Legalese
LEGALESE — Dangerous and Vicious Dogs
In my last column, I talked about what the law required of responsible dog owners. In this column, I’m going to talk about what the law has to say about dangerous and vicious dogs. According […]
Legalese
Legalese
LEGALESE — Responsible Dog Ownership
My family recently got a dog for the first time. We love our dog, Lincoln, tremendously. While the rest of the family is researching how to ensure he has the proper nutrition and veterinary care, […]
Legalese
Legalese — Rule of Law
“The rule of law” is another one of those phrases that gets thrown around on social media a lot these days by a lot of folks, some of whom seem to understand what it is, […]
Legalese
LEGALESE — Decriminalization of Marijuana
There is some talk about certain municipalities decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana. And it is true to a limited extent – some cities in the state of Georgia have elected to make […]
Legalese
Legalese — Debtor’s Prison
A Court’s judgment, it is sometimes said, is worth no more than the paper it is written on. Indeed, I have a bookcase full of judgments which, if I could collect on them, I could […]
Columns
Legalese — Driver’s Services, the Courts, and DUI
Many people think that the Georgia Department of Drivers’ Services and the Municipal or Traffic Courts are related, since they both deal with traffic tickets and drivers’ licensing. This is not true. Neither agency has […]
Legalese
Legalese – ‘Presumption of Innocence’ what does it mean?
The phrase “presumption of innocence” has come across my social media feed quite a bit lately, and like many legal phrases which come across my social media feed from time to time, the lay understanding […]
Legalese
Legalese — Ambulance Chasers
There are any number of unpleasant nicknames that people have for lawyers, and one of the most common and easily recognized is “ambulance chaser.” Ambulance chasing refers to the practice of lawyers, or their employees […]
Legalese
Legalese — Stopping for a School Bus
There seems to be some basic confusion about when you do and don’t have to stop for a school bus, and, considering the law changed somewhat in Georgia this year, I thought I’d take this […]
Legalese
Legalese – Violation of Probation
In my last column, I wrote about the trend towards misdemeanor bail reform in the American Criminal Justice System. Relatedly, there has been a lot of focus on misdemeanor probation. This is not so much […]
Legalese
Legalese — Bail Reform
There is a movement across the country as well as in Georgia regarding misdemeanor bail reform. The Judicial Council of Georgia recently put out a report from its Ad Hoc committee on the subject. A […]
Legalese
Legalese — Home is where the Picture of Mom is
Where do you live? It seems like a simple question for most people, but it isn’t for everyone. And, when you are talking about the law, it matters. You sue someone where they live. You […]
Legalese
Legalese — Going to Court
I am always surprised how unprepared people seem when they come to court, especially when they don’t have a good lawyer to advise them. Then again, having had a quarter century’s worth of experience in […]
Legalese
Legalese — What is Money?
What is money? Seems like a simple question, right? Money is your bank balance. Money is the paper bills in your wallet. Money is the coins you find between your sofa cushions and under your […]
Legalese
Legalese — DDS2go
When one thinks of the Department of Drivers’ Services, as a general rule, one does not immediately then think the word “efficient” or “user friendly.” And yet, sometimes, that’s exactly what Georgia’s DDS is. Enter […]
Legalese
Legalese — Roadblocks
Every once in a while, you can be driving along, minding your own business and following every traffic law, and still be legally stopped by the police. This type of stop can be called a […]
Legalese
Legalese — Is Your Driver’s License Suspended?
If you’ve ever been in a motor vehicle accident, you know that there is a lot to the aftermath. Hopefully, you’ve been able to walk away without any lasting injuries. There may be just a […]
Legalese
Legalese: Right-of-way
Most people know the basic rules of traffic, and what the basic signs mean. However, I have been asked from time to time about the concept of “right of way.” This concept not only regulates […]
Columns
Legalese — International Delegation of Judges
Note: the opinions and observations contained below are my own only, and do not necessarily reflect those of the individuals or agencies named below. I take full and sole responsibility for everything I’ve said. On […]
Legalese
Legalese — New Cell Phone Law
Most of us have had an experience on the road wherein we have seen someone driving erratically, weaving across lanes, or going crazy slow or fast, and then noticed that they were paying attention to […]