News

[08/22] Typo fixers get probation for damaging rare sign
[08/21] Wis. woman arrested, booked over library fines
[08/21] Fla. deputies Taser Plop-Plop the unruly emu
[08/21] Man arrested just 12 hours after release from jail
[08/21] Illinois sheriff does jail time - voluntarily

More...

Articles

Child Support

When married parents divorce or separate, or when only one of the unmarried parents of a child has custody, the court may order the non-custodial parent, or the one with whom the child does not live, to pay a certain portion of his or her income as child support. When the child is in the custody of both parents, however, and the parents are providing a reasonable level of support, the law usually does not interfere with or regulate the amount of financial support provided.

More...

Consumer Bankruptcy

If a person falls hopelessly behind in his or her debt payments, one option is to declare bankruptcy, a legal proceeding conducted in a federal bankruptcy court that may allow the debtor to be relieved of some or all of his or her debts. Filing bankruptcy is not a panacea, however. Although it is often said that bankruptcy gives a person a fresh start, it can negatively affect his or her credit rating and make it hard to obtain credit in the future.

More...

Who Gets Custody of Embryos?

The recent innovations in reproductive technology have helped many couples and individuals achieve pregnancies that may have been impossible just a few years ago. As with many innovations, however, rapid scientific advances have brought with them new ethical and legal dilemmas. Twenty years ago, judges and attorneys who were accustomed to dealing with the often challenging issues of child custody may not have guessed that they would soon be faced with potentially even tougher issues involving custody of frozen embryos.

More...

The Pros & Cons of Filing a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Individual debtors (including those engaged in business) can file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy to restructure or reorganize debt. Here are some pros and cons to think about when deciding whether Chapter 13 bankruptcy is right for you.

More...

Case Summaries

[08/27] David L. v. Superior Ct. of Orange County
Regarding juvenile court order setting a new permanent plan selection and implementation hearing, petition for writ of mandate and request for stay are denied where: 1) section 366.3, which provides for a new 366.26 hearing for children under the guardianship, does not require a modification petition; and 2) the prima facie evidence supported the juvenile court's decision to set a 366.26 hearing.

[08/27] Sheri T. v. Superior Ct. of Orange County
Petition seeking extraordinary relief from juvenile court order setting new permanent plan selection hearing is denied where: 1) order setting a new permanent plan selection hearing was correct; 2) when circumstances have changed, the court should hold a permanent plan selection hearing unless the mother proves there is a compelling reason not to do so; and 3) the mother cannot show prejudice from the juvenile court's decision to hold a new permanent plan selection hearing and she will have an opportunity to fully litigate the issues at that time.

[08/22] In re A.C.
Order terminating parental rights is affirmed where: 1) the dependency court's noncompliance with section 372 standing alone does not violate the parent's due process rights; and 2) the error is subject to a harmless error standard.

[08/22] Iglesias v. Mukasey
Petition for review of BIA's denial of motion to reopen the case is denied where: 1) petitioner's allegation that BIA had ignored evidence put forth by petitioner regarding his marriage to an American citizen was an allegation of legal error subject to appellate review; but 2) petitioner did not provide clear and convincing evidence that his marriage was bona fide.

[08/21] US v. Carson
Sentence for conspiring to transport a minor across state lines for the purpose of unlawful sexual activity and interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct is affirmed where, for purposes of applying a sentencing enhancement, the minor victim was properly determined to be in defendant's custody, care, or supervisorial control, despite argument that the victim's mother's presence gave her sole custody and control.

More...