rcll, Author at Riverside County Law Library

In Clients We Trust

Written on September 7, 2023.

America’s political sphere is characterized today by a unique combination of an all-time high in civic participation by the populace, and an all-time high in distrust for those same institutions. During the 2020 election, an unprecedented 66.9% of eligible voters participated in the election [1]. However, In 2022, it was reported that only 25% of the population have a great deal of confidence in the Supreme Court [2]. Perhaps, these trends mark a healthy direction in our democracy towards an awareness...

The Declaration of Independence and Us

Written on July 10, 2023.

Prior to July 4th, 1776, the United States of America was a set of colonies owned by King George III’s England. The story of our independence is familiar enough: some guys in red face threw tea into the Boston Harbor, representation in the media without taxation was the talk of the town, British people were tar and feathered, and, finally, America was born. As it turns out, historical causality is a tricky thing to tease out. The haphazard list of events we associate with the American Revolution...

The Decline of Political Civility and What We Can All Do to Combat This Trend

Written on June 5, 2023.

The 2023 National Law Day theme of Cornerstones of Democracy; Civics, Civility, and Collaboration is a strong reminder of a new state of American politics and law. This year’s theme invoked a concerned message in support of rebuilding trust in our nation’s institutions and leaders, as well as regaining respect and willingness to collaborate with opposing views from one’s own [2]. In an era of growing political divide in the United States and worldwide, the underlying sentiment between opposing...

The Grand Reopening of the Victor Miceli Law Library: A Recap

Written on May 5, 2023.

After months of planning, preparation, and coordination, the Victor Miceli Law Library (VMLL) celebrated its grand reopening in downtown Riverside! On April 21st, 2023, California state dignitaries, Riverside County legal professionals, and members of the public gathered in downtown Riverside to celebrate a new milestone in the eight-decade history of the Riverside County Law Library (RCLL) organization. What started in 1941 with the first official board meeting minutes has now culminated with...

The Cost of Free Speech

Written on April 19, 2023.

As Americans we have been given the right to say many things without legal consequence. However, as journalist Chris Lamb made the following comment about the circumstances involved in the statements made by Dilbert creator Scott Adams, he “failed to grasp that being a social critic means your freedom of expression only goes as far as your audience is willing to accept it. Adams could say whatever he wanted to his YouTube audience because his listeners may have agreed with what he said.” [1] In...

New Year, New Climate Change Laws 2023

Written on January 20, 2023.

It is no secret that climate change, ecology, and the catastrophes they present are some of the most concerning issues facing Californians as we lurch towards an uncertain future. The popularity of a star-studded film such as Don’t Look Up and the frequent and sensational debates concerning the validity of the science behind climate change bear witness to this. In a speech delivered in July of 2022, even President Joe Biden declared that “Climate change is an existential threat.” At this time,...

Rental Arbitrage: What You Should Know

Written on December 16, 2022.

Many people use Airbnb to begin their dealings with rental arbitrage. Airbnb is typically used as a short-term rental site, although some listings do have long term options. As the ebb and flow of available housing continues, many renters are searching for and utilizing strategies like rental arbitrage to put some much-needed money into their pockets. This seemingly business-like-plan affords Airbnb hosts, some who do not own property, the ability to rent out a property on a long-term basis and...

Bridging the Justice Gap with “Lawyers in the Library”

Written on November 18, 2022.

On October 27th 2022 during National Pro Bono Week, the Riverside County Law Library hosted one of its hallmark events, “Lawyers in the Library” at the Ronald H. Roberts Temecula Public Library. The event was organized by Emily Lazcano, Library Assistant at the Temecula Law Resource Center. Her talents in outreach brought together six of Temecula’s esteemed attorneys to provide 20 minutes of pro-bono legal consultation to the public. Lawyers in the areas of family law, immigration law, criminal...

The Price of Health

Written on October 7, 2022.

Medical debt continues to weigh down the futures of Americans even as new laws are passed. With the recent announcement of President Joe Biden forgiving up to $20,000 of student debt for eligible people, I was reminded of another form of debt that weighs down on Americans: medical debt. TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian announced they began removing cleared medical debts beginning back on July 1, 2022. Dealing with medical bills being sent to collections and current medical bills lingering over...

Author: rcll