How Judges Recuse Themselves

Judge recusal is the legal term used to describe the process of asking another, probably more senior, Judge to hear your case instead of the trial level Judge that was initially assigned. This is usually done because when a person files a family case, they are given a case number as well as a Judge. A calendar is public information in the USA. So it is easy for anyone to look up which Judge is assigned to a particular case. Sometimes these things take place behind the scenes when a new case is filed. It would not be unusual for a person filing a divorce and in a neighborhood with judges to know that their neighbor, or business acquaintance, is the division judge assigned to their case.
Few people want a local judge who knows them to preside over their case if there is even a hint of indicia of bias. Ordinarily there is nothing that can be done about this if all was well with the parties , but if you were fired from a job because of a sexual harassment claim, or if a relative was killed by a drunk driver, you may fear that that same Judge is not going to be your biggest supporter outside of a prayer session. So recusal becomes necessary.
Sometimes recusal is necessary because the Judge is having a bad day or perhaps just very tired that morning and cannot muster the energy to give your case the attention it requires. If one of the lawyers has a really good reputation and the Judge was aware of this, he may ask that all cases where this attorney appears be transferred to another Judge.
In some cases, the Judge does not want to hear the case but is unwilling to restrict the lawyer’s right to appear before the Judge in other matters. Judges do not like to run in to lawyers they have refused to hear cases for in the supermarket, so they have the option of recusal or discretion.
Judge recusal is uncommon but it does happen occasionally.

A Primer on Animal Cruelty Laws in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, animal cruelty laws exist to protect the welfare of animals and to prevent their abuse or neglect. The general purpose of these laws is to prevent an individual from purposefully causing harm to an animal or allowing terminable harm (which is harm that would result in death) to come to the animal by their being in the care of the person. It also prevents any euphemisms that the individual might use to avoid being found guilty of animal cruelty, such as claiming the animal was old or sick and had to be euthanized, because if that euthanization would not have been necessary if the individual cared for the animal properly.
Animal cruelty is defined as:
Any knowing act or failure to act toward an animal resulting in or amounting to:
…Any intentional or unintentional….

• (1) Killing, maiming, torturing, poisoning, shooting, wounding, unnecessaryly mutilating or carrying in any manner a household pet or livestock , or causing, procuring, or permitting a minor or animal control agency to engage in such conduct;
• (2) Striking or otherwise causing bodily injury or physical pain, distress or death to a household pet or livestock, or causing, procuring, or permitting a minor or animal control agency to engage in such conduct;
• (3) Beating a dog or cat or otherwise causing the dog or cat unnecessary pain or suffering;
• (4) Abandonment of a household pet or livestock;

If someone is found guilty of animal cruelty, they may be charged with either a misdemeanor or a felony. The specific penalty will depend on the nature and severity of the animal cruelty that was committed. In general, a misdemeanor will carry a less severe punishment compared to a felony. A misdemeanor will most likely be a pay-only amount that can be easily paid by the perpetrator, while a felony may include a significant prison sentence.

What is an Art Loan Agreement?

A form of an art loan agreement is generally utilized when a lender (often a collector) temporarily transfers an artwork from its collection to a borrower (perhaps a museum or gallery). The art, for example, may be transferred for an exhibit or for a private viewing. The art loan agreement is intended to outline the terms and conditions applicable to the works being transferred. Specifically, the form will, for example, establish the rights and obligations of the parties, the duration of the loan, and use and storage conditions.
To an extent, an art loan agreement is similar to other loan documents as it is intended to provide a framework so that when a dispute arises , the parties will have some initial grounds to base their resolution upon.
While art loan agreements have not been utilized for a long period of time in the art industry (in light of the previously referenced increasing interest in the commercialization of art lending), there are now generally accepted forms. In particular, the terms and conditions in an art loan agreement will often be somewhat standardized. For example, most art loan agreement forms will generally include a description of the artwork, the duration of the loan, and perhaps certain restrictions on the use of the art such as insurance requirements. Of course, the actual details of each loan will vary according to the needs of the parties and circumstances surrounding the transfer of the art of course.
Notably, art loan agreements may be used in conjunction with insurance agreements and registration documents.

What is a Horse Lease Agreement?

