The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on Saturday was a dreadful and unspeakable event, marking a significant and alarming blow to America’s already tenuous grasp on democracy and the rule of law. Such an attack on an individual campaigning for the highest office in the nation is not…
Trump v. United States: No.23-939. Argued April 25, 2024-Decided July 1, 2024. The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that former President Donald J. Trump is entitled to substantial immunity from prosecution, delivering a major statement on the scope of presidential power. The vote was 6 to 3, dividing along partisan lines.…
On June I attended a CLE webinar, AI in Criminal Justice: Automated Decision-making Tools and Technology, From Policing to Corrections, sponsored by the Civil Rights and Social Justice Section of the American Bar Association. Below is a brief description of topics covered and a list of useful resources for those interested…
The recent high-profile trial of former president Donald Trump has reignited discussions on the role of jury instructions in shaping verdicts. This post is based in part on the following query we asked Gemini following the triaI: I need a broad discussion of jury instructions and charges to the jury…
This posting includes an excerpt from the Report on the Investigation Into Unauthorized Removal, Retention, and Disclosure of Classified Documents Discovered at Locations Including the Penn Biden Center and the Delaware Private Residence of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. prepared for the Attorney General of the United States by Special Counsel Robert K.…
Lawyer listservs are often used by attorneys and other professionals to help keep up with changes in the law. But they pose some potential for violating confidentiality model rules On May 8, the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released formal opinion 511 which provides guidance for…
Election administrators and their staff, spread throughout thousands of voting jurisdictions in the United States, perform a core service dedicated to maintaining and preserving our democracy. Their work has become significantly more difficult, as our contentious politics have clouded much of what they do with misunderstanding and distrust. These challenges…
According to responses to the 2024 ABA Survey of Civic Literacy, 74% of individuals surveyed said that U.S. democracy is weaker than it was five years ago. Most blamed misinformation, disinformation, and political parties for contributing to this result. The survey is released each year to mark Law Day, observed annually on…
Thinking back on my fifty plus years as a practicing law librarian, I have come to believe that criminal law is one of the more humanistic of legal disciplines because it can reach people at such a personal level. Paul H Robinson* and Sarah M Robinson capture this thought in…
The United States has an important lead in the development of artificial intelligence that is crucial to the country’s economy and national security, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said at the American Bar Association’s 39th National Institute on White Collar Crime in San Francisco. “The Justice Department’s first job is to…