Coaches Can’t Pray on the Field, Court Rules
Coaches Can’t Pray on the Field, Court Rules
Recently, we’ve seen that sports can spark controversy. NFL players have taken knees and locked arms during the national anthem to protest inequality and injustice, but the NFL isn’t the only form of football causing controversy. A high school football coach who prayed at the 50-yard line after a game has sparked a debate over the separation of church and state. Are coaches allowed to pray on the field? High…
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California Moves to Protect Immigrants in Court
Earlier this year, under President Trump’s aggressive immigration policies, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents began keeping a watchful eye on people coming in and out of courthouses, seizing an opportunity to detain immigrants for possible deportation. ICE argued that courthouses made for a safe area to detain suspected illegal immigrants because the security measures at courts help remove the possibility of an armed confrontation. In March, California Chief Justice…
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What We Learned from the 2016 California State Crime Report
The California Department of Justice recently released its annual report on crimes. For the year 2016, several notable trends were spotted. Here is a look at some of the important statistics in the report. Violent Crime Increased for the Second Year In a Row In 2016, violent crimes, including homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, increased by 4.1 percent compared to 2015. There were 8,113 more violent crimes committed in…
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California Could Copy Kentucky to Overhaul Bail System
After you are arrested, the court will typically assign bail. Bail is a monetary payment made by the defendant in order to be released from custody while the case is pending. The money is held by the court as a way to ensure the defendant will show up to his or her court dates. The money will eventually be returned to you if you do not miss any of your…
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No Body, No Murder Conviction?
Dumped in a lake. Dissolved in acid. Fed to pigs. In movies and TV shows, murderers often find creative ways to dispose of one key piece of evidence: the victim’s body. In reality, disposing of the body may not prevent a murder conviction in California. Several people in California have been convicted of murder in cases where the body was never found. One of the most famous cases involved Donald…
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Trump Administration Making It Easier for Authorities to Take Your Stuff
If you are accused of a crime, you may expect to lose certain rights. However, you may not expect law enforcement to seize your property and hold onto it for an extended period of time. Unfortunately, that is exactly what can happen to you under a new federal policy to increase asset forfeiture that has been implemented by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. What is Civil Asset Forfeiture? Civil asset forfeiture…
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Case to Legalize Sports Gambling Heading to Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that could change the future of sports betting. The court recently decided to hear arguments regarding the legalization of sports gambling. It all stems from a New Jersey ballot measure regarding sports betting that was approved by voters. As a result, the state began setting up sports books, but the MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL and NCAA sued New Jersey under…
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Conditions in Orange County Jails Inhumane, According to ACLU Report
Nobody wants to go to jail. You will have little opportunity to contact your family and friends, and you will not be able to move about freely or enjoy the daily activities of your life. However, residents of Orange County may have more reason to want to avoid jail time. According to a report published recently by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), conditions in Orange County jails are inhumane.…
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Should You Be Banned from Owning a Gun if You Commit a Hate Crime?
Gun control has long been a controversial topic, but the conversation has become even more heated with the rise of mass shootings and domestic terrorism. In an effort to balance gun rights with public safety, California lawmakers have introduced a bill that would prevent people who are convicted of hate crimes from owning guns. Assembly Bill 785 – introduced by Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) – would prohibit people who…
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California Gun Magazine Law Blocked By Judge Days Before Going into Effect
In 2016, California voters allowed a number of laws that aimed to strictly regulate firearm and ammunition purchases within the state. One of those laws banned Californians from owning or possessing large-capacity magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The law was set to go into effect on July 1. However, just days before it officially became law, a judge blocked it. So, is it illegal to…
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