The Minnesota Supreme Court recently ruled that a felony rape charge does not apply if the victim was voluntarily intoxicated. The decision stems from a case involving a Minneapolis man convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. The defendant, Francios Momolu Khalil, …
Is an Assault Weapons Ban Even Possible?
Will Washington ever do anything about assault weapons? That is a question on many people’s minds following the two recent mass shootings in Georgia and Colorado. To answer it, maybe the first step is to look back to the time …
Someone Brought Drugs To My House… Now What?
You can’t always control what your family, friends, or roommates bring into a car, shared property, or a home that you own. But what is your responsibility to stop them ? and can you get in trouble? The short answer …
Why Are Lawmakers Targeting Trans Youth?
Anti-transgender lawmakers across the U.S. are on the march. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, some 60 anti-trans bills are now being considering in 28 states. The primary targets of these bills, the ACLU says, are restricting the ability of trans …
Georgia’s New Voter Restriction Law Prompts Angry Response
If Governor Brian Kemp and his fellow Georgia Republicans wanted to send a positive message about that state’s new voting law, they could not have been happy with an image that went viral following its passage on March 25. That …
Derek Chauvin Trial Jury Selection Explained
Former police officer Derek Chauvin currently stands trial facing second-degree unintentional murder, second-degree manslaughter, and third-degree murder charges for George Floyd’s death. Floyd’s death last May sparked protests with thousands calling for change in the nation’s criminal justice system. The …
Latest Burning Question on the Cannabis Front: Is Delta-8 THC Legal?
The hottest new product in the cannabis industry is called Delta-8 THC, and it is making a lot of money for people who claim it’s totally legal. But is it? Before we delve into that question, maybe we should attempt …
Key Tax Changes for 2020-2021
Congress did not pass a major tax overhaul during 2020, but it still made several substantive changes to the U.S. Tax Code. Many of those changes were included in legislation passed to boost an economy that is reeling from the …
Digital Dating’s Latest Wrinkle: Instant Background Checks
The Tinder dating app has allowed countless lonely souls to meet each other with mere rightward swipes on a phone screen. Soon, the service will be making it easier to identify potential trouble in a prospective date. Tinder’s parent company, …
Should Sidewalk Robots Have Legal Rights as Pedestrians?
At what point does a robot become a person? There have been plenty of articles, scholarly and otherwise, that have asked that question. Does a robot become a real person when they achieve self-awareness? Think independently? Develop actual emotions? But …