The court hears three or four different cases on each day on which oral arguments are scheduled. After the oral arguments have been finished, the court meets, in its conference room, to reach a preliminary decision about the outcome of each case. When the justices disagree, the greater number becomes the majority of the court […]
Almost always, the cases heard in the Supreme Court have first been decided in the Superior Court, which is a trial court where a judge or a jury makes a decision based on conflicting stories from witnesses who describe the history of the controversy. The losing party in the Superior Court has the right to […]
Black’s Law Dictionary defines the term “Bankruptcy” simply as insolvency. I often explain to my clients that it basically means you owe more than you are worth. People who owe debts and file for bankruptcy protection are called “Debtors.” The people and companies that are owed the money are called “Creditors.” They say the word […]
Prior to the creation of the Supreme Court in 1784, the power to review lower court rulings was vested in the General Assembly, which determined appeals by examining trial court records. Even after its creation, the Supreme Court was not completely independent of the executive and legislative branches, since its members included the Lieutenant Governor, […]
The Honorable Richard A. Robinson was born December 10, 1957 in Stamford, Connecticut. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Connecticut in 1979 and a Juris Doctor degree from West Virginia University School of Law in 1984. He was admitted to the West Virginia Bar and the Connecticut Bar, and […]
Civility in the law and in life is the focus of the Judiciary’s 2023 Law Day resources for teachers, judges, and the legal community. Courtroom and classroom activities that give students real-life experience with civil discourse and solid decision-making skills are at the heart of the Judiciary’s national initiative Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions. The […]
Women Judges Reflect on Constance Baker Motley’s Legacy Constance Baker Motley was the first African American woman to argue a case before the Supreme Court, and the first to serve as a federal judge. For all her achievements, Motley’s most-lasting legacy may be the generations of women she inspired to pursue careers in the law. […]
Mediation is a less adversarial alternative to litigation for individuals who are involved in a contested case. In mediation, a specially trained neutral third party, known as a mediator, facilitates discussion among the parties and seeks creative ways to resolve their dispute. The goal of mediation is to help the parties achieve their own voluntary […]
Bankruptcy is public record. Fortunately, it is not easily accessible to the general public as someone looking would have to go to the Clerk’s Office or register on the PACER online system to look up the information. It does report on your credit report for 7 to 10 years (depending on the credit reporting bureau) […]
