Category: Law
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Drying Up Freedom of the Seas
During Prohibition, could the government enforce the alcohol ban by searching any ship coming in from the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans — even outside U.S. territorial waters? A 1923 New York Times Magazine article described the debate: Hitherto, the infringement of such maritime liberty has been confined to periods of war and, even then, has been…
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A Child’s Day in Court
New York state established children’s courts in 1922. By 1923, a New York Times Magazine article detailed what they were like for juvenile defendants. In those days the Judge would say, “Officer, what is the charge?” “Stealing.” “Thirty days in the workhouse” — or whatever it might be, and call the next case. But now he…
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Keeping Civil Disputes Out of the Courts
“A reform that may be widely extended” proved prescient. In this article, New York City Municipal Court Justice Edgar J. Lauer detailed the growing trend of settling legislation out of court, which helps keeps costs down and help prevent the judicial system from getting too overloaded. By the 21st century, 97 percent of civil cases…
SundayMagazine.org 