Home & Family - The Legal Examiner (Page 17)

Are parental leave policies unfair? Trial will decide.

The question of whether fathers deserve as much parental leave as mothers when a new child comes into the home is in the hands of a Washington, D.C. district judge.

By Yvette C. Hammett

/ 23 Sep 2020

Living will: Create it before you need it

Creating a living will is something everyone agrees is a prudent move, but also something nobody wants to think or talk about. End of life conversations are extremely hard, more so perhaps, when the end seems a long way off. But that’s the time to get one’s wishes documented.

By Katherine Snow Smith

/ 22 Sep 2020

Documents for a living will declaration accompanied by a pen and stethoscope.

Legal services unaffordable? New model seeks a change.

Can the average American afford legal services from an attorney? Many can't. A new program seeksd to change that.

By Michael Candelaria

/ 21 Sep 2020

Lawyer and client shaking hands at a desk.

Can the police search your smartphone, or force you to unlock it?

Smartphones are a goldmine of personal data for criminal investigators, from credit card information to compromising photos. But can law enforcement search a smartphone’s contents without a warrant, or force someone to give them access to a passcode-protected phone?

By Elizabeth Anne Brown

/ 18 Sep 2020

Mobile phone tightly wrapped in chains, isolated on a white background.

Your risk of being a crime victim likely not as high as you think

What are the chances you will get robbed this year, or assaulted, or otherwise be a crime victim? Many overestimate the risk.

By Yvette C. Hammett

/ 17 Sep 2020

Predictive policing is predictably controversial

As the debate over data-driven predictive policing continues to heat up, not every department is ready to back away from its use.

By Yvette C. Hammett

/ 16 Sep 2020

Police car with flashing lights at night.

Artificial intelligence can infringe on real-life civil liberties

Many people don’t realize is that there are gaps in artificial intelligence regulations, some of which allow infringement on civil rights. That can include housing and employment opportunities.

By Yvette C. Hammett

/ 16 Sep 2020

Icons representing artificial intelligence displayed on a screen.

Civil liberties at risk as crisis managers turn to tech solutions

When a crisis rears its head and government and the tech community invent ways to handle it, lots of personal data is collected and stored. What happens to that data once an emergency passes? What happens to the technologies used to collect it? What civil liberties are at risk?

By Yvette C. Hammett

/ 11 Sep 2020

Hand holding a sign that reads 'NSA is watching you'.

Police surveillance cameras have time limits, Massachusetts court says

Can police mount surveillance cameras on phone and utility poles outside your house and watch your every move? Not in Massachusetts, at least not for extended periods.

By Yvette C. Hammett

/ 8 Sep 2020

Adoptions slow as pandemic throws roadblocks

As the coronavirus shutters courtrooms around the world, international adoptions have dramatically slowed since March.

By Katherine Snow Smith

/ 1 Sep 2020

Adult hand resting on a baby's stomach as the baby holds onto it.

Mock juror stint can be interesting side gig

Being a mock juror can be a side gig that's more interesting than delivering groceries.

By Sheryl Nance-Nash

/ 27 Aug 2020

Empty jury box in a courtroom, showing seating for jurors.

Online classes send students to court

College students forced into online classes are suing colleges, saying the classes aren't as good as in person. Experts say that might be a tough sell.

By Katherine Snow Smith

/ 27 Aug 2020

Person using a smartphone while a laptop rests on the bed.