general, he calls the pardons a slap in the face to everyone in law enforcement. Martin Savidge joins us live from outside the court in Jackson, Mississippi. Martin, I understand the arguments are under way. Do we expect a decision?</s>MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We do expect a decision at some point, but it isn't going to happen today. That's already been announced by the court. The proceedings got under way a little over an hour ago, and it's quite clear from the questions that are coming from the nine judges that they had read it well, they understood the questions and what is at stake here at this case, and there is a lot at stake. It is simply not just whether the pardons are valid or not, it goes to the heart of the Constitution of the state of Mississippi. It also goes to the power of clemency for the governor of Mississippi, and could it possibly be overruled? It gets into the fate of 10 people now who were convicted and their freedom is at stake. It also goes to 173 other people who were pardoned. Their records were expunged. Well, at also goes to the victims' families, who have suffered throughout this whole ordeal as they fear the punishment was not just in this particular case. So a lot is on the line, which is why even though the judges are probably going to render in their heads a verdict, we won't get it for probably a couple of days -- Suzanne.</s>MALVEAUX: Martin, have you seen any of the victims' families in the courthouse today? Is there a gathering?</s>SAVIDGE: Yes, they are there. And some of them got there long before the proceedings actually began, because they are the ones that really feel that they have been victimized again. There was a tremendous amount of public outrage, especially pertaining to the murderers that you talked about there. These were murderers that worked in the governor's mansion, and many of the families felt that they got the favor, they won over the heart and mind of the governor, when in fact they really didn't deserve to be pardoned at all. So that's why the families feel heavily invested. They are waiting to find out what happens, as is everyone else. And should these pardons be deemed invalid, well, then the next question is, what really happens next? Do you re-arrest these people? And if they've already left the state, how will you find them? Could they be on the run once more?</s>MALVEAUX: Yes. Very confusing case there. Martin, thank you so much. We appreciate it.</s>SAVIDGE: It is.</s>MALVEAUX: Well, this guy, he calls himself "Eagle Dad." A Chinese businessman forces his 4-year-old son to run outside in the snow in New York wearing only his underwear. Now, the father captures this on video and he posts it online. And he says in his quote, "No pain, no gain." That's his approach to parenting. Our Eunice Yoon, she picks up the story from Beijing.</s>EUNICE YOON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A video of a Chinese boy crying while running in the snow has sparked a firestorm here in China. A father who calls himself "Eagle Dad" for his tough parenting skills shot and posted a clip of his 4-year-old son running nearly naked in freezing weather in New York during the family's lunar new year holiday. The father, who lived in eastern China, told us the exercise where the parents instruct little Dua-Dua (ph) to lie in the snow was meant to toughen up his son as part of an intense training regimen that he designed. His son was born prematurely, with health problems. The video is reigniting debate here about how Chinese should parent their children after a controversial book about "Tiger" mothers raised questions about Chinese parenting skills. On Weibo, China's version of Twitter, one user says, "I can't agree with this educational style. It's so cruel and sensational. Eagle Dad might publish his own book. Shame on him." Another writes, "Why don't we have a law against this abnormal behavior? If we allow these things to happen, before long there will be all sorts of lion dads and snake moms who feel justified abusing their children." Dua-Dua's (ph) father told us that he doesn't care about this criticism. He said that he and his wife always ensured that their son is happy and that their parenting philosophy is no pain, no gain. Eunice Yoon, CNN, Beijing.</s>MALVEAUX: An estimated one million U.S. homeowners are under water on their mortgages. Find out how a settlement with the nation's biggest banks are going to free up billions of dollars to help.