About Ian C. Pilarczyk

Ian C. Pilarczyk is an administrator and legal historian who runs the Executive LL.M. in international business law, and the Legal English Certificate Program, at Boston University School of Law. His title is Director of Executive, Online and Special Initiatives.

Ian’s Legal Fact of the Week 11/25/19: Thanksgiving as a National Holiday

A proclamation by President George Washington and a congressional resolution established the first national Thanksgiving Day on November 26, 1789. The holiday was intended to give thanks for the new government formed under the Constitution. It became an official federal … Continue reading

Ian’s Legal Fact of the Week 11/18/19: The Equal Rights Amendment

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which sought to guarantee equal rights for women, was introduced in 1923 but not submitted for ratification until 1972. It was ultimately ratified by 35 states (although five of these later voted to rescind their … Continue reading

Ian’s Legal Fact of the Week 11/11/19: Duty to Rescue

While common in Europe, only 3 US states have ‘duty to rescue’ laws, otherwise known colloquially as ‘bad Samaritan laws’, on the books. These laws, which exist in Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Vermont, make it a crime to not provide … Continue reading

Ian’s Legal Fact of the Week 11/4/19: Impeachment of a Supreme Court Justice

Only one Supreme Court justice has faced impeachment: Samuel Chase, justice from 1796 to 1811. A signer of the Declaration of Independence (representing Maryland), Chase faced impeachment precipitated by President Thomas Jefferson’s belief that Chase had shown inappropriate political bias … Continue reading

Ian’s Legal Fact of the Week 10/28/19: Suing Satan!

In 1971 a plaintiff filed a pauper’s suit in U.S. District Court, on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated, against Satan and his servants. Plaintiff alleged that Satan had “threatened him, caused him misery, impeded his course in … Continue reading

Ian’s Legal Fact of the Week 10/21/19: Non-Unanimous Felony Verdicts

Only one state, Oregon, allows for non-unanimous verdicts for non-homicide felonies, allowing conviction on a 10-2 or 11-1 vote. A bill that would have brought this to a public referendum was not passed by the state legislature. The Supreme Court … Continue reading

Ian’s Legal Fact of the Week 10/14/19: Removing Eagles

Title 50, §21.12(d) of the Code of Federal Regulations prohibits removing a bald or golden eagle from a building without a permit from the Regional Migratory Bird Permits Office. So if one flies into your house, make sure you have … Continue reading

Ian’s Legal Fact of the Week 10/7: The Supreme Court Rules on Tomatoes

In the case of Nix v. Gedden (1893), the Court had to decide the weighty issue of whether a tomato should be considered a fruit or vegetable. Due to the Tariff Act of 1883, imported tomatoes were subject to a … Continue reading

Ian’s Legal Fact of the Week 9/30/19: President as Executioner

Only one president is known to have acted as a legal executioner: Grover Cleveland, who in an earlier career as sheriff of Erie County, NY, personally hanged two murderers in 1872 and 1873. Cleveland also remains the only president to … Continue reading

Ian’s Legal Fact of the Week 9/23: Text Walking

A growing number of municipalities are outlawing texting and walking. Honolulu was the first to do so in 2017 under the “Distracted Walking Law”, which bans texting while crossing an intersection. Other cities have followed suit, although some laws are … Continue reading

Ian’s Legal Fact of the Week 9/16/19: Prohibition and the Constitution

Connecticut and Rhode Island were the only two states to fail to ratify the 18th amendment, which ushered in Prohibition following its ratification in January 1919. The 18th Amendment is the only constitutional amendment to have been repealed in its … Continue reading

Ian’s Legal Fact of the Week 9/9/19: The Highest Court in the Land

The 5th floor of the Supreme Court building contains a basketball court, nicknamed “the highest court of the land”. The Supreme Court courtroom sits below it on the 4th floor, and the basketball court may not be used while the … Continue reading