Civics Education: A teachable moment about the meaning of ‘rule of law’

Chiara Crivelli (no affiliation provided) has published Eighteenth - Century English Marriage and Inheritance Law in Pride and Prejudice. Here is the abstract. This paper examines how Pride and Prejudice reflects the intersection of marriage, inheritance, and gender in late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth-century England, with a focus on the legal implications for women. The central research question is: “How does Pride and Prejudice engage with contemporary marriage and inheritance laws to reflect the economic and legal dependencies of women in this period?” Using a socio-legal historical approach, the paper explores the legal doctrines of coverture and entailment, tracing their historical development from the De Donis Conditionalibus clause in the Statute of Westminster (1285) to their application in Austen’s time. The analysis draws on legal scholarship, particularly J.H. Baker’s work on English property law, to examine how Austen’s treatment…

The correspondent filing this dispatch is a law student in Mumbai who has requested to remain anonymous. On Monday, the Supreme Court of India (SCI) agreed to hear a batch of petitions challenging the Election Commission’s (ECI) decision to verify and revise the State of Bihar’s electoral rolls as it awaits assembly elections later this year. This will be a crucial milestone in the SCI’s election jurisprudence, following recent landmark judgements on the appointment of Election Commissioners and judicial review on delimitation. The ECI is governed by constitutional provisions, the Representation of People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. In Mohinder Gill v. Election Commissioner, the SCI held that these powers are not absolute, and are subject to judicial review when fundamental rights are violated or natural justice principles arise. Article 324(1) of the Constitution vests the ECI with the power to prepare electoral rolls. Similarly,…

You’ve probably heard of couples staying together “for the kids,” but what about the pets? Given that nearly 60% of families in Texas report having at least one pet, it’s no surprise that pet ownership often becomes a hot-button issue for couples going through a divorce. Pets are cherished members of families from all walks of life, but deciding who “gets” the pets in a divorce isn’t necessarily cut-and-dried under Texas law. If you’re navigating a divorce and are concerned about whether you’ll be able to retain access to your favorite furry friend, you’re not alone. Here’s a brief overview of how pets factor into divorce agreements under Texas law and how an experienced divorce attorney can help you fight for your four-legged friend. How are pets classified under Texas law? Even if you consider yourself a proud “pet parent,” Texas law doesn’t exactly treat “fur babies” like human…

The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for the Trump administration to implement an executive order calling for mass reductions in the federal workforce. In a brief unsigned opinion, the justices temporarily paused an order by a federal judge in San Francisco that prohibited the government from carrying out the executive order while its appeals continue. The majority explained that, in its view, the Trump administration is likely to prevail on its argument that the executive order and a memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management intended to implement the executive order are legal – a key criterion in determining whether to grant temporary relief. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the lone dissenter. In a 15-page opinion, she contended that Thursday’ s ruling would “allow an apparently unprecedented and congressionally unsanctioned dismantling of the Federal Government to continue apace, causing…

Illinois’ respected safety organization, the National Safety Council (“NSC”), warns us that our country’s roads are filled with more drivers who are driving while they are sleepy, tired, or fatigued than most realize. Not only do lots of drivers decide to get behind the wheel even though they are “sleep-deprived,” but a shocking 1 in 25 drivers admitted to researchers that they have literally fallen asleep at the wheel while driving. This is a serious public safety concern, not just for safety groups like the NSC but for advocates of accident victims and their loved ones. As the NSC points out, thousands of people lose their lives each year in preventable accidents caused by drowsy driving. Fatigued driving kills. Read, “Drivers Are Falling Asleep Behind the Wheel,” published by the National Safety Council, citing studies done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Sleep Foundation. Drowsiness,…

(Photo by ChatGPT)No one ever took DoNotPay up on its offer to pay $1 million to anyone willing to use their AI system to argue a Supreme Court case. It was a wild swing from a company that couldn’t even successfully get their system into traffic court. But we always appreciated the gumption. The Supreme Court oral argument is an academic circle jerk before the majority decides to Trump can just disappear people and that they will not dwell on any counterarguments, so why not let ChatGPT take a stab at it? And at the time we suggested DoNotPay aim slightly lower and set up an experiment to moot an upcoming Supreme Court case. They didn’t go ahead with that. Because… well, the FTC stuff happened. Jenner & Block’s Adam Unikowsky decided to go ahead and perform an experiment on his own using the top consumer-facing AI tools out there right now. Taking his own oral argument from Williams v. Reed (which he won, providing his post a bonus humblebrag…