A horse lease agreement is a written contract between a person who will be leasing out their horse (usually the owner) and a person who will be leasing the horse (the lessee). The lease agreement will set forth the terms upon which the horse may be used, as well as the associated terms and conditions.
Because horse ownership can be expensive and time-consuming, some people may find it beneficial to lease a horse rather than to buy a horse outright. For example, a child who wants to learn how to ride her mother’s horse may only be interested in riding occasionally. Instead of buying a horse, the mother and child can enter into a lease agreement in which the mother agrees to lease her horse to the child during the weekends. When the child’s friends come over, the mother can allow them to ride the horse.
A lease agreement can be beneficial to any horse owner. A lease agreement can help an owner defray some of the costs associated with owning a horse by charging a leasing fee or by spreading the costs over to another person . Some horse owners may want to lease their horses for a variety of reasons. Horse owners who do not have enough time to ride their horses can lease them out to other people who would enjoy riding them and who have time to do so.
If you are considering leasing your horse, both the lessee and the owner should have an understanding of each other’s expectations for the horse. It is important for both of them to know how long the lease will be in effect, when it can be terminated, whether the lease can be extended once it expires, what fees may be charged, and whether the owner may continue to use the horse during the lease period.
It is important to have a horse lease agreement in writing. If you lease your horse without a written contract, it could result in conflicts and misunderstandings. If you have a written contract, it can help to prevent conflicts from arising because you will have specific terms to which you can refer to. It is also very important to have a written horse lease agreement if you have specific provisions that you need to include.

What is a Deed Transfer Form?

In North Carolina, a deed transfer form is a critical document in the buying and selling of land. A deed transfer form serves as the legal basis of transferring ownership and interest of a piece of land or real estate from one party, usually the grantor or seller, to another party, usually the grantee or buyer. It is important to note that in certain counties, such as Wake, the county has a written policy mandating a five-year interest examination on all titles. Moreover, a title insurance policy is a good idea if not required by lenders requiring title insurance. The deed transfer form is the most common method of transferring real property, and it is important that it be completed correctly and in accordance with North Carolina law.
When purchasing a piece of real estate in North Carolina , a deed transfer form should be filed with the appropriate register of deeds within a given county in North Carolina. When a deed transfer form has been properly filled out and filed, it serves as a public notice and creates a presumption of the current ownership of the piece of real property in question. A deed transfer gives public notice of encumbrances and other information about the piece of real property, such as taxes owed, which are noted on the public record of the register of deeds. It is important to keep in mind that depending on how the deed transfer forms are completed, it can immediately transpose ownership upon filing or so some other date such as the effective date on the face of the deed.
A deed transfer can also limit the grantor’s interest in the property or may infer the creation of an express trust created with the recording of the deed transfer form.

What is Considered an Unfair Performance Review

While there is no statutory definition of what constitutes an unfair performance review, certain characteristics may cause it to be unfair or to be perceived as such by employees. For example, performance reviews that are blatantly discriminatory, such as an inherent bias against one or more protected categories of employees (i.e. religious discrimination), may not be fairly actionable, although the presence of an identifiable discriminatory intent is, at a minimum, strong evidence of unlawful discrimination. In other words, if the employer’s bias against a protected group influences the employment action and is causally related to any adverse employment decisions, the employee may have a claim for disparate treatment under Title VII if the performance review adversely influenced the employment decision .
Employers should also keep in mind that performance reviews are often inclusive of unhealthy workplace behavior, including bullying, which is not a protected class and does not fall under any federal anti-discrimination or anti-harassment provision, but may still lead to liability. Bullying refers to repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more persons by one or more perpetrators. Types of bullying include verbal abuse, offensive conduct/behaviors which are threatening, humiliating, or intimidating, and work interference — sabotage — which prevents work from getting done. Although there are no specific anti-bullying laws, many states have enacted anti-bullying laws, which are often similar to yet different than the state-based anti-discrimination laws. Such state laws can be very effective in protecting employees against retaliation for reporting or complaining about workplace bullying. This is especially valuable when federal or state employment laws do not provide the necessary protection for an employee who claims to experience bullying behavior.

What is a Nominee Shareholder?

Nominee shareholders are common in incorporated companies. In a corporate form, shares are easily divisible, making it easier to manage a number of investors. Usually there is a single public face to an incorporated company; the corporation itself, while sources of capital may come from many individuals and entities.
A nominee shareholder is an individual or an entity who holds a legal title to, but not the beneficial interest in, shares owned by another individual. The nominee is typically listed on the public records of the company as owning shares , but they do not exercise the rights associated with the shares on their own behalf (such as voting at shareholder meetings). For all intents and purposes, a nominee shareholder can be a completely invisible party in the corporate structure, and this is the intent.
The most obvious benefit of using a nominee shareholder is to create a degree of anonymity. No matter how small the shareholding position, if someone holds shares in a corporation, then their full name will be on the corporate register. While it is possible to use a corporation or trust as a shareholder, the nominee shareholder is meant to be listed on the public records.