2024 Legislative Session Week Four
- Filed Under: Legislative Updates
Legislative Summary Spirited and intense debate dominated the week in the Alabama Legislature. Lawmakers met for three session days and had the busiest committee day yet on Wednesday, with packed agendas and…
Read More2024 Legislative Session Week Three
- Filed Under: Legislative Updates
Legislative Summary As the Alabama Legislature settled into its third week, there was a full day of committee meetings on Wednesday, followed by session, resulting in another three-day week. Lots of bills began…
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ASB Position Opening: Alabama Bankruptcy Assistance Project (ABAP) Coordinator
- Filed Under: Things To Know
Job Title: Alabama Bankruptcy Assistance Project (ABAP) Coordinator Reports to: VLP Program Directors Status: Salary – Full Time Job Summary and Qualifications: The Alabama Bankruptcy Assistance Project (ABAP) is a project developed…
Read More2024 Legislative Session Week Two
- Filed Under: Legislative Updates
Legislative Summary The second week of the 2024 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature was a three-day work week. In addition to Tuesday and Thursday’s session days, lawmakers went into session after…
Read More2024 Legislative Session Week One
- Filed Under: Legislative Updates
Legislative Summary On Tuesday, Feb. 6, the Alabama Legislature commenced the 2024 Regular Legislative Session. As the second year of the quadrennium begins, the legislators appear energized and ready to get to…
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FROM THE ALABAMA LAWYER: Cross-Examination of the Forensic Gold Standard for DNA Testing
Audio version available - Filed Under: The Alabama Lawyer Articles
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) analysis has long been labeled the gold standard of forensic testing by the court. While I acknowledge the scientific process of DNA testing as the pinnacle of scientific rigor when employed correctly by qualified scientists, certain aspects of the process can be shown to fall short of the objectivity necessary to be considered a scientific standard.
Read MoreFROM 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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