Teen Jury

Nearly 60 years of Supreme Court audio now online

Olivia — Fri, 03 May 2013 01:14:13 +0000

Since the 1990′s, the Supreme Court has been releasing audio recordings of oral arguments. At first, they were available to the public during the following term, but in 2010, the Court quickened the process so that they are now available within a week of the case. However, decades of older recordings prior to the 1990′s [...]

Court: Warrant needed for blood tests in DUI cases

Olivia — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 19:08:35 +0000

Yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that, in most cases, police need to obtain a warrant prior to drawing blood from a person suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. Clarence Thomas was the only justice in dissent. Mr. McNeely was stopped by a police officer in Missouri after he was speeding and crossing [...]

Princeton student feels Justice Scalia uses poisonous language

Olivia — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:02:01 +0000

In a Los Angeles Times editorial, Duncan Hosie, a freshman student at Princeton University, recounted his interactions with Justice Scalia during his December visit to campus. Mr. Hosie, who is gay, was offended by the language the justice used in describing past court opinions on gay rights. Mr. Hosie asked the justice if he regretted [...]

Search of student’s cell phone ruled illegal

Olivia — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 23:38:30 +0000

On Thursday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a ruling that will limit the ability of teachers or school officials from viewing the contents of students’ cell phones. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, this case involved a student who was caught texting in class. His cell phone was confiscated [...]

Line forms five days before gay marriage Supreme Court cases

Olivia — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 13:49:05 +0000

Thinking about trying to attend oral arguments at the Supreme Court this week for either case involving same-sex marriage? Too late. The line started forming on Thursday for cases that won’t be heard until Tuesday and Wednesday. Some of those in line are being paid to hold the spot of someone else. The queue for [...]

Unpaid college loans? Beware of being sued!

Olivia — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:17:16 +0000

According to a recent TODAY report, Americans currently owe more than $1 trillion in student loan debt. Sometimes, students have difficulty paying back their loans or meeting the repayment schedules. The average rate of default is 4-5%, which is nearly twice what is was before the recession. Universities have been taking a harder position recently, [...]

Judge throws out NYC large soda ban, but will it trigger broader effort?

Abbie Foster — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:25:39 +0000

Just prior to its going into effect, New York City’s ban on the sale of large sugary drinks was declared invalid by New York State Supreme Court Judge Milton Tingling. The law’s intent was to limit the serving size of sugar-sweetened beverages to no more than 16 ounces. Super-sized, high calorie drinks have been associated [...]

“Bring Your Gun to School” Day!

Olivia — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 18:56:12 +0000

Since the tragedy in December at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newtown, Connecticut, several different opinions have been expressed regarding its root cause and the potential steps needed to help avoid further mass shootings. This week, South Dakota became the first state to authorize a controversial measure intended to make schools safer: arming teachers. With [...]

Justice Scalia harshly criticizes Voting Rights Act

Olivia — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 01:26:57 +0000

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard Shelby County v. Holder, an Alabama county’s challenge to a portion of the Voting Rights Act. Enacted in 1965, this law addressed long-standing discriminatory voting practices that disenfranchised African Americans. As stated in the Fifteenth Amendment, no acts shall be allowed that will “deny or abridge the right of any [...]

Mississippi finally ratifies 13th Amendment

Olivia — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:54:19 +0000

Mississippi has now belatedly ratified the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery nearly 150 years ago. The United States Congress approved the amendment in January of 1864, and on December 6, 1865, Georgia became the 27th state to ratify it, placing the needed three fourths of states behind it. Several states rejected it however, including New [...]