June, 2022

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The Graying of America’s Prison Population

The Crime Report

Despite a decline in prison populations over the last 15 years, the number of people serving sentences of life without parole (LWOP) has continued to grow. According to a report released Thursday by The Sentencing Project, the worst is yet to come, as a large swath of people serving life without parole are growing into their elderly years. “Older incarcerated people describe sentences of life without the possibility of parole—with the expectation that they will die in prison—as particularly crue

Statute 142
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Germany unveils plan to deregulate legal name and gender change process

JURIST

The German government Thursday presented plans to make it easier for transgender people to legally change their first name and gender, ending the current rules which require an expert assessment and court authorization. Under Germany’s current “transsexual law,” which was put in place under the Transgender Act of 1980, individuals are required to go through a lengthy process of obtaining assessments from two experts and a court decision in their favor.

Legal 274
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10 Things We're Glad Have Changed in the Paralegal Profession

Paralegal Brief Submitted Articles

Are you new to the paralegal profession? Have you been a paralegal for years? Read the top 10 things we're glad have changed for legal professionals.

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Cherry-picked history and ideology-driven outcomes: Bruen’s originalist distortions

SCOTUSBlog

Share This article is part of a symposium on the court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. Saul Cornell is the Paul and Diane Guenther chair in American history at Fordham University and adjunct professor of law at Fordham Law School. The majority opinion in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen invokes the authority of history but presents a version of the past that is little more than an ideological fantasy, much of it invented by gun-rights a

Laws 145
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Trial Prep: What Attorneys Really Want (And How to Deliver It)

Speaker: Joe Stephens, J.D., Attorney and Law Professor

Get ready to uncover what attorneys really need from you when it comes to trial prep in this new webinar! Attorney and law professor, Joe Stephens, J.D., will share proven techniques for anticipating attorney needs, organizing critical documents, and transforming complex information into compelling case presentations. Key Learning Objectives: Organization That Makes Sense 🎯 Learn how to structure and organize case materials in ways that align with how attorneys actually work and think.

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Why Johnny Won: An Explanation Of The Jury’s Decision In Depp v. Heard

Above The Law

Examining the decision strictly on legal grounds, it is understandable why the jury decided in Depp’s favor. The post Why Johnny Won: An Explanation Of The Jury’s Decision In Depp v. Heard appeared first on Above the Law.

Legal 145

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Google Earmarks $8M for Job Skills Training for Formerly Incarcerated

The Crime Report

Google announced Wednesday that the company will be dedicating an additional $8 million to its justice reform work initiatives, particularly to help formerly incarcerated individuals reaccess the job force through training and by supporting the development of a national automatic clearance tool for criminal records. . Half of Google’s $8 million investment will go to a new Grow with Google Fund. $4 million will facilitate programming to build digital and career skills for at least 100,000 former

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China announces ban on industrial projects to combat climate change in key zones

JURIST

China Friday announced that it will ban new steel, coking, oil refining, cement, and glass projects in key zones to combat climate change by lowering pollution and carbon emissions. The plan establishes a zoning system to reduce carbon emissions. The zones classify urban areas, main agricultural production areas and key ecological function areas. It is “strictly forbidden” to increase the production capacity of steel, coking, oil refining, electrolytic aluminium, cement, and flat gla

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Guest Post: Climate Litigation in Japan: Citizens’ Attempts for the Coal Phase-Out

ClimateChange-ClimateLaw

By Yumeno Grace Nishikawa, LLM*. The Supreme Court of Japan may soon weigh in on a growing field of climate litigation in Japan against coal-fired power plants. On May 6, 2022, the Citizens’ Committee on the Kobe Coal-Fired Power Plant filed an appeal to Japan’s Supreme Court in Citizens’ Committee on the Kobe Coal-Fired Power Plant v. Japan , their case challenging the legality of a governmental approval that allows for the construction and operation of new coal-fired power plants.

