Law Stack Exchange
Law Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [united-states]

For questions specific to the United States as a whole, or that span multiple state jurisdictions. If your question is related to a specific state then you should use that state's tag instead (or as well).

Courts:

In the United States, individual states have significant independence from the federal government, particularly in the area of their respective legal codes (ref. "dual sovereignty"). If your question concerns a specific state jurisdiction, include the tag for that state as well as (or instead of) the "united-states" tag.

8618 questions
159
votes
6 answers

Can a public school in the USA force a 14yr old to create a Twitter account for a passing grade?

My youngest is a freshman & signed up for a program the school refers to as "co-lab". At my insistence. 2yrs ago, I attended a board meeting where the formation of the program was introduced. At the time, I was jumping out of my skin, I was so…
Sandy R
  • 941
  • 2
  • 6
  • 4
140
votes
3 answers

Is it insider trading if I bought Boeing puts while I am inside the wrecked airplane?

Imagine sitting in an airplane when suddenly the door blows out. Now, while everyone is screaming and grasping for air, you instead turn on your noise-cancelling head-phones to ignore that crying baby next to you, calmly open your robin-hood app (or…
hanshenrik
  • 1,181
  • 2
  • 7
  • 6
108
votes
8 answers

Why do many "No Trespassing" signs say "POSTED"?

Many "no trespassing" signs say "POSTED" in large letters at the top. Why? Obviously, the sign is posted; that's the whole purpose of a sign. To me, it makes as much sense as putting "ASKED" at the start of a Stack Exchange question or "TEXTED" at…
Someone
  • 17,523
  • 13
  • 96
  • 197
101
votes
3 answers

If I don't want to patent something, what can I do to ensure the patent office doesn't unintentionally grant the patent to someone else?

Say that I have created a hypothetical new invention. I would like for it to be used by as many people as possible without restrictions, so I deliberately choose not to pursue a patent on it. As described in the answers to What if I don't patent my…
Thunderforge
  • 2,068
  • 4
  • 22
  • 41
90
votes
2 answers

On what basis might Trump's executive order on immigration be illegal?

On 27 January 2017, US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order entitled 'Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States'. On 30 January 2017, the acting Attorney General at the time refused to defend it in…
Patrick Conheady
  • 4,412
  • 1
  • 19
  • 37
87
votes
4 answers

How can you tell if you have to follow a police officer's instructions?

If a police officer gives me an order, how can I tell whether or not I'm legally obligated to follow that order? If I ask the officer, is he/she required by law to answer truthfully? If the police get to order citizens to do whatever they want,…
Sam I am says Reinstate Monica
  • 2,378
  • 4
  • 18
  • 28
72
votes
2 answers

Why are lawyers typically excluded from juries?

At least in the United States practicing lawyers are called to serve on juries. But my understanding is at least one side will always remove them before trial. Why would it always be the case that at least one side would not want someone with…
feetwet
  • 22,409
  • 13
  • 92
  • 189
66
votes
2 answers

Can you refuse to swear on the Bible?

Everyone has heard the procedure to get sworn in in an American court: Put your hand on a Holy Bible and answer yes to "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" However swearing on a Holy Bible to…
ratchet freak
  • 1,020
  • 1
  • 8
  • 12
66
votes
3 answers

Is it truly illegal for the US Armed Forces to hire someone whose IQ is less than 83?

In this video, Jordan Peterson says that [...] anybody into the Armed Forces if they have an IQ of less than 83 Is this true? What law is this supposed restriction based on?
user4234
  • 1,089
  • 1
  • 9
  • 17
63
votes
7 answers

What power do I have as a driver if my interstate route is blocked by a protest?

I recently read about protests blocking an interstate. I feel like ethically no one no (non-police) citizen has the right to obstruct my travel (on a public interstate for the sake of protest), therefore I'm interested to know if I personally have…
J.Todd
  • 1,486
  • 2
  • 13
  • 23
63
votes
4 answers

Is it illegal to run away from a police officer in a way that provokes them, in the US?

So I know this is very silly and obviously hypothetical, but I've wondered about it for a while. Let's say you aren't doing anything (else) illegal, you don't have anything illegal on you, and you don't have any warrants for your arrest or anything.…
CuriousDawg
  • 631
  • 1
  • 5
  • 4
62
votes
3 answers

How do I anonymously report the Establishment Clause being broken?

My daughter's public school principal has put up Christian symbols and quotes and also invited a public speaker to present during an assembly who told students that God and prayer was the answer to their problems. Is there a government place where I…
Village
  • 583
  • 1
  • 5
  • 13
61
votes
9 answers

Can I get a DUI in my wheelchair?

I use an electric wheelchair. Upon leaving a bar, I notice I am pretty inebriated. Obviously I shouldn't drive an automobile, and I don't. But what about my wheelchair? I know some jurisdictions will give DUI's for riding a bike while drunk. Do…
Ryan_L
  • 3,973
  • 2
  • 22
  • 36
61
votes
1 answer

Is Elon Musk's child name valid in California?

Elon Musk and his partner want to name their child X Æ A-12. Is that name allowed in California, US?
gsamaras
  • 737
  • 1
  • 5
  • 9
59
votes
6 answers

Can a university legally enforce a policy preventing students from creating their own wireless networks?

I attend a university in the United States where the school policy states that "Students are not permitted to setup or use their own wireless networks." This includes personal hotspots that come with one's phone plan, bluetooth connections, etc. I…
Noah
  • 728
  • 1
  • 5
  • 9
1
2 3
…
99 100