What Is an Indictment? And What Is an Arraignment?

With so many stories about high-profile criminal cases dominating the news cycle, the general public suddenly heard a lot about the terms “indictment” and “arraignment.” However, what do these words mean, exactly? How do indictments and arraignments work, and does every criminal defendant have to go through them? PBS published an article answering some of…

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Tennessee Repeals Underage DUI Laws Affecting Federal Highway Funding

In all U.S. jurisdictions, it is illegal to drive while you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In order to receive federal funding for highways, all fifty states have passed zero tolerance Driving Under the Influence (DUI) laws for underage drunk drivers. Tennessee recently attempted changes to its DUI laws, which violated federal…

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Freddie Gray and the Right to a Fair Trial

In April of 2015, a young man from Baltimore died, allegedly as the result of injuries he sustained while in police custody. The riots made the national news and led to intense debates and heated discussions all over the country, and within months six officers were indicted on multiple counts, from aggravated assault to second…

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