As almost every American has learned from watching a myriad of police shows, a person charged with a crime has the right to an attorney and if that person cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for them. Contrary to the television shows, the language about the right to an attorney contained in the
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
Driving while impaired (DWI) by alcohol or other drugs is an international problem. Far too many people lose their lives, are injured or injure others while engaging in this totally preventable crime. Some countries have a stronger ethic about not drinking and driving than others but it is a widespread issue in all parts of
“[T[he Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers, conducted by NHTSA in 2013-2014, shows that weekend nighttime drivers testing positive for illegal drugs or medications has increased from 16.3 percent in 2007 to 20.0 percent in 2013-2014″ 2015 National Drug Control Strategy, U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, pg. 105 People driving
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The Future of Community Supervision: A Conversation with Nebraska Probation Administrator Gene Cotter
In this episode of Justice Speaks, Gene Cotter,... -
Professional Accountability: The Most Important AI Guardrail for Lawyers and Courts
A federal judge removed four attorneys from a c... -
Dr. Carmen Gomez on Probation Leadership and Community Supervision
Dr. Carmen Gomez joins Justice Speaks to discus...
