The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Elonis v. United States, 135 S. Ct. 2001 (2015) Case Summary of Elonis v. United States: Anthony Elonis, whose wife and family just left him, started writing violent rap lyrics on Facebook. The lyrics were perceived as threats by his wife, his employer, a kindergarten class, and the FBI. He was charged with the […]
Read moreThe term “willfully” means that an act is committed voluntarily and purposefully, with a clear intention to break the law. For example, willfully driving in a reckless manner means that the person who is driving recklessly intends to do so, despite knowing that what he is doing is dangerous and illegal, and that there may be consequences for his actions. […]
Read moreCriminal intent is the conscious decision someone makes to deliberately engage in an unlawful or negligent act, or to harm someone else. There are four specific examples of criminal intent: purposeful, reckless, knowing, and negligent. An act becomes criminal when taking into account the intent of the person who carries it out. Additionally, acts of criminal intent are measured by […]
Read moreMens Rea meaning in law The concept of mens rea, which is Latin for “guilty mind,” allows the criminal justice system to distinguish someone who set out with the intention of committing a crime from someone who did not mean to commit a crime. Mens rea refers to what the accused individual was thinking, and what his intent was at […]
Read moreA contract containing a statement that gives the person making a promise no actual obligation to fulfill the promise is considered an “illusory promise,” or “illusory contract.” The language in this type of agreement is indefinite and unclear, making it uncertain whether the promising party must perform even if paid or compensated by the other party. This type of agreement […]
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