Criminal Law

Litigation & Trials

You’ve Been Served! A Guide for What to Do When the Government Comes Knocking

By Stephanie Yonekura and Michelle Roberts Gonzales

When the government calls, you don’t have to hide—you have to get to work!

Tort

The Hemp Revolution Will Not be Televised... Yet

By Lisa L. Pittman

While cannabis legalization is sweeping the nation and the spotlight, from both an agricultural and medicinal standpoint, hemp is the emerging giant of this new industry.

The Forensic Psychology Report

by Howard Kaplan

Forensic psychologists are commonly required to offer clinical evaluations of individuals who are “involved” with the legal system. This typically entails interviewing the individuals being evaluated and may require them to testify orally in court as expert witnesses. However, essential to these evaluations is also writing a forensic psychology report. “Reports are a major work product of forensic psychologists.

International Law

Human Rights Defenders Face Increased Threats

By Juan Ramirez

Attacks on lawyers, judges, human rights defenders, and journalists are not only growing around the world, but also such attacks are increasing in frequency and severity. Last year, Front Line Defenders, a Dublin-based organization with regional offices worldwide, documented the killing of more than 300 human rights defenders, with a sharp increase in Latin America during the past five years. Corruption and a lack of judicial independence and impartiality are among the barriers to accountability for the unlawful killing of activists and for the misuse of legal proceedings against human rights advocates. The ABA Center for Human Rights will be monitoring two high‑profile human rights cases that highlight the significance of these challenges: the criminal case of those accused of killing Berta Cáceres, an advocate for indigenous people’s rights in Honduras, and the criminal trial of Milena Quiroz, a Colombian activist charged with rebellion in apparent retaliation for her social movement activism.