New York Paralegal Blog

The fight for voting rights in the United States is a long and complex one, marked by significant legal milestones and persistent challenges. A common point of confusion often arises when discussing the right to vote for African Americans: wasn't that guaranteed by the 14th Amendment? While the 14th Amendment was undeniably a landmark achievement in establishing equality, it was the 15th Amendment that explicitly and directly secured the right to vote for African American men. Let's break down why. The Foundational Shift of the 14th Amendment Ratified in 1868, in the wake of the Civil War, the 14th Amendment was transformative. Its primary goals were to establish citizenship for formerly enslaved people and to guarantee fundamental rights. Key provisions include: Citizenship Clause: Declaring that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens. This directly addressed the status of formerly enslaved individuals. Equal Protection Clause: Prohibitin...

By: Joel Irving  Welcome to the first installment of our four-part series delving into the complex and often contentious topic of Affirmative Action. This discussion aims to move beyond soundbites and explore the nuanced perspectives surrounding these policies. In this initial piece, we'll examine the core ideal of meritocracy, a vision often championed by figures like Candace Owens, and contrast it with the less-than-perfect reality of human behavior and historical discrimination. Candace Owens often champions a vision of a colorblind society where individuals are judged solely on their merit. It's a powerful and, in many ways, appealing ideal. The notion that every person, regardless of their background, should have an equal opportunity to succeed based purely on their qualifications, hard work, and talent – whether in securing a job or gaining admission to a top-tier university – resonates deeply with the American dream. In a truly perfect world, this is precisely how thing...

Fifth Precinct police officers responded to Haven Pharmacy, located at 76 Southaven Ave., after a 911 caller reported a robbery and that two people had been shot, possibly fatally. When officers arrived, they discovered four victims who were fatally shot. The victims were identified as employees, Raymond Ferguson, 45, of Centereach, and Jennifer Mejia, 17, of East Patchogue, and customers Bryon Sheffield, 71, of Medford, and Jamie Taccetta, 33, of Farmingville. The suspect, who stole prescription drugs from the store, is described as a white man with a thin build, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, who was unshaven or had a dark beard and mustache and short, dark hair. He was wearing a white baseball hat, sunglasses, a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, dark shoes and was carrying a black backpack. He fled on foot, headed eastbound on Southaven Avenue. The suspect was armed with a handgun and should be considered armed and extremely dangerous. Detectives are asking anyo...