Airbags are one of the most important safety features in cars today. They are designed to save lives by deploying instantly during a crash, protecting you from striking hard surfaces like the steering wheel or dashboard. While there is no doubt that airbags prevent many serious injuries, they can also lead to unexpected harm—including damage to your hearing. One question that often comes up after an accident is: Can airbag deployment cause hearing loss? The answer is yes. In some cases, the force and noise of an airbag deploying can damage hearing, sometimes permanently. At Anderson Franco Law, we know how confusing and overwhelming things can feel after an accident. It’s even more stressful when the injury isn’t visible or obvious right away. Hearing loss can be life-changing, and you deserve to understand your rights if this happens to you. How Airbags Work To see how they can harm your hearing, it helps to know how airbags work. When your car…

New Jersey has two critical laws that limit if, when, and how employers can respond to employee marijuana use. One is the Jake Honig Compassionate Use Medical Cannabis Act (N.J. Stat. Ann. § 24:6I-14), or CUMCA, and the other is the Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act (N.J. Stat. § 24:6I-31 et. seq.), aka the CREAMM Act. These two laws make clear that employers must not penalize—or even test—employees for off-duty marijuana use when such action is prohibited, yet they must take appropriate action when responding to use that is not permitted. These laws present a fine line with penalties on both sides. However, advance planning can limit your risk. Let’s look at the key aspects of these two laws. Medical Marijuana and the Workplace: Employer Obligations Under CUMCA and LAD CUMCA was the first of the two laws and legalizes marijuana strictly for medical use. However, it explicitly does not require employers to…

The height of summer is nearly upon us, but law students have their future careers on their minds. With so many things to take into account when considering their livelihoods, how can law students create meaningful distinction between firms? Perhaps they can take a look at the firms’ pro bono numbers — which at some firms, has become a battle over money versus morals. Pro bono work has taken on a different hue now that Trump is in the White House, with some firms afraid to take on work that may be frowned upon, and others pledging hundreds of millons of dollars’ worth of pro bono payola to conservative causes. But over the course of the last year, before pro bono work became a controversial topic, members of the legal profession sprang into action to deal with crisis after crisis after crisis, offering their services without cost to those in need. From immigration and asylum work to racial justice initiatives to protecting reproductive rights in…

Potential Legal Claims? Ar’mon Covington Shooting Akron.  We have over 25 years of experience representing victims of security failures across the United States, and we have recovered nearly $250 million dollars for our Clients.  Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available to the family of Ar’mon R. Covington. Ar’mon R. Covington Killed in Gas Station Shooting in Akron, OH. (Stock Photo: MurrayLegal.com) Akron, OH – Gunfire rang out at a gas station early Sunday morning, July 6, 2025, leaving one man dead. As reported by BeaconJournal.com, “Akron police responded to [a gas station] at 778 Grant Street for reports of a shooting at about 4:14 a.m.” WKYC.com is reporting, “[u]pon their arrival, they found Ar’mon R. Covington, 26, on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds…He was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:31 a.m. after officers attempted emergency first aid.”…

Last week, I presented Part I of my written interview with a product manager and researcher at Free Law Project (FLP), Stephanie Taube. That column presented her answer to the first of my three questions and focused on FLP’s newest offering, RECAP Search Alerts for PACER. What follows are Stephanie’s answers to my remaining two questions. As usual, I have added some brief commentary to her answers below, but have otherwise presented her answers as she provided them. Gaston Kroub: For younger lawyers and even those in law school, what can they do to increase their facility with FLP’s various tools? Stephanie Taube: CourtListener is an open source legal research platform that lawyers and law students can use to access our immense collection of case law, federal court documents and dockets, judges and their financial disclosures, and oral arguments. CourtListener supports highly advanced Boolean queries, allowing users to build complex searches. Users can…

Security Negligence? Martin Street Plaza Apartments Shooting Atlanta. Our firm has over 25 years of experience representing victims of security failures across Georgia, and we have secured nearly $250 million dollars for our Clients.  Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available to the victims of the shooting at Martin Street Plaza Apartments. Four People Injured in Shooting at Martin Street Plaza Apartments in Atlanta, GA. (AtlantaNewsFirst.com) Atlanta, GA – Gunfire rang out at an apartment complex early Thursday morning, July 3, 2025, leaving four people injured. As reported by AtlantaNewsFirst.com, “[t]he shooting happened just after midnight at the Martin Street Plaza Apartments – located at 600 Martin Street SE near Georgia Avenue.” According to the report, “[w]hen officers arrived to the scene, they found three women and a man with gunshot wounds. Grady EMS came to the scene to took the victims to the…

