You’ve been convicted or pled guilty to a crime and have a date scheduled to get sentenced. In your upcoming sentencing hearing, has the Court ordered a “PSI”? The court may, and sometimes must, order what is called a presentence investigation or PSI (Minnesota Statutes § 609.115). A PSI is conducted by a probation officer, or a social worker or...
If someone says you are persuasive, you would probably take that as a compliment, right? The power of persuasion is often highly valued, especially in the legal field. But if someone says you are being coercive, this is less complimentary. In fact, coercion is a crime in Minnesota. Minnesota Statute § 609.27 defines the crime of coercion. Coercion is an...
The United States is currently facing uncertainty with the country’s future after the 2020 election. Emotions are running high and within these next few days, many will want to invoke their First Amendment right of Freedom of Speech. But, before acting on a whim, think twice and consider the legal consequences of your actions, such as, could your actions lead...
It is that time of year again. Halloween is upon us and children everywhere are thrilled at the opportunity to go door to door and collect their mini Snickers. But the adults and teenagers look past the sugar highs and aim their attention to adrenaline highs and extreme scares. Before you think the perfect Halloween night is lighting candles at...
Until recently, sports gambling has been banned at the federal level. Things changed in 2018 with the Supreme Court’s decision in Murphy v. NCAA, 138 S. Ct. 1461 (2018), where the Court overturned a federal ban of sports gambling. In the time following this landmark decision, 25 States, including the District of Columbia, have passed legalized sports betting in some...
You may have clicked this blog expecting deep insight into the legal ethics of Batman, a superhero who acts outside the law to bring justice to Gotham City, we are sorry to disappoint. Interestingly enough, if Gotham City were in Minnesota, Batman would be guilty of an unlikely and often overlooked crime, concealing identity. Minnesota Statute § 609.735 criminalizes the...
The Office is an iconic television series that was known for placing its characters in awkward and uncomfortable situations. In the episode “Dinner Party,” Michael (the boss) invites his employees over for a relaxing get together where Michael attempts to solicit funds for his ex-boss/girlfriend Jan’s failing candle company. Instead of a relaxing dinner party, Michael’s guests are treated to...
Can the government force you to stay at home under an executive order? Yes, both federal and state governments have the power to enforce social isolation and self-quarantine, effectively limiting citizens to their homes. While this effort is meant to protect the public from those who have contracted a disease, the power can even extend to those who are not...
The holidays. A time of gift giving, celebrating, and spending time with loved ones. Alcohol pours and spirits rise as a new year approaches. However, the holidays can also bring about a significant amount of stress and tension. Experts say the end of the year creates a toxic storm, with alcohol mixing with financial stress and relatives being in close...
If your Halloween plans include pulling what you consider to be a harmless prank, you may be unintentionally damaging property. Even if you simply intended to pull a prank, the Law is only concerned with whether the property was damaged. Criminal damage to property is a general intent crime, meaning that it is irrelevant whether you intended property damage while...
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