Law & Information
Should a Judge be Forced to Choose Between Their Occupation and the Boy Scouts?
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States today with over 2.7 million youth members and more than a million volunteers.1 Despite its extreme popularity, the BSA has still faced its fair share of controversy throughout its 104 years as an organization Most recently, the Boy Scouts of America made national headlines after a California Supreme Court advisory committee proposed to prohibit…
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Be Careful What You Click For – 5 Worst Punishments for Craigslist Pranks
Craigslist is an online classifieds website where anyone can post listings for jobs, items for sale or personal ads. It can be a convenient way for people to find jobs in their community or buy goods at cheap prices. However, Craigslist is also known as a place where people post fake listings to prank others. Many pranksters think Craigslist is an anonymous website where their personal information can't be found.…
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A Strong Smell Could Land You in a Cell
In California, in order for a police officer to legally search a car without a warrant, he or she must either receive consent from the driver or have "probable cause" that the vehicle contains contraband or evidence of a crime. If an officer illegally searches a car, anything that is found in the search becomes void and cannot be used in court. Typically, whether an officer received consent- a simple…
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Ninth Circuit Court Gets Tougher on Review of Death Penalty Cases (Henry v. Ryan, 9th Circuit, 2014)
A recent decision by the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal has returned bad news for a defendant seeking review of his death penalty conviction. The case centers around the Supreme Court's ruling regarding the finality of a conviction, wherein federal courts must respect a judgment made at the state level (Ryan v. Schad, 133 S. Ct. 2548, 2551 (2013). The Ninth Circuit has said that in the present…
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5 Things To Do – And Not To Do – If You Are Pulled Over By Police
Being pulled over by the police is not a pleasant experience. Even if you have nothing to hide, you can become anxious or agitated in the situation, which could lead to a confrontation with the police officer or even an arrest. Here are five things to do – and not to do – if you are pulled over by the police. 1. When you hear a siren blaring or emergency…
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How Will Los Angeles’ E-Cigarette Restrictions Affect You?
On March 4, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to ban electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, in workplaces and public areas like parks and beaches. The law also bans e-cigarettes in adult establishments like bars and nightclubs. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is expected to sign the measure into law in the coming days. Los Angeles' e-cigarette laws will soon become as restrictive as its cigarette smoking laws, making the…
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California Prisoners Released, Changing Meaning of “Life Without Parole”
Over the past three years, California's prison system has seen major changes. Since taking office as governor of California in 2011, Jerry Brown has been responsible for 82 percent of parole board decisions. The result has been dramatic for prisoners facing life without parole. Governor Brown has worked with the courts to address the issue of prison overcrowding. To manage the prison population, his office has looked at the strict…
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Is Using Your Phone’s GPS While Driving Illegal?
Using your cell phone in any way while driving in California has been illegal since 2011. California Vehicle Code Section 23123 states that all drivers using a handheld wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle can be punished by fines of $20, which increases to $50 with each subsequent violation. In addition, California state penalty assessments and various fees and surcharges are applied, resulting in a $165 fine for a…
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Should Defendants Be Forced to Wear a Stun Belt During Trial?
On a violent night in June 1996, suspected drug dealer Robert Cleveland and his wife Monique were brutally shot at their home in Riverside County. Monique died immediately from gunshot wounds to her face. Cleveland survived and was able to identify his alleged attacker.1 Cleveland identified Jonathan Keith Jackson as the gunman and said the man entered their home looking for drugs. When Cleveland told Jackson that there were no…
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Should an Admitted Liar Be able to Become a Lawyer?
In 1995, aspiring law student Stephen Glass began his journalism career with a position at The New Republic Magazine. Shortly after, he began fabricating stories. In 1997, he began attending Georgetown University Law Center as an evening student. His made-up stories told tales of conservative Republicans, minorities and other political figures engaging in racist, humiliating and illegal acts. It was not until over a year into Glass' legal studies at…
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