Seyfarth Synopsis: The DOL’s Wage and Hour Division just scrapped its policy of seeking liquidated damages (double damages) in FLSA investigations. Why? Because it probably didn’t have the statutory authority in the first place, and doing so slowed down resolutions. Going forward WHD investigators are no longer allowed to demand liquidated damages in administrative settlements. The U.S. DOL‘s Wage and Hour Division is the administrative division responsible for enforcing the FLSA’s minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor provisions. The Division employs just over 600 investigators—about 25% less than a few years ago—to oversee and enforce the compliance of more than 6.2 million U.S. employers. By the numbers alone, the investigators have their work cut out for them. Of course, doing more with less has been a well-known focus of the Trump Administration. That focus is shared—whether out of philosophy, necessity, or…

August 18-21 – Dallas, Texas! ​PODCAST MOVEMENT​ I'm pleased to be asked back for the 10th year of this premier podcasting community event! I'm scheduled for two sessions: First, I'll be joined by my fellow podcast-attorney, Lindsay Bowen for: Two Truths and a Lie: Podcasting Legal & Business Myths Busted (live, interactive game-show) and I'll also be Presenting: Your Podcast Legal Toolkit: Copyrights, Trademarks, and Contracts Made Simple I hope you to see you there! ​Learn More and Register here​ August 21-24 – Atlanta, GA! ​VIDFEST EXPO​ I'm delighted to be among over 40 speakers and industry experts on the BEST ways to grow and monetize your Youtube Channel. My talk is entitled: “4 Things Creators Need To Do To Legally Protect Their Channels and Content (Without Hiring Expensive Lawyers)” The event is for anyone interested in: How to Use A.I.…

Potential Legal Claims? Gabriel King Shooting Jackson.  We have over 25 years of experience representing victims of security failures across the United States, and we have recovered nearly $250 million dollars for our Clients.  Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available to the family of Gabriel King. Gabriel King Killed in Jackson, MS Gas Station Shooting. (WAPT.com) Jackson, MS – Gunfire rang out at a gas station Friday night, July 4, 2025, leaving one man dead. As reported by WAPT.com, “[l]ate Friday night, police say 23-year-old Gabriel King was shot multiple times at a gas station near Cooper Road and Rainey in South Jackson.” WJTV.com is reporting, “the victim, 23-year-old Gabriel King, was pronounced deceased at the scene.” The investigation is ongoing. Legal Options Available to Family of Gabriel King? OUR LEGAL TAKE FORMER CLIENT: I had lawyers calling me, and friends…

Twin daughters of BigLaw couple among Texas flood victims; ‘we are devastated,’ family says

[Our brief explains why the Federal Circuit should uphold the Court of International Trade decision striking down Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs.] NAToday, the Liberty Justice Center and I filed our appellate brief in VOS Selections, Inc. v. Trump, the case challenging Trump's massive "Liberation Day" tariffs. Our litigation team also now includes Neal Katyal and Michael McConnell, leading constitutional law scholars and appellate litigators on different sides of the political spectrum. It is an honor to work with the two of them and their teams, and with the LJC team led by Jeffrey Schwab. The case is now before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and we are defending a unanimous ruling in our favor by the US Court of International Trade. As before, the key issue in the case is that the  government claims the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) grants the president unlimited power to impose tariffs on…

Justice for Family? Remerton Parking Lot Shooting. We have over 25 years of experience representing victims of security failures across the United States, and we have recovered nearly $250 million dollars for our Clients.  Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available to the family of Berry Tyree Benton. Teenager Shot, Killed in Remerton, GA Parking Lot. (Stock Photo: MurrayLegal.com) Remerton, GA – One teen is dead after a shooting at a parking early Saturday morning, July 5, 2025.   As reported by WCTV.tv, “[t]he shooting happened near the 1900 block of Baytree Place just after midnight Saturday. Officials said many of the bars were still open, but there was also a large crowd in the parking lot.” According to the report, “[t]he GBI reported a “dispute” happening between multiple people before gunshots rang out. The 16-year old was taken to the hospital, but he did not survive.” The…