What Happens After a Criminal Conviction in New Jersey?

Gary Lawson (University of Florida Levin College of Law) has posted Does Good Originalism Need Good History? (77 Fla. L. Rev. __ (forthcoming 2025)) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: One might think that originalism by definition is largely about history. After all, what does it mean to be "originalist" if not to be concerned primarily, if not exclusively, about the past? And if history is relevant, surely good history is better than bad history? That seemingly obvious conclusion is not actually obvious. The role of good history, as with the role of any discipline – be it linguistics, epistemology, economics, classical studies, or political theory – depends on what questions one asks. And at least some forms of originalism ask questions for which the role of good history, as historians might define good history, is limited. Originalism can be a theory of interpretation – of ascertaining meaning – or of adjudication – a means of…

Human Rights Watch (HRW) exposed alleged “degrading and dehumanizing” treatment of detainees in three Florida immigration detention facilities Monday, claiming detainees have suffered “dangerously substandard medical care, overcrowding, abusive treatment, and restrictions on access to legal and psychosocial support.” The report, titled “You Feel Like Your Life Is Over,” profiled six detainees held in Krome North Service Processing Center (Krome), Broward Transitional Center (BTC), and the Federal Detention Center (FDC). Interviewees recounted alleged unsanitary confinement, hypothermic conditions, and lacking access to food, water, and medicine. In one account, a British man suffered serious health complications while detained on tax-related charges. He claimed he contracted a serious respiratory illness and was denied access to insulin, resulting in his hospitalization in April. At FDC, authorities allegedly put him in a cell without a…

In Welty v. Dunaway, (MD TN, July 18, 2025), a Tennessee federal district court enjoined enforcement of a Tennessee statute that prohibits "recruiting" an unemancipated minor to obtain an out-of-state abortion that is legal where performed. The court said in part:... [P]laintiffs have established that §39-15-201(a) unconstitutionally regulates speech based on content and is facially overbroad.Axios reports on the decision. [Thanks to Thomas Rutledge for the lead.]

State of Texas. V. Reimer et al. studied lawyer-nerdy questions of standing to bring a lawsuit and statutes of limitations as applied to inverse condemnation suits.  Spoiler alert: To the chagrin of the landowners, waiting over 30 years to assert your takings claim is not the best course of action.      The facts In 1965 the Sanford Dam created Lake Meredith, significantly reducing downstream flow of the Canadian River through the six-mile stretch at issue. The reduction exposed previously submerged land. Beginning in 1982 the State granted oil and gas leases on portions of the riverbed to Huber. The 10-year leases were consistently renewed for decades with Huber establishing numerous productive wells. During the litigation Huber operated 21 wells in the area. The litigation began in 1993 when the State sued a Reimer forefather for trespass when he erected a fence blocking oil and gas lessee Huber’s access to producing wells. The…

Dentons has advised The National Bank of Ras Al-Khaimah PSC (RAKBANK) on its issuance of US$300 million Perpetual Additional Tier 1 Capital Securities. The issuance was RAKBANK's first Additional Tier 1 issuance following its inaugural Tier 2 issuance last autumn. Banking and Finance, Banking and Finance in the Middle East, Capital Markets, Debt Capital Markets, Capital Markets in the Middle East, Financial Institutions, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates

Global law firm Dentons has advised DoubleU Games, the South-Korean parent company of the NASDAQ-listed gaming specialist DoubleDown Interactive, on DoubleDown’s acquisition of German social casino developer WHOW Games GmbH from Azerion Tech Holding B.V.  Corporate, Corporate in Germany, Competition and Antitrust, Competition and Antitrust in Germany, Intellectual Property and Technology, Intellectual Property and Technology in Germany, Tax, Tax in Germany, Trade, WTO and Customs, Employment and Labor, Employment and Labor in Germany, Global Compliance and Investigations, Compliance and Investigations in Germany, Europe, Germany, Frankfurt

