Everyone is free to speak, but money speaks volumes
McCutcheon v. FEC protects the political speech of the wealthy, but will the voice of the general public be lost? [...]
Federal Government
Articles reporting on all three branches of the federal government.
Toyota is slammed with a $1.2 billion fine. Is General Motors next?
After Attorney General Eric Holder levied the Department of Justice’s highest fine ever on an automobile company, many are asking whether the fine sets a precedent for similar situations involving consumer safety misinformation. [...]
DOJ to become more compassionate in release program
The United States Department of Justice recently took steps to expand the use of compassionate release, withdrawing the guidelines put in place during President George W. Bush’s administration. [...]
A Tale of Two Countries: Comparing recent developments in Australian and American immigration policy
Australian and American lawmakers have taken very different approaches to resolving similar illegal immigration problems. [...]
D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals disrupts FCC’s stance on “Net Neutrality” [Updated]
Updated February 20, 2014: FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler announced yesterday that he does not plan to seek further judicial review of the D.C. Circuit’s striking down a majority of the provisions of the FCC’s Open Internet rules. Wheeler stated that he intends to accept the D.C. Circuit’s invitation to act by “proposing rules that will meet the court’s test for preventing improper blocking of and discrimination among Internet traffic, ensuring genuine transparency in [...]
Agencies play catch-up with rules and policies for drones
The Campbell Law Observer twice has discussed drones in the past, identifying the privacy concerns of unmanned aircraft and detailing the states’ reactions to drone usage. At the time of those publications, however, the Federal Government and its agencies had not yet provided a set of rules and regulations within which drones would operate in America. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) recently have published reports describing how both [...]
Billionaire Mark Cuban beats the SEC’s full court press
Mark Cuban’s decade-long fight with the SEC is over following his being found not guilty of insider trading. [...]
Birth Control & the Affordable Care Act: What’s the government’s “compelling interest,” anyway?
Does the new employer healthcare mandate pass the “strict scrutiny” test, or are Obama’s carve outs too arbitrary to pass muster? [...]
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. [...]
To ask permission or not to ask permission… is that the question? Syria, separation of powers, and constitutional interpretation
In August of 2013, President Obama announced his intention to seek Congressional approval for military action in Syria while noting his belief, like his Presidential predecessors, that he is not constitutionally required to do so. [...]
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. [...]
Spinning the “Wheel of Misfortune”: The desperate need for reform of structured sentencing
As the nation faces rising incarceration rates and dropping violent crime rates, government leaders, conservative and liberal alike, are calling for changes in sentencing guidelines. [...]
The FCC’s Sports Blackout Rule: What elimination would and would not mean for consumers
There is renewed pressure on the FCC to eliminate its nearly forty year-old “sports blackout rule.” [...]
What to do with America’s spent nuclear fuel becomes a battle between the Branches of Government
A recent U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruling means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will resume its review of whether Yucca Mountain is a suitable location for the storage of hundreds of thousands of metric tons of spent nuclear fuel. [...]
Cursing and Nudity: The deadly sins of network television
The Federal Communications Commission announced its plans to loosen restrictions on cursing and nudity on network television, and viewers responded with thousands of public comments. [...]
