A 2016 study has shown that jurors who are shown surveillance video, in slow motion, of criminal acts committed by defendants often suffer from ‘intentionality bias’. Even when reminded that the footage was artificially slowed down, unanimous juries were four times more … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: April 2019
Under ancient Anglo-Saxon law a plaintiff who suffered injuries or death was allowed to seek vengeance, either personally or through surviving family members, through a “blood feud“. This vendetta system was eventually replaced by payments referred to as “blood fines”, “bloodwit” … Continue reading
Eight states still possess constitutional prohibitions against atheists from holding public office: Arkansas, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. While these provisions still exist, they are unenforceable under the 1961 decision of Torcaso v. Watkins, in … Continue reading
The pervasive use of billable hours by lawyers in the U.S. is a fairly recent phenomenon. Historically lawyers billed at flat rates, or on percentage bases, or based on ‘value billing’ for ‘services rendered’. The ABA began promoting hourly billing … Continue reading