Dentons has advised The National Bank of Ras Al-Khaimah PSC (RAKBANK) on its issuance of US$300 million Perpetual Additional Tier 1 Capital Securities. The issuance was RAKBANK's first Additional Tier 1 issuance following its inaugural Tier 2 issuance last autumn. Banking and Finance, Banking and Finance in the Middle East, Capital Markets, Debt Capital Markets, Capital Markets in the Middle East, Financial Institutions, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates

Dentons attorney Tara Hall was recently appointed to the Des Moines Public Library Foundation Board of Directors. Board appointments are made by the Mayor of Des Moines and approved by the City Council. Ames, United States

A quiet Sunday morning in Galt turned chaotic when a 47-year-old woman accidentally drove through the front of Galt Dental Group at 1067 C Street. The Galt Police Department responded to a building collision involving a car. The driver inadvertently accelerated while parked on the west side of the dental practice, sending her vehicle crashing through the building’s structure. Details of the Galt Dental Office Collision According to the Galt Police Department, the crash happened on Sunday morning when officers and the Cosumnes Fire Department were called to respond to a report of a vehicle collision into a commercial structure. Upon arrival, emergency responders found significant damage to the Galt Dental Group building after the woman’s car had driven entirely through the business. The driver was alone in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Fortunately, the dental office was closed and unoccupied during the Sunday morning incident, preventing any injuries to staff…

Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. This is not normal. It’s very unusual to see them [associates] take to LinkedIn to very specifically announce why they are leaving [and to denounce their firms.] The impression I’m getting is that it was a breach of trust between the associates and leadership… and the breach of trust can’t be solved. — Anna Sanders, Washington, D.C. recruiter and senior director at VOYlegal, in comments given to the American Lawyer, about the many very public associate resignations that the legal profession has seen during the Trump era. Sanders said that how firms have reacted to Trump “will have repercussions” on their recruiting, and that “[i]t appears to be a concern” for candidates whether a firm has made a deal with the president. Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please…

Demurrer Dismissal California Law    (…) We set forth the governing principles in Chiatello v. City & County of San Francisco (2010) 189 Cal.App.4th 472, 480: “‘Because this case comes to us on a demurrer for failure to state a cause of action, we accept as true the well pleaded allegations in plaintiffs’ third amended complaint. “‘We treat the demurrer as admitting all material facts properly pleaded, but not contentions, deductions or conclusions of fact or law. [Citation.] We also consider matters which may be judicially noticed.’ [Citation.] Further, we give the complaint a reasonable interpretation, reading it as a whole and its parts in their context. [Citation.]”’ We likewise accept facts that are reasonably implied or may be inferred from the complaint’s express allegations.’ [Citations.] ‘“‘A demurrer tests the legal sufficiency of the complaint . .…

The federal government is trying to use Medicaid data to identify and deport immigrants. So EFF and our friends at EPIC and the Protect Democracy Project have filed an amicus brief asking a judge to block this dangerous violation of federal data privacy laws. Last month, the AP reported that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had disclosed to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a vast trove of sensitive data obtained from states about people who obtain government-assisted health care. Medicaid is a federal program that funds health insurance for low-income people; it is partially funded and primarily managed by states. Some states, using their own funds, allow enrollment by non-citizens. HHS reportedly disclosed to DHS the Medicaid enrollee data from several of these states, including enrollee names, addresses, immigration status, and claims for health coverage. In response, California and 19 other states sued HHS and DHS. The states allege, among…

I’m attending the American Association of Law Librarians (AALL) Conference this week in Portland, Oregon. It’s one of my favorite conferences. Law librarians are, as a group, friendly, unassuming, and knowledgeable, as I have discussed before. I couldn’t help but wonder though as I roamed the exhibit hall and attended some of the sessions what the long-term impact AI will have on the role of the law librarian. The Role of the Librarian Consider the role of the law librarian. Librarians, especially law librarians, are knowledge managers and workers. They historically held the keys to knowledge and information: they knew where to find it, how to access it, and how to retrieve it. They are charged with managing the accumulated expertise of the profession to help solve legal problems. But now and increasingly in the future, those keys may be held by an AI platform. With natural language processing, anyone (everyone) can access any and all knowledge and…

