| Family Abuse Protective Orders |
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| Protective orders are orders issued by a judge to protect a victim of domestic abuse, stalking, harassment, or intimidation. A protective order can only be used against someone related to the victim or with whom the victim has had an intimate relationship. This would include a spouse, sibling, parent, or boyfriend/girlfriend.More... |
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| Expedited State Appellate Procedures |
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| Most state appellate courts experience gridlock in processing appeals. The courts are having difficulty keeping pace with the increasing volume of appealed cases. As a result, there are significant delays in finalizing an appeal. In some cases, it can take more than two years between entry of the final judgment in the trial court and a final decision in the appellate court. The courts have been pursuing efficiency promoting methods. This article discusses procedures that are being adopted by state appellate courts to reduce the backlog of cases and speed up the appeal process.More... |
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| The Practice of Law By Out of State Lawyers |
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| After graduating from law school, a graduate is required to pass a state bar examination before he/she can be admitted to the state bar. A lawyer is not permitted to practice law in a state where he/she is not licensed. To do so would be considered the unauthorized practice of law.More... |
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| Statutes of Limitations and Statutes of Repose |
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| Statutes of limitations are laws that limit the time a person has to file a lawsuit after an event occurs that gives that person a legal claim. The underlying reasons for statutes of limitations are: to ensure fairness to the the person being sued; to encourage the prompt prosecution of claims; to suppress stale and fraudulent claims; and to avoid the inconvenience caused by delay especially the difficulties of proof in older cases. Once the statute of limitations runs or expires, a person being sued can raise the defense of the statute of limitations.More... |
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| Meaningful Access to the Courts for Self-Represented Litigants |
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| The number of persons who represent themselves in court proceedings has increased significantly in recent years. The increase in self-representation is placing a strain on the court system. Individuals have a constitutional right to represent themselves, and the courts have a duty to make certain that all individuals have meaningful access to the courts. Family law matters, such as uncontested divorces or dissolutions and child support modifications, are common areas where individuals choose to represent themselves.More... |
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