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Announcement of opinions for Friday, June 24

SCOTUSBlog

Share On Friday, June 24, we will be live blogging as the court releases opinions in one or more argued cases from the current term. Click here for a list of FAQs about opinion announcements. The post Announcement of opinions for Friday, June 24 appeared first on SCOTUSblog.

Court 145
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Less Stress, More Success: Accounting Best Practices & Processes for 2025

Speaker: Amanda Adams, Fractional CFO, CPA

Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Amanda Adams, a seasoned fractional CFO and CPA passionate about transforming back-office operations for finance teams. This session will cover critical best practices and process improvements tailored specifically for accounting professionals.

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Quick Ways To Refresh, Optimize, And Modernize Your Legal Resume

Above The Law

While a resume is the initial threshold to land an interview, it’s no longer a laundry list of your tasks, job functions, and responsibilities. The post Quick Ways To Refresh, Optimize, And Modernize Your Legal Resume appeared first on Above the Law.

Legal 145
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Design Patent: Invalid as Unduly Functional

Patently O

by Dennis Crouch. Golden Eye Media USA v. Evo Lifestyle Products ( Fed. Cir. 2022 ) (nonprecedential). Evo’s design patent claims an “ ornamental design for a foldable bag ” as shown in the figures above. This style of bag is known as a “trolly bag” in the UK and is used in shopping carts (trollies) to maintain order in reusable fashion.

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Can America Build ‘Humane’ Prisons?

The Crime Report

Could future prisons look like this? The entrance to San Diego’s Las Colinas Women’s Detention and Reentry Facility, designed by HMC Architects. Photo: by Lawrence Anderson via Architectural Digest. The popular image of a prison, informed by movies and TV series like Orange is the New Black , is something close to a zoo, where individuals deemed too dangerous to be allowed to roam free in society are caged like animals.

Education 142
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Americas human rights body urges El Salvador to respect rights of detainees

JURIST

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) Friday urged the El Salvador government to comply with international human rights obligations in its treatment of over 36,000 Salvadorans detained during its state of national emergency. The El Salvador government declared a nationwide emergency on March 27, reportedly to combat a spike in gang-related killings.

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Paralegal Power Move: Your Guide to Getting the Tech Tools That Maximize Your Time

Your time is valuable—and you know the right technology could help you do even more. From document management to client communication, modern tools can transform how you track deadlines, manage cases, and support your legal team. This practical playbook shows you how to: Compare and evaluate technology vendors Understand all costs and ROI potential Build a compelling presentation Handle common objections Pitch your solution like a pro Created by legal technology experts who understand how pivota

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Families of criminal defendants are scammed by con artists watching Zoom hearings

ABA Journal

Scammers posing as prosecutors and court personnel are watching Zoom hearings and collecting money from families of criminal defendants who want to win release of…

Court 136
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Court strikes down Maine’s ban on using public funds at religious schools

SCOTUSBlog

Share The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that Maine violated the Constitution when it refused to make public funding available for students to attend schools that provide religious instruction. The opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts was a broad ruling, making clear that when state and local governments choose to subsidize private schools, they must allow families to use taxpayer funds to pay for religious schools.

Education 145
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Alex Jones Lawyers Want Off The Connecticut Sandy Hook Case

Above The Law

No, this isn't another ploy to postpone the trial. Why ever would you ask that? The post Alex Jones Lawyers Want Off The Connecticut Sandy Hook Case appeared first on Above the Law.

Lawyer 140
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Lawyers: Why Is It So Hard to Ask for Help?

Attorney at Work

Asking for help is crucial to your success, both personally and professionally. Here are five ways to get better at asking for it and accepting it. Lawyers are expected to always know the answers, handle the pressure and not make mistakes. Wow! No wonder our jobs can cause us so much stress! Even when we are meeting these unrealistic expectations, we can benefit from letting others help us.

Lawyer 142
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Case Study: Maximize Client Compensation by Unlocking the Power of Diminished Value

Your auto accident clients don’t realize that they have lost value in their vehicle because the insurance company covered their repairs and gave them a rental to drive until their vehicle was “brand new.” When they realize that loss in value is when they go to trade or sell their car.

