51
votes
Do courts generally run at a loss, run at a profit, or generally break even?
This isn’t a matter of law in (in the US at least), but rather politics and civil service design.
Courts are a public service and should run at a loss. Likewise the police department. Water and ...
- 2,033
48
votes
Is "legalese" a thing in languages other than English?
Germany definitely has a legal jargon that is sufficiently distinct from standard German that a foreigner with decent skill in standard German will have trouble understanding what a legal text ...
- 3,298
45
votes
Is there a legal reason that organizations often refuse to comment on an issue citing "ongoing litigation"?
united-states
But what is that legal reason? Why would an organization not be able
to state their position with respect to the issue, such as "We believe
we acted correctly, but this will be ...
- 195k
39
votes
Accepted
Can diplomats be compelled to pay rent?
Is that so in other jurisdictions too?
This is the usual rule. Similarly, there are notorious stories about diplomats in New York City running up civil parking fines of tens of thousands of dollars ...
- 195k
36
votes
Accepted
Can I trick an innocent third party into doing something that would be illegal if the third party had mens rea without either of us being guilty?
It depends on the jurisdiction, but generally speaking, this will not permit you to evade criminal responsibility.
In Ohio, for instance, the complicity statute treats the conduct you're describing as ...
- 57.2k
35
votes
If someone robs a bank at which (s)he has an account, can the bank deduct that amount from the robber's account?
If there has been no trial establishing Bob's guilt, the bank does not know that it was Bob who did rob the bank.
Even if the bank has Bob on the security video feed, claiming that, "As my name ...
- 5,749
32
votes
Is "legalese" a thing in languages other than English?
In france, legal texts are written in "everyday" French, although the legal vocabulary may not be known to non-specialists.
However, for some reason (tradition, I guess), court judgements ...
- 445
29
votes
Can you defame a profession?
united-states
https://www.dmlp.org/legal-guide/who-can-sue-defamation
One of the elements of defamation is that the statement must be "of and concerning" the plaintiff.
Accordingly, ...
- 29k
29
votes
Accepted
Is there a place where adultery is a crime?
united-states
Criminal Consequences Of Adultery
State Criminal Laws
In a large majority of U.S. jurisdictions, adultery is no longer a crime (assuming the sexual act is consensual and not incestuous) ...
- 195k
29
votes
Would it be ok to supply an item that deliberately stops working after the guarantee expires?
germany
If your machine actively destroys itself after the warranty is up, you commit the crime of damage to someone else's property under StGB § 303. You might also be liable for fraud, as this ...
- 33.4k
27
votes
Can you aid and abet a crime against yourself?
united-kingdom
In the notorious Spanner Case in the UK in 1987, several gay men were prosecuted for aiding and abetting consensual sadomasochistic assaults upon themselves. So the answer to your ...
- 1,156
27
votes
Is it legal to sign a “contract” like that of Colleen Stan to voluntarily bond oneself into slavery?
Is it legal to sign a “contract” like that of Colleen Stan to
voluntarily bond oneself into slavery?
No.
united-states
In the United States, this is prohibited by the 13th Amendment to the U.S. ...
- 195k
26
votes
Is it legal to use force against a person who is trying to stop you from rescuing another person?
germany
Bob through his actions is harming Alice. Thus Eve may use the minimum necessary force to help Alice as Nothilfe, which is defined as using §32 StGB (Self protection/Notwehr) and §34 StGB (...
- 33.4k
26
votes
Is it legal to use force against a person who is illegally trying to disconnect a hospital patient's life support with intent to kill the patient?
england-and-wales
It depends on Alice's belief about who Mallory is and what Mallory is doing and whether Alice's force was reasonable.
If Alice is aware that Mallory's action is lawful, then Alice ...
- 14.7k
24
votes
Can a company adopt a child?
In the US, adoptions follow state law. Here is the law for Washington state. RCW 26.33.140 says that "Any person who is legally competent and who is eighteen years of age or older may be an ...
