AsktheJudge.info

Know your rights! AsktheJudge.info is a youth justice website where we answer teens' and parents' questions about teens' rights and the laws that affect them.

[askthejudge]

Can school police pepper spray you? Yes. But when can they do it, and what are they required to do?

[giorgioz]

You all are unique.

[askthejudge]

Police violated students’ rights by using excessive force

A federal judge in Alabama has ruled that the Birmingham Police Department violated public school students’ constitutional rights by using excessive force for minor infractions like “backtalking” and “challenging authority.” The students were pepper sprayed for their conduct. I

Tired of getting pepper sprayed at school? We’ve got good news for you!

[askthejudge]

What does “house arrest” mean?

If you are arrested for a crime and taken to juvenile court, you may be released on what’s called “house arrest” or “home detention.” That means once you return home, there are specific rules you have to follow or risk being locked up again.

Facing some new ankle jewelry? Learn what house arrest means.

[askthejudge]

Eighth Grader Suspended Over Pro-Military Vet T-Shirt

An eighth grader says he was suspended for wearing a T-shirt in support of military veterans — a decision that’s left him “heartbroken,” as he wore it to honor his older brother, a Marines vet who served in Iraq. “My brother, he means everything for me,” Alan Holmes, a student at the Dexter McCarty

Oh dress codes, when will you stop being ridiculous? Do you think the school handled this well?

[theplaidzebra]

A woman is taking her motorcycle across two countries with her golden retriever in the sidecar

This might change everything you think you know about motorcycle travel.

Continue reading

[askthejudge]

Thank you internet for tallying up 2015′s selfie deaths. Keep your selfie sticks in check and we’ll all be a little less dead.

[askthejudge]

Currently, the Japanese criminal justice system allows young people up to age 19 to be tried as juveniles, but the government wants to lower that to age 17, so more young people are tried as adults.

Like the US, Japan wants to make 17 the maximum age for a person to be tried as a juvenile (down from 19). The US Juvenile Justice system is flawed, to say the least, so is lowering the age to match our system really a smart move?

[askthejudge]

Ask Judge Tom - Football Edition

User: Hi I am a student in high school and my school banned us from wearing hats that aren't the school football team hat. Are they allowed to take away my right to wear my sports clothing and hat?

Judge Tom: Generally, schools are allowed to establish dress codes for their students. As long as the rules don't discriminate against any students, the courts have approved dress codes. So, your school could set limits on wearing hats, jewelry, certain colors of bandanas, T-shirts with drug or weapon slogans, etc.

[askthejudge]

At first glance, the text messages appear to show a disturbing case of cyberbullying: one teen urging another to kill himself. But the texts were not sent by a school bully. They were from a 17-year-old girl to her boyfriend, whom she called the love of her life.

Yes, this is an extreme case, but your words are powerful, and when you say them digitally, they last forever (or at least until your court date)

[askthejudge]

South Florida Man Tried to Blow Up House With Bowling Ball, Cops Say

In the most Wile E. Coyote way he possibly could.

In honor of US Bowling Day, here’s our favorite bowling-related crime!

[askthejudge]

Is being transgender the next civil rights movement?

America has witnessed a progression of civil rights movements in its young history. African-Americans, women, and the LGB community have struggled to gain acceptance and equality in mainstream America. Now, we’re seeing a similar push for transgender people – estimated at close to one-million adults.

[twloha]

If you had to guess how 73-year-old Tatsuo Horiuchi creates the above works of art, it would probably take you a while to figure out he designs them entirely on Microsoft Excel. Rather than purchase expensive design software, Horiuchi began using the common spreadsheet program when he was 60 and continues to explore its artistic functions to their fullest potential—a vivid reminder to start when you can, with what you have.

[askthejudge]

Art made with Excel?!? Tatsuo Horiuchi is doing way more interesting things with spreadsheets than we are

[askthejudge]

Look, we get it -- that ticket you got was complete b.s. and you shouldn't even have to pay this fine. So why make it easy on yourself and cut a check when you can increase the hassle.

Weird Law Wednesday! You always hear people threaten to pay stupid fines with pennies, and some people even do it, but can you always? 

[askthejudge]

Student suspended for tweet can continue with lawsuit against school district and police chief, judge rules

The federal judge wrote that the student, who was threatened with expulsion over a sarcastic two-word tweet, had a plausible argument that his school district violated his First and 14th Amendment rights.

Good news in the fight against censorship! According to this federal judge, schools can’t censor student speech when a student isn’t in school or part of a school event.

[washingtonpost]

An amazing ad from a candidate for Canadian parliament (and by amazing, we mean utterly insane)

[askthejudge]

If only our elections were this bizarre. Oh wait...

[askthejudge]

Spice leading to critical hospitalizations

If you’re not aware of the synthetic drug called Spice, the message here is to stay away from it. We’ve discussed the potential dangers and the laws concerning the drug as well as other synthetic drugs several times. Now authorities in Anchorage, Alaska are very concerned.

Spice might not be making headlines like it used to, but these recent hospitalizations in Alaska show it can still be dangerous. There’s so many different chemical mixtures that you might be fine with one, but go into seizures with another.