Category: Legal Thoughts

Top Concerns for Democracy, Peace, and Humanity: Misinformation, Disinformation, and Influence Operations

Description of talk Talk given on 10/02/2020 for the UMass Amherst Cybersecurity Club. Event webpage Recently, the Director of the NSA ranked combating misinformation, disinformation, and influence operations as a top priority for the prosperity of United States. And, rightly so. As our lives move more-and-more online, we rely more-and-more upon the information provided to… Continue reading Top Concerns for Democracy, Peace, and Humanity: Misinformation, Disinformation, and Influence Operations

MA’s law about pharmacists to prescribing emergency contraception

Question: Hey Marvin, I have a law question for you. There’s a law in MA that allows pharmacists to prescribe emergency contraception. Can you help me figure out when it passed? It’s for an article I’m writing for a website. I think it was 2005 but I’m not 100% sure. Thanks!  Answer: First, be careful… Continue reading MA’s law about pharmacists to prescribing emergency contraception

Death Penalty in Massachusetts

While doing some research about double jeopardy for a client, we came across documents talking about double jeopardy in the Boston Bomber’s  (Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s) case.  With some extra time on hand, curiosity led to reading more of the documents on his docket.  Upon reading the docket, it became apparent that one of the most interesting… Continue reading Death Penalty in Massachusetts

Lawrence v. Texas – Liberty for All

My new favorite case is Lawrence v. Texas. After I  dug into this case, magical doors were opened. Lawrence is a game changer and my arsenal’s new favorite weapon. In its most basic sense, Lawrence reasons that laws are invalid when it punishes ‘victimless crimes’ or actions which are deemed immoral by the majority. More,… Continue reading Lawrence v. Texas – Liberty for All

A Fork in the Fourth

Provided below is a great article about an unique part of the fourth amendment. Enjoy! Prelude: Generally, the 4th amendment of the constitution of the United States commands: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants… Continue reading A Fork in the Fourth

Copyright Office’s report on a two year study of copyright small claims.

The U.S. Copyright Office just released the findings of its two-year study on copyright small claims. The report documents the significant costs and other challenges of addressing copyright claims that have a relatively low economic value in the current federal system, and recommends the establishment of an alternative voluntary system of adjudication to be housed… Continue reading Copyright Office’s report on a two year study of copyright small claims.

Due process needs open government

A blog post about Public Records Law, indeed … sounds dry and a waste of time.  But, this is an area of law rarely seeing light. And, its an area where police departments routinely break the law, effectively denying citizens due process of law. Essentially, with few exceptions, citizens have a right to view records… Continue reading Due process needs open government

First Amendment Protects Peeping Tom???

In 2006, a 34-year-old man in Oklahoma was acquitted after he stuck a camera under a 16-year-old’s skirt at a store and snapped a picture of her underwear, the court ruled that the teen did not have “a right to a reasonable expectation of privacy.” Now, a Massachusetts man claims he too has the constitutional… Continue reading First Amendment Protects Peeping Tom???

Happy Veterans Day!

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, we sometimes forget the precious freedom our country has. Granted, there are a many things that could be fixed regarding our country, e.g., typically only the rich can win a lawsuit, many people sue other people with no chance of ever winning. But, looking at things from… Continue reading Happy Veterans Day!