- 210k
24
votes
Is "legalese" a thing in languages other than English?
The Islamic legal system, Shari`ah, is similar to common law in having special legal terms. For instance, a legal duty may be farīḍah, mustaḥabb, mubāḥ, makrūh or ḥarām. Legal authorities ...
- 210k
22
votes
Accepted
What is the status of songs that glorify illegal activity in different countries?
What is the status of songs that glorify illegal activity in different countries?
germany Depends on the crime and the lyrics. For historical reasons, glorifying genocide is banned. Calling for ...
- 14.4k
22
votes
Accepted
How often do people who make complaints that lead to acquittals face repercussions for making false complaints?
Prosecutions for falsely reporting rape are at least as common as perjury convictions (and usually don't count as perjury since the initial report is rarely made under oath), and even when charges are ...
- 195k
21
votes
Can you be fired for refusing to lie?
united-states
Since "lying" is not a clearly-defined legal concept, we need to look at a specific kind of (non)statement. Some lies are plainly illegal, for instance saying in the context of ...
- 210k
20
votes
Is the term "evil" defined in law?
While not defined, in common law systems, there is a concept of Malum in se which can be translated to "Wrong or Evil in itself" and is used to describe criminal actions that are wrong ...
- 22.8k
20
votes
Accepted
Would it be ok to supply an item that deliberately stops working after the guarantee expires?
australia
Deliberately rendering the TV non-operational through software would appear to be malicious damage.
Under the Australian Consumer Law, one of the statutory guarantees is that a product must ...
- 198k
19
votes
Can a company adopt a child?
In Germany a legal person can't adopt a person, but can be the legal guardian ("Vormund") if a child has no parents. There are special "Vormundschaftsvereine" (associations for ...
- 992
19
votes
Accepted
Do courts generally run at a loss, run at a profit, or generally break even?
england-and-wales
The depends on which part of the court system you're referring to. In England, the courts are divided into a 'Courts & Tribunal Service' which turns a small (£100M-ish) profit ...
- 3,956
19
votes
Can diplomats be compelled to pay rent?
The case was reviewed by two independent bodies -- the NZ tenancy tribunal, and the EU body responsible for review of cases like this involving EU diplomats.
Unfortunately, the two bodies came to ...
- 451
18
votes
Have people been charged for obstructing evacuation?
In germany, you are likely charged if you actively interfere.
Let's preface this with the fact, that in Germany, people have a duty to aid in case of accidents, as long as you don't endanger yourself. ...
- 33.4k
18
votes
Are there any legal provisions that concern males entering various types of business establishments without a shirt?
england-and-wales
There's no law specifying that shirts must be worn by people visiting shops or restaurants.
As the owner or tenant of the property the business can set the rules for who is allowed ...
- 14.7k
18
votes
Has anyone been charged with a crime committed in space?
The New York Times reported:
NASA Astronaut Anne McClain Accused by Spouse of Crime in Space
[Update Aug. 27, 2020: An investigation subsequently cleared the astronaut Anne McClain of wrongdoing...
...
- 2,230
17
votes
What is the status of songs that glorify illegal activity in different countries?
uk
Drill music is become effectively criminalised as people are prosecuted for "inciting violence", and "conspiracy". The metropolitan police have a database of 1900 "illegal&...
- 5,880
17
votes
Is "legalese" a thing in languages other than English?
A single data point, Bulgarian: Like in English, but more diverse.
In addition to the normal Bulgarian lexical content and grammar, legal text also contain:
Archaic Bulgarian words in places where a ...
- 1,271
17
votes
Is it legal to sign a “contract” like that of Colleen Stan to voluntarily bond oneself into slavery?
ohwilleke's answer explains why slavery is illegal but it's also important to understand that, at least in English Common Law-based legal systems, illegal contracts (i.e., a performance of the ...
- 616
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