... [Read more...]
Understanding Jury Nullification
What Is It? When Is It Permissible? What Arguments Can Be Made for and Against the Practice? In the American legal system, when determining the outcome of a criminal matter, a jury is commonly directed to return a guilty verdict if the prosecution ... [Read more...]
Megan’s Law
What Is It? How Does It Protect Communities across the U.S.? What Criticisms Can Be Made of the Law? In July 1994, Megan Kanka, a 7-year-old girl in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, was lured into the home of a neighbor, where she was sexually ... [Read more...]
What Are Right-to-Work Laws?
What Is Their Impact on Collective Bargaining and Union Organization? How Do They Affect American Culture? The protection of workers in the United States carries a long and storied history, with the first labor unions appearing as early as 1794. ... [Read more...]
What Does Vehicular Manslaughter Mean?
When Can You Be Charged With Vehicular Manslaughter? What Defenses Can You Raise? One difference between criminal and civil law centers on the legal principle of negligence. In most instances, when you suffer losses because of the careless or ... [Read more...]
What Is Comparative Negligence?
Can You Still Sue Someone for Damages If You Were Partially Responsible for Causing the Accident? While there are certain types of accidents where it's clear that one party caused everything, it's fairly common to have a situation where multiple ... [Read more...]
What Does Homicide Mean?
How Does the Law Define Homicide? What Are the Different Types of Homicide? What Defenses Are Available for a Homicide Charge? The term "homicide," derived from the Latin words homo (man) and cidium (the act of killing), is commonly used in the ... [Read more...]
What Is Third-Degree Murder?
How Does It Differ From Other Types of Homicide? What Are the Potential Penalties? In the vast majority of states, there is no criminal offense identified as "third-degree murder." Only three states—Florida, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota—have laws on ... [Read more...]
What Is an Easement?
How Do You Get an Easement? When Do You Need One? The purchase of real property conveys many rights You have the right to own and possess the property, to be present on the premises. You have the right to make improvements, changes, or ... [Read more...]
What Is Wire Fraud?
What Are the Elements of Wire Fraud? What Are the Potential Defenses to Allegations of Fraud? What Are the Possible Penalties? Fraudsters can come up with some highly creative ways to take your money. They may send you a fake bill that appears to be ... [Read more...]