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New Michigan Law Empowers Police to Seize Cash at Airports

The Crime Report

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed two bills ( HB 4631 and HB 4632 ) that expand civil forfeiture at airports, making it much easier for law enforcement to seize, and permanently keep, cash and other valuables from travelers without requiring a conviction, Forbes reports. While Michigan did reform its civil forfeiture laws less than three years ago by approving a criminal conviction provision for airport seizures, it only applied to cases where the owner fought back in court (a costly and

Laws 138
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Ukraine parliament ratifies Istanbul Convention in move to curb violence against women

JURIST

Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada Monday ratified the Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (“ Istanbul Convention “). In a 259-8 Vote , the Parliament ratified the Convention after previously signing it on 7 November, 2011. The Director of Amnesty International Ukraine, Oksana Pokalchuk, welcomed the historic moment and said the “decision could not be more timely, amid disturbing reports and allegations of s

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Uvalde, Texas, police had no legal duty to act, experts say; Supreme Court precedent cited

ABA Journal

Police in Uvalde, Texas, are unlikely to face civil liability for failing to rush in to confront shooter Salvador Ramos, 18, at Robb Elementary School…

Legal 140
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Divided court rejects death-row prisoner’s attempt to gather neurological evidence

SCOTUSBlog

Share The Supreme Court on Tuesday dealt another blow to prisoners challenging their state-court convictions and sentences in federal court. In a 5-4 decision in Shoop v. Twyford , the justices limited the ability of federal courts to use the All Writs Act to order states to transport prisoners, even when such transport could help prisoners investigate whether their convictions are unconstitutional.

Court 144
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Enhance Your Legal Document Translations with The Ultimate Comprehensive Checklist

Are you a paralegal professional aiming to elevate your practice and ensure impeccable translation of every legal document you handle? Cesco’s Legal Document Translation Checklist is your ultimate guide to achieving excellence. Learn how to prepare for translation by identifying your audience and selecting qualified translators. Simplify and review documents to ensure clarity and consistency.

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Lawyers’ Mental Health Suffers When They’re Viewed Only As Billing Machines By Their Firms

Above The Law

How can law firms improve attorney wellness? By valuing associates as more than profit centers. The post Lawyers’ Mental Health Suffers When They’re Viewed Only As Billing Machines By Their Firms appeared first on Above the Law.

Lawyer 140
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LinkedIn Profile Update: How to Stand Out in 4 Simple, Achievable Steps

Attorney at Work

Here’s how to conduct a thorough LinkedIn profile update — because when your business is running on virtual connections, a stale profile isn’t going to cut it. Dismissing LinkedIn as the “boring” social media network, many professionals are content to slap an outdated photo on their profiles, dash out a nondescriptive tagline, and call it a day (then, promptly forget about the platform for another 16 months).

Attorney 132
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College Behind Bars: ‘A Path to Redemption’

The Crime Report

Quantae Priest with a family member at his GED graduation at Lee Correctional Institution in 2017. Courtesy of Quantae Priest. “Hey, Khalil. Guess what? I got accepted.”. “That’s great news!” I responded to Quantae Priest, 26, who’d called out to me on the rec field of our high-security prison. But his news wasn’t entirely good. I could tell from his face.

Education 136
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Netherlands court upholds life imprisonment of Ethiopian official convicted of war crimes

JURIST

The Hague’s Court of Appeal Wednesday upheld the conviction and life sentence of a former Ethiopian official who was convicted of 75 extrajudicial executions committed under Ethiopia’s Derg regime. The Court of Appeal’s specialized international section convicted Eshetu Alemu for his participation in the regime of former dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam and for taking part in a campaign known as the Red Terror.

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Transforming eDiscovery: Document Summarization, Sentiment Analysis, And Chatbots Take Center Stage

A Synergistic Approach to eDiscovery In the space of eDiscovery, the convergence of document summarization, sentiment analysis, and chatbots represents a significant change in how legal professionals navigate and manage electronic information. These technologies not only expedite the review process but also empower legal teams with deeper insights into the emotional context and key information within electronic documents.