Judicial independence—an essential American value

It was 1936, and America was suffering through the throes of the Great Depression. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had just been re-elected in a landslide. The Democrats controlled the Congress with wide majorities in the House and Senate.

Mar 29, 2018 8:30 AM CDT

How would you amend the Constitution?

This week, retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens suggested that students and others who participated in last Saturday's March for Our Lives rallies should demand more than just gun-control legislation—they should demand that the Second Amendment be repealed.

Mar 28, 2018 12:40 PM CDT

Use copyright law to battle mugshot extortion

After her DUI charge was dropped, Julie Cantu thought her nightmare was over. Then, she went on a date.

Mar 27, 2018 9:23 AM CDT

Cartoon Caption: What’s got this lawyer’s witness all in a twist?

It’s all fun and games until someone loses their head—and this judge and lawyer don’t seem too thrilled about this witness popping off. So what’s really happening in this courtroom?…

Mar 26, 2018 12:15 PM CDT

How firms can encourage mental, emotional and physical fitness (podcast)

Wellness is not just about eating health food and exercising, Jolene Park tells the ABA Journal's Stephanie Francis Ward in this episode of Asked and Answered. It’s also about getting enough time to relax, getting enough sleep and not being stressed out about your job or finances — and employers can play a big role in all of those things.

Mar 26, 2018 8:15 AM CDT

The North Carolina legislature is attacking judges who rule against it

After voters elected Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper in November 2016, the Republican North Carolina General Assembly quickly passed laws that drastically limited the powers of the executive branch. The outgoing Republican governor signed the bills, which have been challenged in court, along with other laws passed since then.

Mar 22, 2018 8:30 AM CDT

What are your funniest and weirdest stories from the courtroom?

Last week, we took note of a Connecticut man who drove a stolen car to a court hearing on a stolen-car charge.

Mar 21, 2018 1:55 PM CDT

Uncovering the secret history of how corporations gained their civil rights (podcast)

When we think of civil rights movements, the first to spring to mind might be the battles against African-American segregation or for women's suffrage. But one of the longest, most successful–and least-known–of these movements in America has been made on behalf of corporations. In this episode of the Modern Law Library, professor Adam Winkler, author of We the Corporations: How American Businesses Won Their Civil Rights, shares what he learned from his investigation into how corporations have achieved constitutional protections ranging from the right to sue and be sued, to individual rights like religious liberty protections and free speech.

Mar 21, 2018 8:30 AM CDT

What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen forfeited or used as collateral or payment in a case?

Last week, before former pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli was sentenced to seven years in prison for securities fraud, he was ordered to forfeit more than $7 million from his own funds or "substitute assets."

Mar 14, 2018 12:50 PM CDT

Longtime legal tech leader Richard Granat finds a new challenge (podcast)

Before Microsoft launched Windows and AOL filled American mailboxes with floppy disks, Richard Granat was building software to improve legal services.

Mar 14, 2018 8:30 AM CDT

How state and local bar associations can protect judges from unfair attacks

Ensuring that the judiciary is able to act fairly and impartially without fear of reprisal has been a matter of great public concern since America’s founding.

The American Bar Association is and must continue to be a strong, national voice in defense of fair courts, independent judges, and separation of powers. But state and local bar associations are just as important.

Mar 13, 2018 8:00 AM CDT

Cartoon Poll: Vote for the caption that best depicts this pilloried lawyer’s problem

What did this lawyer do to earn his public scorn? We perused about 100 entries for this month’s pillory-themed cartoon caption contest, and now it’s time to vote for the…

Mar 12, 2018 4:34 PM CDT

How to figure out what tech works for you

Attending the ABA Techshow can be overwhelming—especially for lawyers and legal professionals looking for ideas about what kinds of technology to use to boost their practices.

Mar 8, 2018 4:44 PM CST