What is a Power of Attorney?

Do any of the following people need to sign a power of attorney?
Mr. Jones lives alone, has no close family, and is scheduled for major surgery in a few weeks. Ms. Smith has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Mr. And Mrs. Adams will be out of the country for the next 6 months [...]

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Renters’ Rights

You’ve finally found it – the apartment of your dreams. Maybe that means it comes with a parking space and laundry facilities. Or maybe your piece of paradise has hardwood floors and lots of light or maybe it’s ultra-modern. And the move-in costs don’t even require a bank loan.Naturally, you start wondering – is it [...]

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When can the police search the trunk of a car?

When can the police search the trunk of a car?

You are driving home after a night out. The evening’s memories are quickly put to rest by the sight of flashing lights behind you. In a moment, you find yourself responding to the orders of a police officer. You show him your registration, allow him to [...]

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Can the Police Search Your House Without a Warrant?

Can the Police Search Your House Without a Warrant?
 
Just from watching legal dramas on television, many people know that the police need a warrant to search your house. This is accurate, for the most part, as the Fourth Amendment protects private citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures. But did you also know that under the [...]

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Do Internet Filters Abridge Free Speech?

Do Internet Filters Abridge Free Speech?
Since the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) was implemented on July 1, 2004, schools and libraries that opt to accept federal funding for internet access have had to march to the tune of the United States government. CIPA requires as a condition of receiving such funding that schools and libraries [...]

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Are blogs protected under the First Amendment?

Are Blogs Protected under the First Amendment?

With the emergence of the World Wide Web, global communication has accelerated on an unprecedented scale. It seems impossible to comprehend all that has occurred since 1989, when two inventions, the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and HyperText Markup Language (HTML) made the first web browser possible. To put [...]

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Understanding the 6th Amendment rights

Understanding the 6th Amendment

The framers of the U.S. Constitution knew a thing or two about government abuse through the legal system. They wrote the Constitution with two aims: (1.) to make sure it established our system of government and (2.) to make sure each citizen was protected from that same government. These protections are guaranteed [...]

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The 4th Amendment: Is privacy ever assured?

The 4th Amendment: Is privacy ever assured?

It appears the long arm of the law may be getting quite a bit longer, as courts all the way to D.C. are granting police more power to invade people’s privacy. For years now, federal courts have been nibbling away at Fourth Amendment protections, allowing more and more [...]

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When can a police stop you on the street?

When Can the Police Stop and Frisk You on the Street?
Every American citizen has the constitutional right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure. It’s the reason tough talking TV characters always snap “where’s your warrant?” when police start snooping around. Unfortunately, the police don’t always need a warrant. In fact, under the [...]

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