Circuit courts were first established under the reign of King Henry II of England in the mid-12th century, meant to supplement the royal courts in London by having judges travel the countryside (“riding circuit”) to hear cases. In the U.S., … Continue reading
Category Archives: Legal Fact of the Week
The Alford plea is a form of alternative plea in which a defendant enters a plea of guilty but still asserts his or her innocence. The defendant entering an Alford plea acknowledges that sufficient evidence exists for the prosecution to … Continue reading
Eight states still have laws against adultery on the books, ranging from a $10 fine in Maryland to life in prison in Michigan. Massachusetts is one of those states; under MGL c. 272 s.14, adultery is punishable by imprisonment in … Continue reading
Until 1828 in the U.K., a wife killing her husband committed petty treason, not murder. The penalty was generally burning at the stake. … Continue reading