The National Registry of Exonerations has just released data about exonerations in 2017 and historically. The data gives us a great deal of insight into who has been wrongfully convicted and, in many cases, what led to that wrongful conviction. Interestingly, Harris County, Texas, has had an outsized impact on the nationwide picture of exonerations.
Spinal cord injury following a tractor-trailer accident
A motor vehicle accident involving a tractor-trailer can result in catastrophic injuries. The driver and passengers in smaller vehicles often have little to protect them from the size and weight of a big rig, and the outcome can be life-changing. If your loved one has recently suffered such injuries, you may have many anxieties about the future.
Study: Motorcycle helmets may reduce cervical spine injuries
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that wearing a proper helmet while motorcycling saves lives. The agency estimates that doing so saved the lives of about 1,859 bikers in 2016. Another 802 lives could have been saved if every biker wore a helmet.
Supreme Court: Do US email warrants apply to overseas servers?
When the Drug Enforcement Administration wanted to access a drug crime suspect's emails, the agency got a warrant. Unfortunately, the most up-to-date law authorizing such warrants is the 1986 Stored Communications Act. That law was written long before cloud storage, so Congress could not have contemplated how it would be used in this case.
What happens when educators are charged with DWI?
The principal of a Texas high school was recently charged with his second drunk driving offense since 2012. He could face, as anyone could, the typical legal penalties associated with DWI: jail time, court fines, the revocation of his license, etc.
New FDA-approved blood test can detect traumatic brain injury
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently approved a new blood test that can help emergency room doctors determine whether to order a CT scan for people with head injuries. However, there is some misinformation going around about the test -- some even promulgated by the FDA. Some news and agency reports have said that the new test can detect concussions -- and that is not true.
Can getting caught with drugs in college affect my future?
Drug use is pervasive on college campuses across the country. Recent studies show that attending college doubles your likelihood of abusing drugs. Because of their widespread use, a college student might wrongly assume that drug experimentation in college is tolerated.
Do drunk driving laws discriminate against heavy drinkers?
The legal argument was creative, if not entirely convincing: After receiving his fourth driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) conviction, a San Antonio man filed an appeal that claimed Texas's drunk driving laws are unconstitutional because they discriminate against alcoholics.
