How to Avoid Mistakes After an Arrest

We are thrilled to announce that longtime Just Security contributor Mark Nevitt is now joining Just Security’s Editorial Board. Nevitt, Commander, JAGC (ret.), is an Associate Professor of Law at Emory University School of Law. He was previously the Class of 1971 Distinguished Military Professor of Leadership & Law at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Associate Professor at Syracuse University College of Law, and the Sharswood Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Prior to law school, Nevitt served as an accomplished naval tactical jet aviator and was awarded the Air Medal. After completing a J.D. and LL.M. with distinction from Georgetown, his Navy JAG assignments included serving as criminal defense counsel in Lemoore, California; international law and ethics attorney with the U.S. Navy’s Sixth Fleet in Naples, Italy; Deputy Director for Administrative Law for the Office of the Judge Advocate General at the Pentagon; and…

Here is my recent Daily Record column. My past Daily Record articles can be accessed here. **** Ethical Jury Selection in the AI Era Choosing jurors is a complex undertaking that requires focused attention, strong people skills, and the ability to think on your feet. Based on finite information, you’re required to make swift decisions that will significantly impact the course of the trial–and your client’s life.  Fortunately, technology is available that can simplify the voir dire process and assist you in choosing a jury panel that is (hopefully) receptive to your client’s position.  But what if the technology you rely on is based on biased programming, leading you to unknowingly exercise peremptory challenges grounded in discrimination? Are you ethically required to prevent that from happening?  With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI, this issue is all the more pressing. AI technology…

The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision [DOCCS] issued a notice of suspension and discipline to one of its employees [Petitioner] alleging that, among other things, Petitioner falsely held herself out as a police officer, executed an unauthorized traffic stop and arrested a motorist without cause. Petitioner grieved the 15 charges of misconduct DOCCS filed against her in accordance with the terms of the relevant collective bargaining agreement between DOCCS and the Public Employees Federation, Petitioner's collective bargaining unit representative. Following an arbitration hearing, the arbitrator rejected Petitioner's version of the incident as not credible, found Petitioner guilty of seven misconduct charges arising from the "motorist incident" but declined to decide the remaining eight charges, Charges 8 through and including Charge 15, stemming from allegedly inaccurate timesheets and vehicle logs. After reviewing…

Why “Just a Mistake” Can Still Be Malpractice: Understanding Legal Standards When medical care goes wrong, doctors and hospitals often use a familiar line: “We did everything we could. Sometimes bad outcomes just happen.” That may be true—but not always. At Hendrickson Law, we’ve spent decades helping patients uncover the truth behind “bad outcomes.” In many cases, what providers call “just a mistake” is actually medical malpractice—and there’s a big legal difference between the two. This post explains what counts as malpractice, how it differs from ordinary complications, and what you need to prove if you suspect a healthcare provider’s actions caused serious harm.  What Is Medical Malpractice? Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor, nurse, hospital, or other provider fails to meet the standard of care, and that failure causes harm. In legal terms, there are four key elements to every…

Amnesty International called for Pakistan to release high-profile Baloch activists on Tuesday, condemning the arbitrary detention of the protesters. A letter to authorities called for the release of Mahrang Baloch, Bebarg Zehri, Beebow Maloch, Shah Jee Sibghat Ullah, Ghaffar Qambarani, and Gulzadi Baloch, who Amnesty International says have been targeted as part of a larger crackdown in Balochistan on peaceful protests and freedom of expression by weaponizing anti-terrorism and public order laws. Amnesty International pointed out the abuse of laws, including the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960 (MPO), the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, and the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, alleging that the legal system has been instrumentalized to persecute, intimidate, and detain peaceful dissenters and protesters. The six activists named were all detained under the MPO, but they have remained detained past the 90-day period allowed under the MPO, which expired on June 22.…

["Reading antidiscrimination laws to prohibit the voicing of views critical of a foreign state, or support thereof, would raise serious doubts about their constitutionality, which the Court must avoid."] From Kopmar v. Ass'n of Legal Aid Attorneys, decided Tuesday by Judge Paul Oetken (S.D.N.Y.) (though see also another post this morning allowing a different part of the claim to go forward): Plaintiffs, who are public interest lawyers in the greater New York City area, … Plaintiffs allege that their local chapter of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys ("ALAA"), unlawfully retaliated against Plaintiffs for suing in New York state court to prevent the ALAA from promulgating a resolution that Plaintiffs viewed as antisemitic {and that] Plaintiffs characterize as "an 1,147-word diatribe against Israel"}…. Plaintiffs have not stated retaliation claims under Title VII, the NYSHRL, or the NYCHRL, because their state-court lawsuit did…

Global law firm Dentons has announced its practice group leadership appointments for the Europe Region for the term ending December 2027.  

