Read the Constitution

Have You Read the Constitution?

At the 2016 Democratic Convention, Khizr Khan asked of Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump; “Have you even read the United States Constitution?” Unless you are living under a rock, if you are in the United States you have heard about his question and the ongoing political debate, as have millions of people around the globe.
  • Published in Law
Tagged under: , ,
Drug Treatment Courts

A Judge’s Journey: How Sobriety Courts Transformed Justice – Part 2

In part two of this series, Judge Brian MacKenzie interviews Judge Michael Haley about his law review article, Drug Courts: The Criminal Justice System Rolls the Rock. Judge Haley shares how Sobriety Courts transformed his approach to sentencing, offering hope and improving outcomes for participants and judges alike.
Sex Discrimination

Sex Discrimination and the Law: Defining the Boundaries

Courts have started to determine whether sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination is cognizable as sex discrimination under federal statutes. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued guidance and an administrative ruling in 2015 that interpreted Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation-based bias within the definition of sex-based discrimination. This
  • Published in Law
Tagged under: , ,
Marijuana Re-Schedule

The Marijuana Re-Schedule

It was good news and bad news this week for those who wish to legalize marijuana when the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) declined to re-schedule marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule II drug. (Statement 1, Statement 2) The ruling came in response to two petitions – one from the governors of Rhode Island and
Tagged under:
Voting Rights

Voting Rights: Court Rulings on Democracy’s Cornerstone

This episode of Justice Speaks examines pivotal court decisions addressing voting rights following the Shelby County v. Holder ruling. Judges Peggy Hora (Ret.) and Brian MacKenzie (Ret.) discuss cases in North Carolina, Wisconsin, Texas, Michigan, and Kansas that highlight the ongoing battle to protect democracy and equality in the face of restrictive laws.
Honor Killings

Honor Killings: A Global Crisis in Violence Against Women

Sadly, the above news headlines are not uncommon.  According to the United Nations, it is estimated that globally there are 5,000 murders called ‘honor killings’ every year.  Women’s advocacy groups have estimated the number of victims is closer to 20,000 annually because many of these murders are covered up as accidents or suicides.  With the
  • Published in Law
Tagged under: