News
FROM THE ALABAMA LAWYER: Preserving the Record for Appeal: Tips and Pitfalls
Audio version available - Filed Under: The Alabama Lawyer Articles
Issue preservation has been and always will be the key to success on appeal. Today, the need to preserve the record is greater than ever even in our most serious cases with the now discretionary application of plain error review to death cases.[2] Certainly, issue preservation is easier said than done considering the pressures of trial practice. But we hope the following tips and pitfalls can assist the trial practitioner in preserving the record for appeal.
Read MoreFROM THE ALABAMA LAWYER: The Prosecutor’s Duty to Help the Defense Make Its Case
Audio version available - Filed Under: The Alabama Lawyer Articles
Most prosecutors likely agree with Judge Learned Hand that “a criminal defendant already ha[s] too many advantages over the state. . .”[1] While the American criminal system does provide those accused of crimes with certain cherished privileges, in one important area, prosecutors have an inordinate advantage: the production of discovery to the accused. And prosecutors jealously guard the contours of that privileged position, often seeking expansion of it.[2]
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Health and Wellness: Creating Better Lawyers Through Mentorship
- Filed Under: Health & Wellness
The following submission was requested by the Alabama State Bar’s Quality of Life, Health, and Wellness Committee and is intended to assist lawyers in improving the quality of legal services and improving…
Read MoreHealth and Wellness: The Health Benefits of Volunteerism
- Filed Under: Health & Wellness
The following submission was requested by the Alabama State Bar’s Quality of Life, Health, and Wellness Committee and is intended to assist lawyers in improving the quality of legal services and improving…
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Alabama State Bar Announces Members of Leadership Forum Class 18
- Filed Under: Press Releases
MONTGOMERY – The Alabama State Bar announced the lawyers selected for Leadership Forum Class 18. Leadership Forum is honored as a dynamic and highly effective program for nurturing and developing leadership skills…
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Health and Wellness Blog: Dark Days, Dark Moods – Seasonal Affective Disorder
- Filed Under: Health & Wellness
by Frannie Hartley Horn Was there a collective groan emanating from Alabama on November 5, the day the clocks “fell back”? The thought of an early darkness falling has limited appeal to…
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Salute to Veterans 2023
- Filed Under: Uncategorized
In honor of Veterans Day each year, we asked our members who have served and continue to serve in the military to share photos and stories. Thank you for your service and…
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ASB Building Closed Nov. 9 for Repairs
- Filed Under: Things To Know
The Alabama State Bar building will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 9, for electric repairs to be made to the building. Despite the building’s closure, the Bar remains fully functional, and all…
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FROM THE ALABAMA LAWYER: “Throw Me a Lifeline!” – The Survivor Benefit Plan Open Season
Audio version available - Filed Under: The Alabama Lawyer Articles
Attorneys who handle divorce cases will sometimes encounter a military divorce settlement. An often-overlooked aspect of the pension divisions is the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) – a survivor annuity for the former spouse. This article deals with retrieving a potentially overlooked death benefit, and how to apply for SBP coverage.
Read MoreFROM THE ALABAMA LAWYER: An Overview of the 2023 Amendments to the Alabama Rules of Evidence
Audio version available - Filed Under: The Alabama Lawyer Articles
On March 3, 2023, the Alabama Supreme Court approved two amendments to the Alabama Rules of Evidence that became effective May 1, 2023.[1]
First, an amendment to Rule 404(b) significantly changed (and increased) the prosecution’s burden to provide notice of “other acts” evidence offered against the criminally accused.
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