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.
Can a Landlord Evict You if You Make Partial Rent Payments?
Tenants may not have the full rental amount available to pay on the day rent is due. They may write a check for a partial payment, promising to pay the rest when they have the money. Accepting a partial rent payment can mean your landlord waives their right to eviction for non-payment of rent. However, some landlords may still try to evict you after accepting your partial rent payment. If your landlord tries to wrongfully evict you after taking part of the rent payment, you can take legal …
Is My Lease Enforceable if the Rental Unit or ADU Is Unpermitted?
States and local housing agencies regulate rental properties to ensure tenants have the basic needs for safety and habitability. Renting out a unit that does not comply with applicable housing, building, or fire codes can be illegal, and a court may refuse to enforce some or all of a rental agreement for an unlawful unit. Illegal rentals may limit a landlord's rights, but renters generally have tenant protections when landlords wrongfully evict them from unpermitted housing. Tenants renting …
Section 8 Discrimination: Can a Landlord Refuse Housing Vouchers?
Section 8 provides housing vouchers to low-income tenants to subsidize their rent. About half of states prohibit discrimination based on the renter's source of income, including public assistance to pay rent. In these states, landlords cannot refuse to rent to qualifying renters who use housing vouchers and can pay the full rent. However, other states do not provide Section 8 housing protections, and landlords can refuse housing vouchers. If a landlord denies your housing voucher and you …
Is a Landlord Liable for Missing or Broken Fire Alarms?
Landlords are responsible for ensuring rental units have all required fire safety equipment and that smoke alarms function when the tenant moves in. After moving in, the tenant is responsible for notifying their landlord if the fire alarms stop working. However, some states require annual inspections of fire alarms unless the tenant agrees to take on that responsibility. Working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors can help protect you and your loved ones. Make sure your fire safety …
Are Conversion Therapy Bans Constitutional? LGBTQ+ Rights and SCOTUS Ruling
In Chiles v. Salazar (2026), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Colorado could not enforce its ban on conversion therapy as applied to a counselor whose practice involves providing only talk therapy to minors. The ruling requires the lower court to reconsider Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy under a more rigorous standard of First Amendment scrutiny. The decision will likely cause other states with similar bans to reevaluate how they regulate what licensed professionals say. To get legal …
Is Sex Work Illegal in the US? State Prostitution Laws and Criminalization
Prostitution is illegal throughout the United States except in a small number of licensed brothels in certain rural Nevada counties. Every other state has laws that criminalize prostitution, although the specific offenses, penalties, and enforcement practices vary. If you have been charged with a prostitution-related offense, the consequences can include fines, jail time, probation, and a permanent criminal record. For legal help with prostitution or solicitation charges, speak with a criminal …
AI Data Centers and Your Electric Bill: What Are Ratepayer Protection Laws?
As artificial intelligence reshapes the world and the economy, the data center buildout is progressing rapidly. However, it is straining the electricity grid and increasing electricity bills for consumers, raising hard questions about who pays for this increased energy use. In the absence of a federal framework for AI regulation, ratepayer protection laws are being enacted in states across the country, including measures to ensure that technology companies bear the costs of grid upgrades and …
Transgender Athlete Bans: State Laws and SCOTUS Ruling
On June 30, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in the consolidated cases West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox. The Court held that schools may limit women's and girls' sports teams to biological females without violating Title IX or the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The decision means that West Virginia and Idaho, along with the 25 other states with similar bans on transgender athletes, may continue to enforce those laws. This decision has national …
Legal Name Change: A State-By-State Guide to Changing Your Name
In most states, adults cannot simply start using a new name and expect government agencies to recognize it. A legal name change often involves a petition and court order, especially if you want government agencies — such as the DMV, the Social Security Administration, or the U.S. State Department — to update your records. However, many states also recognize a common law name change based on consistent use, provided it is not for a fraudulent purpose. Whether you're changing your name for …
Political Contribution Limits: How Much Can I Give to Campaigns in My State?
Campaign contribution limits regulate who can give money to political campaigns and how much they can donate, while other campaign finance rules regulate how campaign funds may be used. Federal elections follow one set of contribution caps, but state elections often follow entirely different rules. In some states, individuals can contribute only a few hundred dollars to a candidate. In others, there may be no contribution limits at all. For legal guidance involving campaign finance compliance, …
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