This question comes from Austin, who asks:Can cops just bust into your hotel room without a warrant? We’re watching “Law and Order: SVU,” and the cops had the hotel manager open up someone’s hotel room without the hotel guest’s permission. Can they do that?Great question, Austin!CAN BENSON AND STABLER BUST UP IN YOUR ROOM AT … Continue reading Legal Question: Do Cops Need a Warrant to Search Your Hotel Room?
This question comes from my dear friend, Todd, who will also co-officiate our wedding soon! Todd asks:“Watching The Office where Michael’s journal is submitted in Jan’s wrongful termination deposition. He literally says he does not want it submitted. That should be the end of it, right?”Thanks for the question, Todd! This is an excellent episode. I laugh … Continue reading Legal Question: Michael Scott’s Diary Drama
This week’s question comes from Christie via our upcoming minisode on the Murdaugh Murders (Part 2). Christie asked:Can you ask for a transfer of venue out of state?In an upcoming Sinisterhood minisode on the Murdaugh Murders update - part 2, Christie asked whether Alex Murdaugh could ask for a change of venue outside the state if the jury pool … Continue reading Legal Question: Can you transfer venue so hard that you leave the state?
This question comes from Jamie via the form. Jamie asks:Say we lived in one of the many fictional universes where doppelgängers exist. If my doppelgänger commits a crime, could I be charged for it?Thanks for the question, Jamie! We covered doppelgängers in our February 2021 minisode on Patreon. As we discuss, the word doppelgängers originated in … Continue reading Legal Question: If your DNA is the same, can you get framed?
This week’s question was sparked by watching the new movie Ghostbusters: Afterlife. No spoilers, but in the movie, a character is arrested and demands to make their one phone call. As I was thoroughly enjoying that movie (seriously - go see it! I laughed. I cried. I cried talking about it later. I loved it!), I … Continue reading Legal Question: If there’s something strange and you get arrested, who ya gonna call? YOUR LAWYER
This week’s question is from Julia via the form. I am answering it because it made me laugh. I hope it is based on a real experience.Julia asks:Hypothetically, if you attended a Stars or Mavs game and at the end of the night stowed away in one of the large empty drawers in the merch … Continue reading Legal Question: What is in Those Drawers?
This week’s question is from Kelly via the form. Kelly asks:In the 2nd episode of the Girardis, you discuss how items up to a certain value do/don’t get repossessed. This made me think of Schitt’s Creek. The Roses (mostly Moira) were still in possession of many designer clothes and jewelry that I would imagine would be … Continue reading Legal Question: Repossessing the Roses
This week’s question is from Alex via the form. Alex asks:I just watched Evil Genius on Netflix and was struck by the interview with the courtroom artist. He described his shifting interpretation of the defendant as the trial progressed, and it made me wonder: what is the role of a sketch artist in a courtroom? If they're … Continue reading Legal Question: Ever Heard of a Camera? Why Do We Use Courtroom Sketch Artists?
This week’s question is from Austin who asked me in-person. Austin asked:How is towing not a violation of the Fourth Amendment?Great question, Austin! I am going to quote from some SCOTUS decisions in this answer, but I’m not going to give you footnotes or citations because it’s Sunday morning and it’s early. Just know if … Continue reading Legal Question: Tow Up
This week’s question is from Holly R. via the form. Holly asks:In the mind-boggling stupid but oh so fun “Good Girls,” criminal husband Dean is arrested by “the Feds” for money laundering and counterfeiting. While in jail, he pleads a guilty (or at least the agent tells his actually guilty wife he does). In a … Continue reading Legal Question: Bail After Pleading Guilty and Witness Protection
Heather vs. the World 