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Woman at center of 1961 Supreme Court case dies
Lawyer News |
2014/12/11 20:57
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A woman who stood up to police trying to search her Ohio home in 1957 and ultimately won a landmark Supreme Court decision on searches and seizures has died.
Dollree Mapp died Oct. 31 in Conyers, Georgia. A relative and caretaker, Carolyn Mapp, confirmed her death Wednesday and said she died on the day after her birthday at the age of 91.
Mapp's Supreme Court case, Mapp v. Ohio, is a staple of law school textbooks and considered a milestone case on the Fourth Amendment, which requires law enforcement officers to get a warrant before conducting a search. The case curbed the power of police by saying evidence obtained by illegal searches and seizures could not be used in state court.
Mapp's path to the U.S. Supreme Court began on May 23, 1957, when three Cleveland police officers arrived at her home. There had just been a bombing at the home of Don King, who later became famous as a boxing promoter, and police believed that a person wanted for questioning was hiding in Mapp's home. The officers demanded to enter, but Mapp refused to let them in without a search warrant. More officers later arrived and police forced open a door, according to a summary of the case in the Supreme Court opinion.
When the officers confronted Mapp, one held up a piece of paper, claiming it was a warrant, and Mapp snatched it away. After a struggle an officer got the paper back, Mapp was handcuffed for being "belligerent," and officers searched her home. They didn't find the person they were looking for, but they did find some pornographic books and pictures. At the time, an Ohio law made having obscene material a crime, and Mapp was convicted, though she said the materials belonged to a former boarder. Prosecutors never produced a search warrant at trial.
Ultimately, the Supreme Court overturned Mapp's conviction in a 6-3 decision, ruling in 1961 that illegally obtained evidence could not be used in state court. The court had previously ruled that this was the case in federal court, but Mapp's case extended the "exclusionary rule" to states where the vast majority of criminal prosecutions take place, broadening the protection. |
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NY court: Chimps don't have same rights as humans
Legal Career News |
2014/12/05 23:45
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A chimpanzee is not entitled to the rights of a human and does not have to be freed by its owner, a New York appeals court ruled Thursday.
The three-judge Appellate Division panel was unanimous in denying "legal personhood" to Tommy, who lives alone in a cage in upstate Fulton County.
A trial level court had previously denied the Nonhuman Rights Project's effort to have Tommy released. The group's lawyer, Steven Wise, told the appeals court in October that the chimp's living conditions are akin to a person in unlawful solitary confinement.
Wise argued that animals with human qualities, such as chimps, deserve basic rights, including freedom from imprisonment. He has also sought the release of three other chimps in New York and said he plans similar cases in other states.
But the mid-level appeals court said there is neither precedent nor legal basis for treating animals as persons. |
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Former Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor
Law Firm News |
2014/12/05 23:44
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No matter the situation, an attorney from the Plymouth Canton Law Office of Rita O. White is available to assist. For everything from questions only a lawyer could answer, to a specific legal issue you may have, we are here to lend a helping hand.
You can expect convenient office hours, along with knowledgeable lawyers and reasonable attorney fees from us. Legal problems can loom large and become stressful, so our Plymouth Canton lawyers give all our clients the personal attention and caring respect they deserve.
Your legal situation may be negatively impacted if you try to deal with it on your own. Instead of risking the outcome, why not call our committed attorneys for guidance? When you need it most, contact us at the Law Office of Rita O. White today to learn more and set up an appointment.
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Egyptian court sentences 188 people to death
Legal World News |
2014/12/05 00:18
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An Egyptian court sentenced 188 people to death Tuesday pending the opinion of the country's top religious authority, the latest mass death sentence handed down by the country's judicial system despite widespread international criticism.
The 188 were charged over the killing of 11 policemen last year in Kerdasa, a restive town west of Cairo considered a militant stronghold. The attack, which saw the policemen's bodies mutilated, is considered one of the country's grisliest assaults on security forces.
The defendants also were accused of attempting to kill 10 more policemen, damaging a police station, setting police cars on fire and possessing heavy weapons.
The attack happened on the same day that security forces brutally cleared two protest camps of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi's supporters, killing hundreds. Protesters were demanding the reinstatement of Morsi, who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood group.
Some 22,000 people have been arrested since Morsi's ouster, including most of the Brotherhood's top leaders, as well as large numbers of others swept up by police during pro-Morsi protests. |
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Michigan Defense Lawyer
Attorneys News |
2014/12/05 00:18
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The attorneys at the Davis Law Group, PLLC are former prosecutors who have dealt with a wide variety of cases, from minor traffic stops to homicide. As a criminal defense firm, we work in the Metro Detroit area, including Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb County.
We are entirely dedicated to achieving the best scenario for your case. With extensive trial experience in the Metro Detroit courtrooms, we are familiar with their practices. This gives our clients a huge boost in fighting their charges, altering their ultimate legal fate.
Our attorneys are solely concentrated on defending the constitutional rights of our clients no matter where they are. If you or someone you love has been charged with a crime, you understand what is at stake. We are the experienced firm that can create favorable results.
Call us any time for no-cost consultation, as we always have at least one attorney on call. We are here 24/7 to assist you, even to attend a consultation in jail. All major credit cards are accepted.
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North Carolina Worker's Compensation & Social Security Disability
Lawyer News |
2014/12/02 22:24
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We at DiRusso & DiRusso have been helping those in our area with legal
need for the past 23 years. Located near Mount Airy, North Carolina,
we are grateful for the citizens of Surry County for consistently
choosing us for legal representation. Our staff takes pride in this
distinction and we believe it is wise that our clients chose local
counsel.
Unlike firms in the larger cities, it is important to us that our
clients speak directly with DiRusso and DiRusso, not assistants or
paralegals. This local touch extends to our knowledge of the local
employers, local court officials, and local employers. It is of upmost
importance that we are available to you and sensitive to the needs of
the area.
In addition to being local, we also have the expertise and resources
to advocate for you, no matter who you're going against. We at DiRusso
and DiRusso are here to listen compassionately about the difficult
time you may be having, while also being solution-oriented. Our
attorneys are dedicated to representing their clients, and nobody
else. We will provide you with current rules, cases, and codes to keep
you up to date with the law.
Call us today to speak with an attorney regarding your case. Your
initial consultation concerning Personal Injury, Social Security Disability, and Workers' Compensation is always free.
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