Unvaccinated teen’s suit claims classroom ban violates his religious rights

An unvaccinated Kentucky teen barred from playing in a basketball playoff during a chickenpox outbreak and then banned from the classroom has filed a suit claiming a violation of his religious rights. The 18-year-old Catholic high school senior, Jerome Kunkel, claims a First Amendment violation in a suit filed with…

Mar 21, 2019 7:30 AM CDT

Justice Thomas breaks 3-year silence in oral arguments

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas surprised courtroom observers when he asked a question during oral arguments Wednesday in a case alleging repeated prosecutor bias in jury selection. Thomas asked about the race of jurors eliminated by the defense, report the Washington Post, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters…

Mar 20, 2019 3:03 PM CDT

Are unanimous juries required in state criminal cases? SCOTUS will consider overruling precedent

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider whether to overrule a 1972 case that allowed nonunanimous verdicts in state criminal trials. The court agreed to decide whether the Sixth Amendment requires unanimity in the case of Louisiana inmate Evangelisto Ramos, who was sentenced to life in prison after…

Mar 18, 2019 3:00 PM CDT

Supreme Court to consider life-without-parole sentence for teen DC sniper

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether its decision banning mandatory sentences of life without parole for juveniles can be used to upend discretionary life-without-parole sentences imposed on teens before the Supreme Court acted. The Supreme Court agreed to consider the question in the case of Lee Boyd…

Mar 18, 2019 1:30 PM CDT

Too tasteless to trademark? SCOTUS considers whether vulgar-sounding brand name is protected by First Amendment

Iancu v. Brunetti, set for U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments Monday, considers whether the First Amendment protects a vulgar-sounding brand name.

Mar 1, 2019 1:35 AM CST

California Split: 1 year after nation’s largest bar became 2 entities, observers see positive change

The separation of the State Bar of California, created in 1927, did not come without fierce internal and legislative battles, though bar leaders and outside groups said the first year of de-unification produced the positive changes they envisioned. The U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2018 Janus v. AFSCME decision has played a key role in sparking more urgent nationwide discussions about the long-term future of mandatory state bars.

Feb 4, 2019 7:00 AM CST

Women’s experiences differ from men’s and affect their longevity in law, survey finds

Women in law already face unique challenges, and a new study appears to show that a large number of female attorneys with more than 20 years of practice are leaving the profession.

Oct 1, 2018 12:36 AM CDT

Immigration lawyers must deal with ‘manufactured crisis’

Attorneys who’ve spent their careers concentrating on immigration law and child welfare have been scrambling to deal with the fallout of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

Oct 1, 2018 12:25 AM CDT

Billie Tarascio: Her law firm is her lab

Billie Tarascio is experimenting on her law firm for the profession’s greater good.

Sep 1, 2018 2:25 AM CDT

Miguel Willis: Bringing law to the last frontier

Miguel Willis is only 29, and he’s already created his own job—twice.

Sep 1, 2018 2:25 AM CDT

Michele Mirto: Stepping up A2J while cutting cost

Michele Mirto’s commitment to access to justice started as a little girl. Her parents drove home the importance of community involvement by leading their kids to donate to the food bank and homeless shelter.

Sep 1, 2018 2:25 AM CDT

Stephen Manning: Replicating immigrant assistance

In the summer of 2014, as unaccompanied minor immigrants arrived at the border en masse, Stephen Manning was focused on a lesser-noticed but equally pressing problem: representing mothers with young children in family detention.

Sep 1, 2018 2:25 AM CDT

Lisa Colpoys: Forming new futures in law

Legal technology suits Lisa Colpoys because “there’s always something new and shiny,” says the Chicago attorney who recently left a legal aid career to help build the boot camp for the Institute for the Future of Law Practice.

Sep 1, 2018 2:25 AM CDT

Time for the legal industry to speak out for the rule of law

The rule of law is under siege and it’s incoming on all sides.

The judiciary, the Department of Justice, the intelligence community, and the State Department have all been rebuked repeatedly, undermining their legal and moral authorities. Our electoral process has been compromised and efforts to investigate the culprits, circumstances, and motives of the perpetrators have been resisted even as the intelligence community is in unanimous agreement that all signs point to Russian interference.

Aug 20, 2018 2:00 PM CDT

ABA House overwhelmingly adopts new standards for care of unaccompanied immigrant minors

The ABA’s House of Delegates agreed Tuesday to adopt standards for how the federal government should treat unaccompanied immigrant minors.

Aug 7, 2018 11:58 AM CDT