US Law Essentials: Court Systems

The US Law Essentials YouTube channel has been uploading a new set of animated videos.  They are generally short enough to show in a class lecture if desired.  Check out the video below on court systems as an example:

Foibles of Federalism; The Legal/Illegal Environment of Cannibus

Marijuana is now either legalized, legalized for medical use or decriminalized by state law in nearly one-half of the United States. However, it is still illegal under federal law. The US Supreme Court determined in Gonzales v. Raich that the powers granted the federal government in the Commerce Clause support federal legislative authority to act. The years since that case have seen troughs and peaks of federal enforcement, promises not to enforce and those promises broken.  Now as businesses begin the  task of selling marijuana under state law, they discover that banks are unwilling to handle their money. Fearful of running afoul of federal law and facing disciplinary action or worse, federally licensed banks are refusing to handle marijuana money that is legally obtained under state law but are illegal proceeds of a crime under federal law. The DOJ recently promised to give banks guidance on how to legally handle this money without risking enforcement action. Banks are skeptical. These are the kinds of policy promises that have been broken before and, of course, are non-binding on future administrations who can prosecute past actions.  So it looks like marijuana dispensary entrepreneurs will be burying a lot of cash in coffee cans in their backyards.  The more things change . . .

Warning: This video includes the word "f**k"


Is this how legal recreational use of marijuana will affect businesses?

Law and Politics... and Law.. and Politics

What is the true nature of Law?  Isn't it all just a big discussion?

Click here or on the image below to watch the video.

Will The Supreme Court Hear the DOMA case?

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) has, for the second time, been declared unconstitutional by a Federal Court of Appeals.  The recent ruling by the Second Circuit in NY follows a decision from Spring 2012 by the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston striking down the provisions of DOMA that prevent persons, legally married under state law, from being recognized as married for Federal purposes.  Cert petitions are presently pending in the Supreme Court.  Recently, Justice Ginsburg opined that DOMA would be before the court for consideration this term.

What are the practical implications of DOMA? Why is this relevant? Here is an example:


First Circuit Ruling:

Federal v. State Powers

This may not be the right video for every class, it can help in the right spots.