We know Spider-Man can physically do whatever a spider can, and he can climb around and shoot net everywhere he wants in his own home, but can he legally use these powers the way he does in the comics? That answer isn’t so obvious, and indeed, if he were real, Spidey would probably be well […]
Is it Illegal to be a Superhero?
Over the past decade, more and more people have taken to the streets in body armor, striving to become real-life superheroes. While any wannabe heroes may not be able to develop powers, like Superman, Wolverine or Spider-Man, anyone who is brave enough can choose to fight criminals the way Iron Man and Batman do. But is it […]
Is Batman Guilty of Child Endangerment?
io9 ranked the Caped Crusader as #1 in their list of heroes who should be arrested for child endangerment -and attorney Peter Liss believes they made a strong case. So, is Batman guilty of child endangerment or other crimes when it comes to Robin? What is Child Endangerment, Exactly? Under California law, to be convicted […]
Is Lester Nygaard Legally Responsible For Sam Hess’ Death In Fargo?
The Fargo series has a predictably violent plot that really gets started when ridiculously meek Lester Nygaard meets dangerous assassin Lorne Malvo in the hospital. What happens next is exactly the kind of occurrence that criminal lawyers deal with every day. If you haven’t watched the series yet, don’t worry, we’ll only be discussing what […]
What Happens if a Conjoined Twin Commits a Crime?
English jurist William Blackstone famously stated, “It is better than ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer.” That line of thinking is what makes it so fascinating to contemplate what penalties would be fair if one conjoined twin breaks the law. After all, punishing the guilty twin would invariably mean punishing the innocent […]
The Story of Alec Baldwin’s Rust Trial
It was a true tragedy when cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on the set of Alec Baldwin’s Western film Rust. Whether or not it was a crime was not as immediately apparent. To determine if it was a crime, the incident was investigated by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department, New Mexico’s First Judicial District […]
You Won’t Believe These Famous DUI Cases
Drunk driving is one of the most commonly committed crimes in America, and celebrities are just as likely to drive under the influence as the general populace. While you may feel all alone when you have been charged with a DUI, remember that many people (including some of the most famous people in the world) […]
Could the Us Use Income-Based Fines for Crimes?
An old expression says that if a crime is punishable by a fine, it’s only illegal for the poor. That idea can be very problematic in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where there is such a massive disparity between the incredibly rich and the incredibly poor. Under traditional penalty structures, the […]
Can You be Charged With Attempted Murder if the “Victim” was Already Dead?
Murder is the taking of another person’s life, so naturally, attempted murder is the attempt to take someone’s life. So would it be murder if someone attempts to take the life of someone who it turns out has already died? It’s an interesting legal question that has appeared not only in law schools and detective […]
Do the Police Actually Hire Consultants Like They Do on TV?
Shows like Lucifer, Psych, Castle and Monk feature contractors hired by the police to help solve crimes, but is what you see on screen realistic? As it turns out, while police consultants are real, criminal attorneys would get most of the evidence the TV consultants uncover thrown out of court. Here’s a breakdown of how […]
