The Constitution’s first 10 Amendments (the Bill of Rights) list a number of criminal procedure guarantees. Among these is a right to be criminally accused by a grand jury. Specifically, the Fifth Amendment begins with an affirmation that “[n]o person” can be charged with any “infamous” crime unless by “presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury.” Yet today, over half the states make the use of a grand jury optional, and states such as Connecticut and Pennsylvania have abolished their use altogether.
Read more at SCOTUSblog
The government’s phasing out of the penny without providing any legal guidance on how to handle the transition is causing big headaches for retailers and could result in large corporate losses, class action litigation, banking problems and trouble for businesses that accept SNAP payments.
President Donald Trump announced on Feb. 9 that the U.S. Mint would cease producing pennies, which cost about 3.7 cents each to make. But unlike Canada, Australia and other countries that have eliminated their one-cent coins, the U.S. government offered no rules or explanations for how transactions should be handled going forward, creating a chaotic situation and a legal quagmire.
Read more at Courthouse News
It took a ruling from one of the country’s top business courts last week to settle a years-long dispute between a former Delaware couple: Who gets to keep Tucker, the pair’s adorable goldendoodle, after their breakup?
On Friday, a judge in Delaware Chancery Court came up with a novel solution. She ordered Karen Callahan and Joseph Nelson, who dated and cared for Tucker together for several years before splitting up in 2022, to bid against each other in a private auction for their 5-year-old dog.
The winner gets Tucker. The loser gets the money.
Read more at The Washington Post
Google said the messages are part of a criminal network called "Lighthouse." The texts look legitimate, often warning recipients of a "stuck package" or an "unpaid toll," but they're actually phishing or what's called smishing — a type of phishing scam that uses text messages to try to trick recipients into revealing personal and sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card numbers, which are then stolen.
Read more at CBS News
One Tech Tip: Modern cars are spying on you. Here’s what you can do about it
While driving to a new restaurant, your car’s satellite navigation system tracks your location and guides you to the destination. Onboard cameras constantly track your face and eye movements. When another car veers into your path, forcing you to slam on the brakes, sensors are assisting and recording. Waiting at a stoplight, the car notices when you unbuckle your seat belt to grab your sunglasses in the backseat.
Modern cars are computers on wheels that are becoming increasingly connected, enabling innovative new features that make driving safer and more convenient. But these systems are also collecting reams of data on our driving habits and other personal information, raising concerns about data privacy.
Read more at APNews
For many, emojis are already ubiquitous in our daily interactions. Now, they are increasingly finding their way into court cases.
So this happened... "Detroit police officer caught on Zoom court hearing with no pants"
Read more at Fox2 Detroit
