Times, They Are a-Changin’

Laws change to reflect societal values and norms.

While bullying was arguably “legal” and while smoking pot was definitely “illegal” when I went to high school, our education laws and criminal laws have evolved since 1977 since this 60-year old man last attended high school.

Now, we have specific statutes which protect New Jersey students from discrimination, harassment, intimidation and bullying which provide New Jersey disabled and/or special needs students with specific procedural and substantive rights which, sadly, was not the case back when I attended high school back in the Seventies.

While some people may see these changes as long overdue, the protection of our disabled and bullied students from discrimination and other forms of mistreatment was eventually recognized as a societal problem requiring legislative action by the men and women who pass our laws, both at the State and Federal levels.

Our laws concerning the use and distribution of marijuana have also changed as our culture has changed. It appears that the recreational use of marijuana will be legalized by our new governor and our democratically-controlled New Jersey State Legislature by May of this year. While some people may see these changes as negative, the use and distribution of marijuana have obviously become much more socially acceptable by those on men and women who pass our laws; both at the State and Federal levels, than was the case in the past.

It should accordingly be recognized that “laws don’t just fall from the sky” and, as such, must generally have a rational basis to the end sought to be achieved and are always subject to amendment, clarification and/or repeal as and when circumstances may dictate. It is accordingly important for our citizens, especially our young people, to understand that people make laws and people can change laws. Laws are enacted by the wise men and women in Trenton and Washington to serve our societal needs by assuring predictability and fairness in our dealings with one another; laws are not intended to impose irrational restrictions upon citizens which neither protect and or serve any legitimate societal interest.

It is accordingly the societal ills and/or problems of today which may, in the future, cause our citizens and lawmakers to pass new statutes, revise old statutes, and/or repeal old statutes so that our laws continue to foster what both our State and Federal Constitutions guarantee: each citizen’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These lofty goals sometimes require our lawmakers to recognize that, as society changes, so must our laws.

We, are accordingly pleased that we have been able to help our clients pursue their legal rights as they were then, as they are now, and/or as they may be in the future, in the ever-changing areas of family law, education law, real estate law, employment law, criminal law, and community association law. Our understanding of each of these areas of law, from the perspective of where we once were, where we are today, and where we may be tomorrow, make the attorneys and paralegals working at Davis and Mendelson effective problem solvers, legal advocates, mediators and arbitrators. Please call (866) 560-9512 to schedule a free initial phone consultation with one of our attorneys.