After several federal courts ruled that state bingo laws were regulatory laws that could not be enforced against Native American tribes, Congress began looking at legislation that would satisfy the interests of law enforcement agencies and that would help to alleviate the economic problems of the Native American tribes by raising revenue through bingo and gaming. As a result, Congress enacted the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988.
Whether a defendant is entitled to be released on bail pending his or her appeal depends upon the type of offense of which the defendant was convicted and the length of sentence that is imposed on the defendant. If the defendant is convicted of a misdemeanor, the defendant is generally entitled to reasonable bail pending his or her appeal. If the defendant is convicted of a felony, the length of the defendant's sentence generally determines whether the defendant is entitled to bail.
A commutation of sentence is the reduction of a defendant's sentence by a state's governor. It is a form of clemency. A commutation does not remove any legal disabilities of the defendant's conviction. It only has the effect of reducing the defendant's original sentence. A commutation has no effect on the defendant's guilt.
Fraud is prevalent in bankruptcy proceedings. A debtor, creditor, or fiduciary may be charged with bankruptcy fraud. For example, individuals may attempt to transfer assets to others prior to filing for bankruptcy protections. There are numerous acts listed under federal statutes that constitute bankruptcy fraud. A common thread that runs through all of the acts is that the defendant act in a knowing fashion. A knowing fashion means that the defendant act in a voluntary and intentional manner. The prosecution may show that the defendant acted in a fraudulent manner by way of direct or circumstantial evidence.
Intoxication is defined as a change in a person's mental or physical capacity as a result of the introduction of any substance into the person's body, regardless of whether the substance is alcohol or a drug. Voluntary intoxication is when a person voluntarily places himself or herself in an intoxicated condition. Voluntary intoxication is generally not a defense to the commission of a crime, even if it makes a person unaware of his or her surroundings, makes him or her unconscious, or gives him or her no memory or understanding of his or her offense.
