About John Devendorf, Esq.
John Devendorf is a graduate of UCLA and holds a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, where he was a Distinguished Scholar, recipient of the ALI-ABA Scholarship and Leadership Award, and a participant in the Immigrant Workers’ Rights Clinic and special delegation to Haiti.
A licensed attorney for more than a decade, John transitioned to a career as a legal content writer and editor after an externship with the IRS, a judicial clerkship, and practicing at a civil litigation firm in Princeton, New Jersey. John now lives in Portland, Oregon, where he enjoys writing, international travel, and escape rooms.
Articles written by John Devendorf, Esq.
Gun Laws and Regulations: A Legal Overview
Gun laws protect civil liberties while regulating firearm restrictions, including background checks, gun permits, and firearm licensing requirements. The Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms, but gun ownership rights are still subject to gun control state statutes and federal regulations. Gun restrictions must balance a gun owner's constitutional rights to lawful possession with public safety and security interests. Check with your state gun laws to understand the local regulations …
What Is Required by Due Process?
Due process is the legal tool that requires the government to follow rules and procedures to ensure fair hearings. The Fifth Amendment provides that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Due process extends to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment and requires formal notice and the right to legal representation in a public hearing before a neutral judge. Procedural safeguards include reasonable notice, an opportunity to defend, the submission of …
How To Get Legal Help for a Civil Rights Issue
Contact a civil rights attorney to file a complaint or a civil lawsuit to recover compensation for your unequal treatment. Seeking legal representation for civil rights violations means gathering evidence of police misconduct and filing discrimination claims that involve protected classes. Your legal remedies include going through the administrative process with the relevant government agency or taking your case to federal court for an injunction or financial compensation. Get a legal …
How To Protect Your Digital Privacy Rights
Review tech company privacy agreements to restrict online tracking tools and third-party sharing agreements to protect your privacy. Data brokers and data controllers gather personal identifying information (PII) through data breaches and unauthorized access to sold personal data without the user's consent. To protect your private biometric data, use data minimization practices, encryption, and opt-out requests to reduce your digital footprint and protect yourself from identity theft. If …
Understanding Your Rights Under Title IX
Title IX prohibits gender-based discrimination in educational institutions receiving federal funding. Schools must provide equal access and athletic opportunities and must protect students from sexual harassment and hostile environments. Students facing unequal treatment can file a formal complaint with the Title IX coordinator, and the school must follow their grievance process and due process compliance requirements. If you are a victim of sexual assault on campus and faced retaliation or …
What Are My Rights as an LGBTQ+ Individual?
Your rights as an LGBTQ+ individual are protected by federal safeguards, state statutes, and local nondiscrimination laws. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Bostock ruling ensure employment protection against workplace bias. The Obergefell ruling guarantees the right to marriage equality and legal recognition, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. When federal law does not provide equal protection for LGBTQ+ people, state statutes regulate due process protections, …
How To Recognize and Report Hate Crimes
Report hate crimes based on discriminatory animus against protected classes to your local police and FBI office. If you witness targeted offenses or bias-motivated threats of violence or physical harm, contact the police for state or federal prosecution. Gather evidence and a copy of the incident report, and submit it to your local victim advocacy group for community safety and to understand your legal recourse. Hate crimes are also a civil rights violation, and you can file a civil lawsuit …
Can I Be Fired for My Political Beliefs?
You can be fired for your political beliefs if you have at-will employment with a private employer. However, you may have wrongful termination rights under the First Amendment if you are fired from a job in the public sector or civil service. Some private employers have workplace policies or individual employment contracts that protect political activity. Some state labor laws have statutory protections against retaliatory discharge based on political affiliation or off-duty conduct. Labor laws …
What Speech Is Protected Under the First Amendment?
The First Amendment protects political speech and symbolic speech under strict scrutiny judicial review and commercial speech under intermediate scrutiny. Freedom of speech allows people to express their opinions in a public forum without government censorship. Constitutional rights of protected expression apply to government actors, and individuals can file a civil rights claim to get an injunction for prior restraint violations. The government can have time and place restrictions, and …
Speeding Ticket Cameras: How They Work and What To Do
Many states and cities use speed cameras to issue speeding tickets without a traffic stop. Drivers receive a ticket in the mail days or weeks after the alleged speed violation. Dealing with speeding ticket cameras is different from challenging a ticket issued by the police. Understanding speeding ticket cameras and how they work can help you fight the ticket and keep your driving record clean. Speeding ticket camera laws vary by state. Some states don't allow speed cameras. For more information …
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