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.
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 …
How Do Speed Cameras Work?
Speed cameras work by detecting speed, taking a photo capture of the vehicle, and sending a mailed citation to the driver. A radar sensor or LIDAR sensor calculates the speed, takes a photo of the license plate, and sends a notice of violation to the registered owner to pay the civil penalty. Areas with speed camera program authorization often put cameras in school zones or work zones. Drivers can challenge the automated enforcement by sending an affidavit of non-liability by the contest …
How Does a Speeding Ticket Affect a CDL?
A speeding ticket affects a commercial license because two convictions for speeding lead to a 60-day disqualification. Excessive speeding tickets for CDL holders count as a serious violation, and two tickets in a three-year window have a disqualification period; drivers have mandatory employer notification with a masking prohibition. FMCSA rules require notifying the employer within 30 days of serious violations in a commercial or personal vehicle. CDL drivers with a low safety score have an …
Can You Get a Speeding Ticket Without Being Pulled Over?
You can get a speeding ticket without being pulled over in areas with speed cameras that use photo radar to send mailed citations to the owner. Automated enforcement takes a picture of the license plate and sends the ticket with civil penalties, but the registered owner can challenge the moving violation before the contest deadline. Dismissal grounds for challenging a notice of violation include lack of driver identification, camera calibration, due process challenges, and lack of certification …
What Are the Penalties for Accumulating Too Many Traffic Tickets?
The penalties for accumulating too many traffic tickets include a license suspension, an insurance premium increase, and jail exposure for criminal charges. States have accumulation thresholds for license suspensions, but driver improvement classes can reduce license points to avoid an SR-22 filing. Drivers get a warning letter and a chance for a hearing before a probationary license revocation. Drivers can get a restricted license or hardship license for limited driving privileges. Otherwise, …
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