If you’ve been paying any attention to the news surrounding Elena Kagan’s possible confirmation to the Supreme Court, then you’re probably familiar with the “vapid and hollow charade” quote from “Confirmation Messes, Old and New,” Kagan’s essay for the University of Chicago Law Review commenting on SCOTUS confirmation hearings and questions asked of nominees to the Court. Here’s another quote you don’t see making the media rounds as much:
[F]ocusing the confirmation process on moral character (even in conjunction with legal ability) would prove a terrible error. For one thing, such …

I really hate to do this, him being a Tar Heel and all, but Lawrence Taylor and everyone riding with him is on some bullshit. Innocent until proven guilty is a concept and rule of law that I value so I’ll try and uphold that idea throughout this post. I’m not here to condemn LT but I am going to judge the hell out of him. Media outlets reporting that LT could be vindicated by a new witness and folks are already discounting the accuser’s story just because of who …

Earlier this month, US District Court Judge Jacqueline Nguyen dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit (without prejudice) against the City of Los Angeles filed by Voletta Wallace, mother of Christopher Wallace aka The Notorious B.I.G. In the lawsuit, Ms. Wallace blamed Los Angeles and the LAPD for her son’s death. The case contained allegations against police officers Rafael Perez and David Mack, claiming that they were in cahoots with Suge Knight to have Biggie murdered (allhiphop). This is the latest verdict in a string of similar suits brought by …

I had to ask myself today, “why is everyone jumping on Kelis’ back today?” The answer: Yesterday, Nasir Jones was ordered to pay Kelis Rogers back child and spousal support stemming from a 2009 order (TMZ). What I’ve seen on the internet today in response to the judge’s ruling is outrageous and indicative of a deep-seated contempt for women in general and common misconceptions about the legal process involved in a divorce. Think I’m reaching? Stick with me.
Let’s start with a cursory glance at what’s floating around the interwebz:
A trending topic …

Right now, emergency contraception, or the “morning after pill”, (Plan B, Next Choice) is available to men and women from a local pharmacy like Duane Reade, Walgreens, CVS  and Rite Aid, as well as from their doctor. If you’re over 17 years of age, you can walk right up to the pharmacy counter and ask for EC. If you’re under 17, you can still get EC from a drugstore, but you need a prescription to do so. The medical community has concluded that there is no scientific reason why teens …

Sexting is the act of sending provocative or nude photos primarily via mobile phone. That’s your basic topless shot in the bathroom mirror and the faceless crotch pic in your inbox. Let me say that I hate the word “sexting.” I feel like it’s one of those words that sparks all kinds of inquiries and studies into the mind of the American teenager. Parents, educators, social workers, and others who have even the most remote connection to young people all want to know about the latest phenomenon taking over teens’ …

There are so many things that can be said about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. There are the negative things as Thomas is considered one of the most conservative judges on the bench, favoring a strict interpretation of the Constitution. There was that whole Anita Hill thing, too. That’s all for another time and post. No matter what, you cannot deny the positive things, like being the second Black man (after Thurgood Marshall) to be appointed to the highest court in the nation. When the Supreme Court speaks, the nation …

[insert frowny face here]
So I recently heard that Harvard Law is no longer going to cover the tuition of aspiring public interest lawyers. If you’ve been a reader of this blog, you know that I graduated from law school. If you’re a close reader, you know that I spent my time in law school focused on public interest law, aka the kind of law that helps people who cannot access the legal system in a proportionate, just and affordable manner. The other side of Big Law and six-figure salaries. Apparently, …

After commencing her duties on August 8th, 2009 as the 111th Supreme Court Justice and the first Latina to hold such office, Justice Sonia Sotomayor took her first seat on the bench Wednesday at a specially convened session of the Court. Yep, now that the hubub is over and she’s really in there (whoo!) Sotomayor is down to business hearing her first SC case involving campaign finance and Hillary Clinton. Interesting.
I know this isn’t the most progressive or feminist thing to be pointing out but as I was reading up …

Ever heard of the “Zoloft Defense?” It’s an argument a defendant might employ that basically boils down to “the drugs made me do it.” The Zoloft Defense usually makes an appearance when a defendant is charged with some sort of violent crime like battery or murder. Before I get into what I think about this defense strategy, let’s be sure we understand the drug itself.
Zoloft is an anti-depressant/anti-anxiety manufactured by Pfizer. It belongs to a class of anti-depressants called selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which, among other things, may cause …