Supreme Court to Decide Whether Police Dog Sniffs Pass the Fourth Amendment “Smell Test”
11/2/12
By: Brian Dempsey
This past week, the United States Supreme Court heard two cases which are expected to clarify the Fourth Amendment limitations on police officers’ use of drug-sniffing dogs.
In the first case, Florida v. Jardines, the Supreme …
Beyond the Political Rhetoric: Will Georgia’s Voter ID Law Reduce Minority Turnout?
10/24/12
By: Sun Choy
To be sure, Georgia’s voter ID law that requires a voter to produce a photo ID to vote has been used as a political football by both sides of the aisle over the past few election cycles. …
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
10/15/12
By: Dave Cole
You may already know that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but did you know that it also is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month? In his proclamation of this as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, President Obama explained that, …
Use of Drones in Law Enforcement – A Good Idea?
9/14/12
By: Sun Choy
USA Today recently reported that the International Association of Chiefs of Police issued advisory guidelines for the use of drones by law enforcement. While the number of drones in use is relatively low, the IACP anticipates …
Most Georgia Local Governments Fail to Comply with State E-Verify Law
8/22/12
By: Kelly Morrison
A recent AJC article reported that many cities and counties across the state still are not in compliance with Georgia’s E-Verify mandates, and as a result, are at risk for losing funding for state community development block …
Eleventh Circuit Says No to ACLU's Standing on Ten Commandments Monument Challenge
8/21/12
By: Dana Maine
The Eleventh Circuit issued an opinion last week which clearly delineates elements of standing in First Amendment symbolic speech cases. In American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, Inc. v. Dixie County, Florida, decided on August 15, …
Ban on Guns in Church Upheld
8/13/12
By: Sun Choy
In GeorgiaCarry.org v. Georgia, the Eleventh Circuit upheld Georgia’s 2010 ban on guns in places of worship. The Baptist Tabernacle of Thomaston and GeorgiaCarry.org, a gun rights group, claimed that the ban violated their constitutionally protected …
Extreme Limits of Protected Speech for “Symbolic” Nudity?
7/23/12
By: Sun Choy
A Portland judge recently ruled that a man who stripped naked at an airport to protest TSA screening is not guilty of indecent exposure charges, because “symbolic” nudity is protected free speech under Oregon law. As reported …
Supreme Court of Georgia Expands Waiver of Sovereign Immunity for Motor Vehicle Claims
7/9/12
By: Sun Choy
Last week, the Supreme Court of Georgia held in Gates v. Glass that the General Assembly created a “two-tier scheme” for waiving sovereign immunity in motor vehicle claims against cities and counties when it amended O.C.G.A. § …