Court: Phone drug buys shouldn't bring extra time
Lawyer Blogs
The Supreme Court says that people who buy drugs over the telephone shouldn't get more prison time than people who buy face-to-face from dealers.
The court Tuesday unanimously overturned a decision by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va.
The law makes it a felony to use a communication device in "committing or in causing or in facilitating" a drug purchase.
Prosecutors say that Salman Khade Abuelhawa's use of a cell phone for a misdemeanor purchase of around $120 of cocaine fell under the statute. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the conviction.
But the high court said Congress did not intend for phone buyers to get more jail time than people who walk up to dealers and buy drugs.
Related listings
-
Calif. wants US Supreme Court OK of video game ban
Lawyer Blogs 05/21/2009California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to reinstate a state law banning the sale or rental of violent video games to minors. In February, the 9th U.S. Court of Appeals str...
-
Liberals hope to win after string of court losses
Lawyer Blogs 05/19/2009The men and women who gather around a table at the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights on Friday mornings have ample experience fighting Supreme Court confirmation battles. Now they're hoping to win one. Already, they're combing through the records...
-
Court will review Black's fraud conviction
Lawyer Blogs 05/18/2009The Supreme Court agreed Monday to consider media executive Conrad Black's appeal of his fraud conviction. Black is serving a 6 1/2 year prison term. The justices will hear arguments later this year over the convictions of Black, the former chairman ...
Grounds for Divorce in Ohio - Sylkatis Law, LLC
A divorce in Ohio is filed when there is typically “fault” by one of the parties and party not at “fault” seeks to end the marriage. A court in Ohio may grant a divorce for the following reasons:
• Willful absence of the adverse party for one year
• Adultery
• Extreme cruelty
• Fraudulent contract
• Any gross neglect of duty
• Habitual drunkenness
• Imprisonment in a correctional institution at the time of filing the complaint
• Procurement of a divorce outside this state by the other party
Additionally, there are two “no-fault” basis for which a court may grant a divorce:
• When the parties have, without interruption for one year, lived separate and apart without cohabitation
• Incompatibility, unless denied by either party
However, whether or not the the court grants the divorce for “fault” or not, in Ohio the party not at “fault” will not get a bigger slice of the marital property.