Thoughts & Musings from a lawyer about law and life.
Updates on new state and federal legislation.
There are two police reform bills currently in the United States Congress. The first is the "George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020" (actual bill available here) and the other is the "Just and Unifying Solutions To Invigorate Communities Everywhere Act of 2020" or "JUSTICE Act" (text available here) for short here is a quick difference of the two:
You can bailout the economy all you want, but until we beat the virus, we can't restart the economy!
Following the Dayton Massacre (nine dead, twenty-seven injured in less than a minute), a number of laws were introduced to help curb gun violence. House Bill No. 240 was among these.
In the wake of each of these tragedies, it has become a predictable play. It isn't even nuanced anymore, and it sure isn't interesting. Here is the recap - tell me I'm wrong. One side says, "WE NEED REFORM!" The other side says, "IT ISN'T THE GUNS' FAULT, IT IS THE CRAZY PEOPLE!" Then someone … Continue reading Taking apart the dialogue of the gun debate.
Another weekend passes and our country has had two more mass shootings. After each of these, I sit down and write Senator Robert Portman, to say, hey, we have a problem, what are we doing? This time, one of the shootings was in Ohio. I think I have had a single response - and it … Continue reading Meaningful Changes – Gun Control
So, the proponents of the bill are going to have to argue, your choice of paper or plastic is a matter of state-wide concern. Not a case I'd want to make.
The 1950's and 1960's saw the de-institutionalization of patients suffering from mental illness. Why is that? Well two things: 1) Due to the lack of institutional oversight, the institutions themselves were wrought with problems and cases of patients being abused; and 2) the Civil Rights Movement. A person diagnosed with a mental illness hasn't committed … Continue reading The Gap After Clinical Care
Just a reminder as we are at the beginning of 2019... The Ohio Tax Commissioner set the statutory interest rate on judgments to 5%. Make sure your motions and entries reflect this change.
The Ohio Estate Tax was a 6% tax that applied to estates that had a net value in excess of $338,333. The 6% tax was levied on every dollar over $338,333. Once the value of the estate reached $500,000, the rate changed to a 7% tax. The repeal of the Estate Tax is effective … Continue reading Ohio Eliminates State Estate Tax
The 129th General Assembly did not waste any time in changing state law to allow citizens with conceal carry permits (CCWs or CHLs) to carry their handguns into new venues. State Senator Tim Schaffer introduced SB 17 for the first time on February 1, 2011, it passed the Senate on April 13, 2011 and was … Continue reading Ohio Conceal Carry Laws – Effective September 30, 2011
In 2010, a total of thirty-seven bills were passed by Ohio’s 128th General Assembly and subsequently signed into law by Governor Ted Strickland. Below, I have compiled a short summary of the legal highlights of the year: CRIMINAL LAW Senate Bill 58: This bill makes it a crime to collect blood, urine, tissue, or other … Continue reading 2010 Ohio Legislative Year in Review – Originally Published 12/8/2010