In a recent decision that reinforces the importance of consistent policy enforcement, the Sixth Circuit upheld the dismissal of an age discrimination lawsuit filed by a nurse terminated from the Cincinnati VA Medical Center (the “VA Hospital”), against the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (the “VA”). The case, Barnes v. Secretary of Veteran Affairs, Case No. 24-3576, illustrates that even long-term employees with strong performance records can be lawfully disciplined—and ultimately terminated—when they violate clear workplace rules, even if their motivations are arguably well-intentioned. The decision offers valuable guidance for employers navigating the balance between employee empathy and operational discipline. Case Background Cynthia Barnes, a 64-year-old registered nurse, began working at the VA Hospital in 2015. By all accounts, her early performance was solid, and she maintained a positive reputation for several years. That changed in…

Two corrections officers at Mid-State Correctional Facility were granted additional time to consider plea deals in connection with the death of an inmate who was beaten to death at the facility. According to reports from CNY Central, the officers now have until August 15 to decide on their plea offers in Oneida County Court. This tragic case involves 15 officers total, including three sergeants, who were charged in connection with the inmate's death on March 1 at the facility. Two officers are facing the most serious charges of murder in the second degree, while others face manslaughter charges. Three corrections officers have already pleaded guilty to their crimes in this case, highlighting the severity of the allegations and the ongoing legal proceedings. Common Causes of Correctional Facility Deaths Inmate deaths in correctional facilities can occur due to various factors, and understanding these causes is crucial for preventing future tragedies: Excessive…

On June 30, 2025, tragedy struck on the US-101 Freeway in North Hollywood. Off-duty LAPD Deputy Marcos Pena Jr., just 31 years old, and a female passenger were fatally hit by a box truck after exiting their disabled SUV, which had come to a stop in a traffic lane for reasons still under investigation.  The impact of this crash reverberated far beyond the accident scene. It raised difficult questions about safety, accountability, and what legal protections exist for people in vulnerable moments – like being stranded on a freeway.  If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What are my rights if I’m hit while outside a vehicle on a freeway?”, here’s what you need to know.  Who Can Be Held Liable If Someone Is Hit After Exiting a Disabled Car? The answer depends on several factors, but in California, liability may fall on multiple parties, including:  The driver of the vehicle that struck the pedestrian – especially if they were…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to immediately stop using tabletop fire pits and similar products that burn alcohol or other liquid fuels in open containers. These products, which are often marketed as fire pots, portable fireplaces, or miniature indoor fire pits, pose serious fire and burn risks—including flame jetting and uncontrolled fires—when fuel is ignited or refilled. The alert follows a string of incidents involving these devices, which have been linked to two deaths and at least 60 burn injuries since 2019. At the heart of the hazard is a common design flaw: users are instructed to pour isopropyl alcohol or similar fuels directly into an open reservoir and then ignite them in the same space. This method violates ASTM F3363-19, a voluntary safety standard intended to prevent flame jetting and pool fires, where flames race across the surface of spilled or pooled liquid fuel. Flame jetting can…

This post is part of our Frequently Asked Legal Questions series.  This year marks the 110th anniversary of the adoption of six laws on children’s rights in Norway, which became known as the “Castbergian Child Acts” (Castbergske barnelovene) and regulate the relationship between parent and child, in particular strengthening children’s rights over their unwed fathers. The laws are part of UNESCO ‘s Memory of the World. The laws are Act on Children when the Parents have not Married Each Other (Lov om barn hvis foreldre ikke har inngått ekteskap med hverandre (10 april 1915)) Act on Changes to the Inheritance Act (Lov om forandringer i arveloven  (10 april 1915)) Act on Changes to the Legal Status of Spouses (Lov om forandringer i formuesforholdet mellem egtefæller (10 april 1915)) Act on Changes to the Act on Access to Divorce (Lov om forandringer I lov om adgang til opløsning av egteskap (10 april 1915)) Act on Children…