Syrian Refugee Crisis

Syrian Refugee Crisis: A View from Istanbul

I was recently invited by the Turkish Association of Judicial Unity, (YBD) to be an observer at an international symposium on the Syrian refugee crisis.   It was arranged in cooperation with the law schools of Istanbul and Ankara Universities, the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, and the Turkish Ministry of Interior. Turkey
  • Published in Law
Tagged under:
Romer v. Evans

Romer v. Evans: A Landmark in LGBT Rights History

May 20, 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Romer v. Evans. This was the first positive decision by that Court on the issues of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights. It overturned a discriminatory Colorado initiative (Amendment 2) that sought to amend the state constitution to prohibit protections for
  • Published in Law
Tagged under:
Drugged Driving

Marijuana in the Workplace

Along with alcohol and other drugs in the workplace, the advent of the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana in many states requires employers to face a variety of issues related to the use of marijuana by employees. The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated in 2013 that 9.1% of full-time
Vicarious Liability and Company Vehicles

Vicarious Liability: Employer Liability for Employees’ Driving

The common law legal theory of vicarious liability existed long before the invention of the first motor vehicle.  Applying the concept of respondeat superior, courts have held that an employer is responsible for the wrongful acts or omissions of their employees during their scope of their employment. For an act to be considered within the
Tagged under:
DEA Reclassifies Marijuana

DEA Reclassifies Marijuana: What It Could Mean

This week the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said that it will make a decision in the coming months on whether to remove marijuana (cannabis) as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Marijuana has been in that classification since the promulgation of the Act in 1970. The Act classifies drugs into five categories.
Tagged under:
Supreme Court cases

Justice Scalia’s Death: What It Means for the Supreme Court cases

Most of the discussion after the recent death of Justice Scalia has been about the appointment of a new justice to the U.S. Supreme Court and the likelihood of Senate Republicans confirming that individual. However, what happens to the Supreme Court cases that have already been heard have not yet been released? And what about
  • Published in Law
building community trust in law enforcement

Building Community Trust in Law Enforcement: A Call to Action

The United States, and other parts of the world, faces circumstances where death has occurred as a result of conflict between law enforcement and a member of the community. Few would argue against the proposition that law enforcement serves as the nexus between the community and the criminal justice system. And yet attendees of the
effective judicial leadership

Effective Judicial Leadership Needed

It is demoralizing to feel unappreciated, so it is not surprising that many court leaders feel a bit despondent when people don’t care if courts have to do more with less. Some members of the public feel that “courts are no different than the rest of government,” and “we should have less government anyway.” Naturally,
  • Published in Law
DUI test refusal

DUI Test Refusal and Criminal Charges – What’s Next?

There is much speculation regarding the impact, if any, of the McNeely [1] decision on warrantless blood draws in DUI/DUID traffic investigations, stops, DUI test refusals, and arrests. The analysis is varied with some claiming that the holding mandates that law enforcement secure a warrant prior to any blood draws while others suggest that whether a
Tagged under:
Colorado recreational marijuana law

Is Colorado Recreational Marijuana Law at Risk?

Colorado’s Amendment 64 was passed as a ballot initiative in Colorado in 2012. The voters in Colorado approved the Amendment, which amended Article XVIII of the Colorado Constitution. This constitutional amendment allowed for the legalization of recreational marijuana.  Colorado is one of four states and the District of Columbia that allow for legal, recreational use. 
Tagged under: