Undocumented Sponsors of Immigrant Children Are Being Arrested by ICE
The immigration concerns for undocumented immigrants are now extending to sponsors for undocumented children. According to Vice News, Matthew Albence, an official for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), stated recently that there is a new joint memo between ICE and the US Department of Health and Human Services. That memo is an agreement, backed…
Read MoreStudent Disciplinary Hearing Authority
Schools in the state of Tennessee and elsewhere have rules and policies. When a student breaks said rules or policies, he or she faces consequences such as suspension and/or expulsion from school. There are procedures governing disciplinary actions imposed upon students, and part of those procedures is a Student Disciplinary Hearing Authority (SDHA), sometimes called…
Read MoreWhat Happens at a Trial?
How long a trial lasts differs from trial to trial. However, all trials follow this process: Jury selection (if a jury is involved), opening statements, the plaintiff’s proof, direct examination, cross examination, the defendant’s proof, closing statements, jury instruction (if a jury is involved), and the jury’s verdict or the judge’s ruling. Unless a trial…
Read MoreCommon Defenses in Drug Possession Cases
If you are charged with drug possession, the government has the burden of proving you were in possession of drugs beyond a reasonable doubt. The defendant does not have to prove he/she was not in possession of the illegal drugs. Anyone charged with possession of illegal narcotics has the right to hold the government to…
Read MoreCredible Fear vs. Reasonable Fear in Asylum Immigration Cases
According to the American Immigration Council, non-citizens who are either discovered by, or appear before, a U.S. official “at a port of entry or near the border can be deported quickly in an ‘expedited removal’ process.” The United States is required to comply with domestic and international laws which gives asylum seekers the right to…
Read MoreRead Documents before You Sign Them
Oral agreements may work in some situations – often more informal situations – and may have worked in the past, but you should read written documents you receive from the other party before you sign them. You also should understand the agreement that you are entering before you sign written documents. Written documents always are…
Read MoreThe Right of Defendants to Confront Witnesses
The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides rights for those accused of a crime. These rights include the right of the accused “to be confronted with the witnesses against him…” This part of the Amendment is known at the “confrontation” clause. It generally means that someone accused of a crime can cross-examine any of…
Read MoreShow Up for Court
In Tennessee, General Sessions Court is the small claims court. General Sessions Courts hear civil cases and are usually the first court where a criminal defendant appears. A civil case is a lawsuit about money, evictions, and the like. A criminal case can lead to jail time or fines. There is a General Sessions Court…
Read MoreSex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
The terms “sex-based discrimination” and “sexual harassment” carry legal significance. Sex discrimination occurs when one or more people are discriminated against on the basis of sex or gender. Examples of sex discrimination include men and women working under different conditions, earning unequal pay, and facing different hiring and promotion requirements. Sexual harassment occurs when one…
Read MoreIf Immigration Authorities Come Knocking, You Have Rights
Undocumented workers encounter numerous challenges on a day-to-day basis. Many times they face the fear of losing their livelihood and worse – separation from their families. The difficult process of not knowing what to do in the face of potential detection by immigration authorities hangs over their heads. Understand, even if you are not a…
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