| Judicial Ethics |
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| One of the cornerstones of our American judicial system is the impartial administration of justice. It is crucial that a judge act fairly and impartially, avoiding any appearance of impropriety. Every state has adopted a code of judicial conduct that sets ethical guidelines for judges. All states also have judicial conduct commissions with the power to investigate, prosecute, and decide cases of judicial misconduct. There is also a code of conduct for federal judges. More... |
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| Liens |
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| A lien is a charge on real or personal property for the satisfaction of a debt or legal duty. Liens may be judgment liens, mechanics' liens or tax liens. More... |
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| Federal Administrative Procedure Act |
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| The Federal Administrative Procedure Act (FAPA) is a federal law that governs the procedures used by federal administrative agencies in adopting and enforcing their rules and regulations. There are more than 50 federal regulatory agencies. The purpose of FAPA is to ensure uniformity and openness in federal administrative procedures. More... |
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| Ex Parte Communications |
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| An ex parte communication is a written or oral communication with a judge that involves only one side of a pending lawsuit or that involves a matter that could become the subject of a future case before the judge. Ex parte communications include a judge's interactions with persons interested in the outcome of a case such as attorneys, parties, jurors, witnesses, and law enforcement personnel. Generally, ex parte communications are prohibited because they can influence the judge's decision. More... |
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| Statutes of Limitations and Statutes of Repose |
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| Statutes of limitations are laws that limit the time a person has to file a lawsuit after an event occurs that gives that person a legal claim. The underlying reasons for statutes of limitations are: to ensure fairness to the the person being sued; to encourage the prompt prosecution of claims; to suppress stale and fraudulent claims; and to avoid the inconvenience caused by delay especially the difficulties of proof in older cases. Once the statute of limitations runs or expires, a person being sued can raise the defense of the statute of limitations. More... |
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