Know The Risks Before You Go: United States Military Veterans Joining the Ukrainian Army May Run Afoul of Federal Law and/or Lose Benefits or US Citizenship
Since the Russian Federation launched a “Special Military Operation” on February 24, the news cycle has been around the clock nonstop coverage of heartbreaking mass atrocities…
The Federal Injunction Impact on Agency Hiring Policies
It has been over a month since Judge Jeffrey Brown of the U.S. Court for the Southern District of Texas issued an injunction on President Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate…
Will ‘Outside Activities’ Lead to Security Review?
Not all security clearance concerns are equal. When a large volume of agency Statement of Reasons passes through your office, you begin to recognize trends. Guideline E, Personal…
When will Marijuana be Federally Legal?
You might have read comments by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas regarding the legalization of marijuana. His comments were likely an indication of what Justices might be…
At Long Last a Record-Breaking Lack of Quorum at the MSPB has Finally Been Restored
On March 1, 2022, the Senate approved two of President Biden’s three nominees for the Merit Systems Protection Board, restoring a governing quorum to the Board for the first…
Immigration and the Ukraine Crisis
Due to the worsening nature of the Russian attack on Ukraine, significant actions have occurred. The US Embassy in Kyiv suspended operations on February 12, and on February 24 the…
The Impact of Shared Custody on Child Support
Generally, in New York, like most states, when a couple separates or divorces, and one parent is awarded primary custody of a child, the non-custodial parent is obligated to pay…
Five Years Without a Quorum: Revisiting the Record-Setting Case Backlog at the MSPB
Last January marked the fifth straight year the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) has lacked a quorum. Since the spring of 2019, the quasi-judicial body that protects federal…
The VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers is Now Eligible for Judicial Review
In a 2021 class-action lawsuit of Beaudette v. McDonough, brought by the National Veterans’ Legal Services Program (NVLSP), the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans…
Presumption of Innocence: Does it Still Apply in the Military Justice System and How Can you Protect Yourself Against Allegations of Misconduct?
Due to the uniquely coercive factors present in the military, many times, those who are accused of misconduct feel pressured to speak up to give their side of the story. This…