Wake County Schools face lawsuit over policing practices and “school-to-prison pipeline”
After experiencing consequences of the school-to-prison pipeline in the Wake County Public School System, students have decided to fight back. [...]
Articles by Shannon Page, Senior Staff Writer
About Shannon Page, Senior Staff Writer
“By Force If Necessary:” Administering drugs to defendants unfit to stand trial
On December 24, 2013, the Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit affirmed an order authorizing medication to be administered to Simon Dillon “by force if necessary” so that he would be competent to stand trial. By weighing the government’s prosecutorial interests above “special circumstances,” the Court’s opinion examines forcibly medicating a defendant to restore his competency. It is not morally acceptable to punish a defendant who does not understand why he is being punished. [...]
Facebook’s new privacy policy claims to give teens a reasonable expectation of online privacy
Is Facebook giving teens a voice or using their “activism” for advertising revenue? [...]
The IRS counts all marriages equally
IRS ruling brings certainty and relief to married, same-sex couples with changes that provide for a more uniform application. [...]
Fair chance for a fair review: FBI hair sample analyses possibly led to wrongful convictions
FBI will review thousands of convictions from between 1985 and 2000 that relied upon hair sample analyses. [...]
Be careful what you post: Social media and freedom of speech
A Texas teenager faces possible jail time for a threatening Facebook post while a British man is going to jail for two years for his own Facebook threats. [...]
Obama administration lifts age restriction on Plan B contraception
U.S. District Court judge approves FDA plan to allow the sale of Plan B One-Step emergency contraception without point-of-sale restrictions. [...]
Former student protected after bashing Cooley Law School
The Michigan Court of Appeals considered First Amendment rights and ruled in favor of a former law student by issuing a protective order for anonymous speech. [...]
Limits on Search and Seizure in the Digital Age
PayPal experienced a cyber attack last year that spawned the seizure of computers, and the massive amount of information stored on their hard drives, in the hacking case of U.S. v. Collins, 11-471. Federal agents arrested 14 people and searched targeted computers in a dozen states. In addition to incriminating evidence, the information seized included a flood of tax returns, pictures, records, and e-mails. Currently, the prosecution has come to a halt because the defense has argued that [...]
Insane Clown Posse: “We’re doing the American thing – we’re suing”
Would you consider a “wicked clown” a gang threat or a bad Halloween costume? Fans of rap-metal duo Insane Clown Posse (ICP) have been characterized as drinking Faygo soda and wearing face paint while they listen to the horror-themed rap group. Juggalos, as they are called, have developed their own idioms and slang that they demonstrate at the annual “Gathering of the Juggalos,” an annual festival where they watch ICP perform songs such as “Juggalo Homies,” a famous single that [...]
Taxpayers to Provide Gender Reassignment Surgery for Inmate
It is questionable whether the common taxpayer would be comfortable with footing the bill for an inmate’s gender reassignment surgery. Some may not consider this surgery to be medically necessary. Such was not the case when a federal judge in Massachusetts ordered gender reassignment surgery be provided to inmate Robert Kosilek, as it was the only adequate treatment for his mental condition. Kosilek was convicted of murdering his wife in 1990. He was sentenced to life in prison [...]
