Home Category For the Public

For the Public

Terminating TPS for Salvadorans: The Urgent Need for U.S. Immigration Reform

Kathryn Russell February 1, 2018

On Jan. 8, 2018, the Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen announced the decision to terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for El Salvador, marking the end of a program that has protected over 200,000 individuals fleeing the troubled Central American state since 2001. The decision to end TPS for Salvadorans living in the United States is the

Ohio’s Standards For Gifted Student Education

Emily Haynes February 1, 2018

According to Ohio’s Gifted Operating Standards, a “gifted” student will perform or show potential for performing at remarkably high levels when compared to peers of same-age, experience or environment. As of July 1, 2017, the operating standards have changed and can be found at Ohio Administrative Code 3301-51-15. The new regulations give increased protections to minorities, economically disadvantaged English learners

Political Activism And The Workplace

Jill McQueen February 1, 2018

In the age of social media and viral videos, an employee’s involvement in protests or other forms of political expression is unlikely to escape the attention of his employer. What happens when politics and business collide? In this column, I will provide guidance to employees and employers alike. Mixing Work and Politics Employers have a legitimate interest in minimizing disruptions

Review on Motion: An Appeal Within an Appeal

Robin Bresky January 17, 2018

The Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure provide for appellate review of certain kinds of lower tribunal orders “by motion” or “on motion.” The party seeking review of such orders does not initiate a new appeal because the motion and appendix are filed on the docket of an existing appeal that is pending or was recently concluded. Some of those situations

Spurious IP Snail Mail

Z. Peter Sawicki and James L. Young January 15, 2018

Electronic filing. The paperless of- fice. A few years ago, such notions were futuristic aspirations, but we are all living there now. A digital state of affairs is today’s reality. Minnesota and federal court filings and written communications (including court orders) are pretty much exclusively handled electronically. You can file your IRS and state income tax returns electronically, saving many

Domestic Violence And Housing Rights: A Broader View

Leykn Schmatz January 15, 2018

“Housing vouchers are like gold,” says Legal Aid Staff Attorney Dorinda Wider. “There’s nothing more valuable to a low-income tenant. The waiting list is years long.” Gigi came home from work one day and found that her husband had packed up all of her stuff and given notice to her landlord. He basically kidnapped her, forcing her to go with

Credit Cards, Congress and Class Actions: Consumers Lose

Patrick Perotti December 22, 2017

In a blow to consumer protection, Congress recently voted to block all class actions against financial institutions. The Senate vote was a tie, broken by Vice President Mike Pence. The vote denies citizens any ability to challenge consumer fraud in class action suits. It resulted from a multimillion-dollar lobbying campaign by the banking industry, financial services industry and chamber of

Marsy’s Law: Are Crimes Victims Really More Protected Now?

Eric Long December 22, 2017

On Nov. 7, 2017, Ohio voters overwhelmingly passed Issue 1, or Marsy’s Law under the guise of a “victim’s bill of rights.” Ohio is the most recent state to adopt such legislation, and surely will not be the last. On its face, it is hard to imagine opposition to helping victims of crimes, and the pre-election question posed was usually

New Criminal Pattern Jury Instructions Are Available Online

John Hightower December 13, 2017

For the past four years, the Alabama pattern jury instructions committee (criminal), an official committee of the Alabama Bar, has been working on revising the criminal pattern jury instructions, last issued in book form in 1994 by the Alabama Bar Institute. Since the work of the committee is still in progress, Alabama lawyers may still need to refer to the

Maternal Mortality: Why Are Texas Mothers Dying?

Kay Van Wey December 6, 2017

As attorneys, many of us have the opportunity and tremendous responsibility to help people in their time of suffering. For me, there are clients who came into my life after tragedy struck. Some of their stories will never leave me. I would like to tell you about Betty. She had just given birth to a healthy baby boy via a

For the Public

Find a Lawyer Near You