US Law Archives - Page 14 of 71

Can an Undocumented Immigrant Practice Law in California?

ABA Journal: In what could be the first such case in the United States, a California State Bar panel is set to decide whether to deny an applicant a law license solely on the basis of his undocumented immigration status.

Sergio Garcia was brought to this country from Mexico when he was 17 months old by his parents, the Daily Journal (sub. req.) reports in a lengthy article. The state bar only recently began asking applicants about their immigration status, so there apparently are other California lawyers already admitted to practice (the newspaper talked to at least one) who aren’t legal residents of the U.S.

Freedom or Independence?

Mauled Again: Today is Independence Day, though most people refer to it as “the Fourth of July holiday.” Late last week, while reading a news report about the rather inept manner in which the State of New York has tried to apply its mandatory e-filing requirement to Amish sects that don’t use electricity, let alone computers and the internet, I noticed that one of the individuals remarked that “it’s a free country.” That phrase, and ones like it, have been tossed about so cavalierly that too many people fail to realize that it’s not true. The United States is not a free country.

Opposition to the Protect IP Act

The Volokh Conspiracy: Happy Fourth to you all! Along with 90 (and still counting) other Internet law and IP law professors, I have signed a letter (drafted by Dave Levine, Mark Lemley, and me) in opposition to Sen. Leahy’s “PROTECT IP Act.” [The letter is posted below — the text of the bill, if you’re into that sort of thing, is posted here.]

Wal-Mart Announces Medical-Legal Partnership

ABA Journal: Starting on its home turf in Arkansas, but with plans to expand the program, Wal-Mart’s legal department is providing free legal services for patients at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

The medical-legal partnership is being touted as the first such partnership between a large corporate legal department and a major hospital.

Federal Government Wants to Tell You Which Lightbulbs to Use

Washington Examiner: A law phasing out incandescent light bulbs beginning in 2012 has prompted some states to challenge the reach of federal government.

Pennsylvania and South Carolina have legislation pending to exempt their states from the regulations. And Texas has already passed a bill purporting to nullify the government regulations within their state. Arizona’s Republican governor, Jan Brewer, vetoed a similar bill last year.