Do Clerks of Court Interpret Law and Should They?
Clerks of court have not only been interpreting the law for over 200 years but applying it too. [...]
Topics
Going to Carolina in My Mind: The Hidden State Symbols Within the North Carolina General Statutes
The North Carolina General Statutes are often ignored in the discussion of North Carolina greatness, but the statutes showcase hidden symbols that give deeper insight into our state’s history. [...]
Mugshots & the Degradation of the Presumption of Innocence
What do Johnny Cash, Bill Gates, Al Capone, and Martin Luther King Jr. all have in common? Mugshots. All of these history-defining individuals, for one reason or another, had interactions with the law. However, despite these figures gaining notoriety in spite of their mugshots, for many individuals, this is not the case. In fact, it is quite the opposite. An Overview A mugshot is a photograph taken by a law enforcement agency upon an individual’s arrest to be used in the [...]
Can Implementing Restorative Justice in K – 12 Schools Eliminate the School-to-Prison Pipeline for Minority Students?
The school-to-prison pipeline is a serious issue in the educational system and American society. Restorative Justice efforts can help phase out the school-to-prison pipeline for many students of color. However, it must be implemented comprehensively across schools for it to be successful, and teachers must be supported throughout the process. [...]
Lingering Relics in North Carolina Tort Law: Alienation of Affection
North Carolina should abandon its adherence to the recognition of alienation of affection as a valid cause of action. It is not only because of its antiquated and frankly sexist origins but also because it likely does not serve to protect marriages adequately. [...]
Four World Cup Titles and the Bottom Line: A Look into the U.S. Women’s National Team’s Fight for Equal Pay
During the 2019 Women’s World Cup, the United States Women’s National Team defeated the Netherlands to secure their second consecutive World Cup title and fourth overall. However, the team had a much bigger score to settle behind the scenes, that of unequal pay, with their employers, the United States Soccer Federation. As of December 2020, the Women’s National Team reached a settlement with USSF regarding their claim of unequal working conditions. Currently, the team still plans to appeal concerning their equal pay claims. [...]
Will Shortened Season Mean Shortened Salaries? An Overview of COVID-19’s Impact on MLB Salary Arbitration
Currently, there is no formal agreement between MLB and MLBPA on how to evaluate and value player performances during the shortened 2020 season creating an unprecedented setting for upcoming arbitration hearings. [...]
Selling a Haunted House of Spooky Specters: Should Disclosures of Paranormal Activity be Required?
If the topic of “ghosts” arises in a discussion regarding the field of law, it could be in reference to the concept of the dead-hand control of the deceased dictating the lives of the living in wills and estates or to the virtually untraceable firearms lacking serial numbers obtained without background checks in constitutional law. Perhaps, though, these “ghosts” mentioned in conversation regarding the law do in fact refer to the spooky bump-in-the-night phantoms that mass [...]
Racial Injustice – Will the NFL Fight to Change Itself?
As our country focuses on racial injustices throughout the United States, virtually no part of society is immune to racial inequality, including the NFL. Roger Goodell, commissioner of the NFL, released a statement in the wake of the many tragedies that have occurred around the United States and insisted that the NFL “was committed to continuing the important work to address these systemic issues.” Before the NFL can do anything in the community, they must address systemic issues in their own league. [...]
Insurrection at the Capitol Revives Debate Over Statute Outlawing Domestic Terrorism
Currently, there is no federal law or crime that directly addresses and outlaws “domestic terrorism.” Thus, domestic terrorism is not a chargeable criminal offense. Despite the fact that lawmakers, experts, and the media have identified the reprehensible events of January 6th as domestic terrorism, prosecutors cannot actually charge the rioters specifically with domestic terrorism. [...]
Cops, Not Robbers: The Clash Between No-Knock Warrants and the Castle Doctrine
The use of no-knock warrants has increased exponentially over the last few decades, highlighting a fatal clash between no-knock warrants and the castle doctrine. The killing of Breonna Taylor has sparked public outcry and has thrust two competing legal principles – the no-knock warrant and the castle doctrine – into the public eye. Law professor Michael Mannheimer noted in an article with the Washington Post that a gunfight can occur between the police and a homeowner and “no one will [...]
Brave New World? States Take First Steps Towards Decriminalization of Hallucinogens
While the debate regarding the legalization of marijuana has occupied the forefront of the national stage, an argument to decriminalize another class of prohibited substances has also been building steam: hallucinogens. Currently, hallucinogens like psilocybin, colloquially known as “magic mushrooms,” are classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration as a Schedule I drug, in the same category as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. Under their current classification, these drugs have no [...]
Return Home : Legendary Musician Nina Simone’s Childhood Home Permanently Protected
The permanent protection of Nina Simone’s childhood home is welcome news in what has been a long year. Thanks to groups like Preservation NC and the visionary artists that saw the need for the preservation of the icon’s home, Nina Simone’s legacy and her humble beginnings will be memorialized forever. [...]
Workers’ Compensation Laws Shift to Meet the Nuanced Needs of the COVID-19 Era
As North Carolina continues to reopen, many employers are left wondering the extent of their liability for employees contracting COVID-19. The debate on the matter has ranged from desperate pleas of employees to hold employers liable for unsafe work environments, to demands for civil immunity by businesses and healthcare workers. Senator Mitch McConnell has gone so far as to state that the current legal atmosphere is primed to incite “the biggest trial lawyer bonanza in history.” State [...]
Answering the Call to Serve & the Classroom: How the Legal Community Needs to Address the Issues Faced by National Guard and Military Students
The lack of attendance policies or contingency plans in place at law schools for National Guard students who are forced to choose between the classroom and the call to serve is unfortunate. It needs to be addressed by the American Bar Association and every law school in the nation. [...]
