COLUMN: The Law In Real Life Linda Holmes, J.D. Strip Search at School Crosses Line of Common Sense July 21, 2008 There’s something to be said for not doing things that don’t make a lick of sense. Don’t stick a fork in a toaster, don’t thump a bees’ nest with a broomstick and don’t strip-search […]
A Smith County, Texas court has denied a request from a resident there to have her gender officially changed. The petitioner, now named Bobbi Ingram, of Tyler, Texas, was born Bobby and sought to have legal gender changed from male to female. The court granted the name change, but opted not to grant the gender […]
Lea en español What are Civil Rights? A civil right is one belonging to a person simply by virtue of citizenship, and without regard to gender, race, color, creed, religious or political affiliation. Generally, the civil rights protected in the United States include those set forth in the U.S. Constitution, and those granted by Congress. […]
It may sound like an uncontroversial measure but enforcement of Dallas’ bike helmet law has become a contentious issue following evidence that police are unevenly enforcing the ordinance. An article in the Dallas Morning News stated the bike helmet ordinance is not being enforced at White Rock Lake, in Lakewood, along the Katy Trail and […]
Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday that the Irving-based Boy Scouts of America perpetuates “the worst stereotypes” by barring gay people from becoming Scout leaders. “The continuation of a policy that discriminates against gay adult leaders — by an iconic American institution — only preserves and perpetuates the worst kind of stereotypes,” Holder said in […]
Lea en español COLUMN: The Law in Real Life by Linda Holmes, J.D. Court Upholds Condo Board’s Removal of Mezuzah Despite Discriminatory Effect on Jewish Residents Sept. 22, 2008 Lynne Bloch has lived in her Chicago condo with members of her family for more than 30 years. In fact, she’s on the condo board, which […]
by Jeff Stanglin, J.D. Aug. 27, 2008 Every day, millions of Americans take for granted the fact that they can go to their local pharmacy and get a prescription filled with little or no hassle. That is not the reality for some women, however, as some pharmacists refuse to fill certain prescriptions because of religious […]
COLUMN: The Law in Real Life by Linda Holmes, J.D. Crackdown on Pants Sagging Abuses Authority and Violates Civil Rights July 29, 2008 When a police chief announces that he’s going to take a stand against saggy pants, he makes himself an easy target. Doesn’t he have anything, you know, important to do? Flint, Mich., […]
by Linda Holmes, J.D. June 18, 2008 Yesterday was the first day same-sex couples were able to marry in California. The California Supreme Court gay marriage case that granted that right — the undramatically named In Re Marriage Cases — has started, or restarted, debates about privacy, family and civil rights. But it also has […]
A civil right is a right created by a governmental body. The right to free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution is an example of a civil right. Because this right is created by the federal or state government, it is a civil right. The rights that are most commonly referred to […]
The right of privacy protects the ability of individuals to determine what information about them is collected and how that information is used. Most commercial websites utilize “cookies” as well as forms to collect information from visitors, such as names, addresses, e-mail addresses, demographic info, Social Security numbers, IP addresses and financial information. In most […]
» 