A serious bicycle accident in Butte County has left one cyclist hospitalized with major injuries following a Monday morning collision near Oroville. The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns for cyclists sharing roadways with motor vehicles in California. Details of the Butte County Bicycle Accident The traffic collision occurred at approximately 9:14 a.m. on July 14, 2025, at the intersection of Kelly Ridge Road and Chaparral Drive, east of Oroville in Butte County. According to the California Highway Patrol, a motorist struck the cyclist and remained at the scene to await authorities. Emergency medical personnel responded promptly to the scene and transported the injured cyclist to a local hospital. The extent of the cyclist’s injuries has been classified as major, though specific details about the nature of the injuries have not been released. The motorist involved in the collision cooperated with authorities and stayed at the scene following the impact. The…

In ‘pervasive’ trend, some law firms reward partners by creating new tiers or more shares

[My Cato Institute colleague David Bier presented it in testimony before a congressional committee.] Venezuelans fleeing the socialist regime of Nicolas Maduro. (NA)  In recent testimony before the House Subcommittees on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability and Border Security and Enforcement, of the Committee on Homeland Security, my Cato Institute colleague David Bier presented a strong defense of the legality, justice, and effectiveness of immigration "parole programs," which allow broad categories of migrants fleeing war and oppression to enter the US legally. As he describes, there is a long history of such programs, most recently those created by President Biden for migrants from Ukraine fleeing Russian invasion (the Uniting for Ukraine program), and four Latin American nations beset by violence and socialist tyranny (the CHNV program). David is one of the nation's leading immigration policy experts, and his testimony is must-reading for…

80+ Google Reviews for the  Law Firm of Kevin P. Sheerin Your Guide to the NYPD Psychological Exam The NYPD psychological examination is a multi-part assessment that includes both the written test and an oral interview. You should expect the exam to take several hours to complete. The following is a breakdown of the NYPD psychological exam components: The Written Test: The written test is a full day of paperwork that includes questionnaires, symptom inventories, and personality inventories. The test could include both true/false and multiple-choice questions. The goal of the test is to gauge a candidates honesty and consistency. Oral Interview: The oral interview is a one-on-one evaluation with a psychologist in which a candidate will be asked about their educational, employment, psychological, medical and legal history. The interview may also delve into a candidate’s social relationships and any areas of concern. You should expect the…

Scott Skinner-Thompson (University of Colorado Law School) has posted Gender Therapy False Equivalency (103 Denver Law Review (forthcoming)) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: One critical front in the ongoing legal battles surrounding the rights of LGBTQ people and societal recognition of their existence is the legal debate surrounding very different types of gender therapy. On the one hand, several states have banned the provision of gender-affirming medical care to transgender youth, positing that it is a dangerous form of mutilation. A separate set of states have banned the practice of gay or gender conversion therapy that seeks to transform youth away from their queer identities, concluding that it is a form of abuse. Both sets of laws have been challenged in courts with the Supreme Court deciding the constitutionality of each. Indeed, the Supreme Court recently concluded that laws banning certain kinds of gender-affirming care for minors do not violate the Equal…

U.S. Supreme Court Bulletin One petition for certiorari was filed on 7/7/25: Stitt v. City of Tulsa (25-30) (State Criminal Jurisdiction in Indian Country) Federal Courts Bulletin Patterson v. Harpe (Criminal Jurisdiction) Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation v. United States Department of the Interior (Breach of Trust) Cherokee Nation v. United States Department of the Interior (Indian Gaming Regulatory Act; Administrative Procedure Act) U.S. Legislation - 119th Congress Bulletin S.2272 - A bill to provide access to reliable, clean, and drinkable water on Tribal lands, and for other purposes. H.R.4345 - To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the definition of critical access hospital under the Medicare program to include certain hospitals on Indian reservations. H.R.4377 - To provide access to reliable, clean, and drinkable water on Tribal lands, and for other purposes. U.S.…

You can talk about your mental illnesses. It’s good for business

Renne Public Law Group (RPLG) is proud to announce the promotion of Jim Ross to partner, effective July 1, 2025. Jim brings to this new leadership role more than three decades of public sector legal experience, including 27 years in county counsel offices. Jim’s connection to RPLG grew during the opioid litigation, where he worked closely with Founding Partner Louise Renne. Since formally joining the firm, Jim has helped to significantly expand RPLG’s representation of counties, helped to secure new clients and served as the interim county counsel for Mendocino County during its recruitment process. Throughout his distinguished career, Jim served in county counsel offices in three counties, Ventura, Sonoma and most notably Shasta, where he rose through the ranks to become county counsel. He advised almost every department in the County including the clerk/registrar of Voters, Sheriff, Public Works Department, Health and Human Services Agency, Risk Management…

Money for court-appointed federal criminal defense lawyers is depleted; some lawyers leave program

Florida lawyer suspended after conviction for embezzlement while a paralegal

“Tip creep” has been a pervasive issue in American culture for some time now. Many businesses, faced with rising costs or insurmountable greed, have increasingly turned to tip encouragement as a means of underpaying their employees while simultaneously being reasonably assured malnutrition will not sap worker productivity. Personally, when faced with a new tip line on the receipt where formerly there was none, sometimes I don’t mind at all, and sometimes I do. A tip for the woman at my local bakery who indulges me as I point out the most desirable Bismarcks behind the glass? Absolutely. She is always nice. On the other hand, a tip for assembling the take-and-bake pizza that I ordered online and already have to cook myself? Boy, that seems like a bit of a stretch. From a tax perspective, it is a better time than ever to be a tipped worker. The “Big, Beautiful Bill” exempts the first $25,000 of a qualifying worker’s annual tips from…