law

There are a few reasons—including a little something to do with the horse and buggy. Find out more about the history of Election Day.

Curtis Chillingworth was the most esteemed judge in Palm Beach County. But someone wanted him dead.

From the courts to the morgue, if the government doesn't know someone's name or wants to withhold it, they give them one of these as a placeholder. Why?

Is Halloween strictly for kids, or is an age cap warranted?

Some communities have ordinances banning teens from knocking on doors. But are they justified?

How smart do you really need to be to get away with murder?

The Salem witch trials were a troubling time in colonial America.

The 1692 Salem witch trials caused so much turmoil that the Massachusetts town is still synonymous with them.

Facebook is on the hook for a big settlement.

There's a week left to file a claim for your (small) share of a $725 million settlement.

Animatronic versions of bar patrons Norm and Cliff made two actors named George and John very unhappy.

Do you feel wronged by A&W? You might be entitled to compensation.

You probably shouldn’t do it—unless there really is a fire.

Back in 1919, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. sort of made it seem like it was against the law to yell “fire“ while in a crowded theater, so we understand if you’re confused.

The USDA would define this ham-and-cheese on bread as a sandwich.

Is a hot dog a sandwich? What about a burrito? It depends on whom you ask—and what state you live in.

It’s rare for a baby to be born on a plane.

When a baby is born on an international flight, where the plane is registered and the airspace it’s in can determine the child’s citizenship.

Speeders on targeted stretches of road are monitored from the ground and from the sky.

Don’t forget to empty your water bottle before you get to the airport security line.

A CIA official explains the 3-1-1 rule and the lasting influence of Operation Overt.

This person is definitely not in New Jersey.

It’s for your own good—or at least that’s the theory.

Judge Judy really was a judge for family court.

While Judith Sheindlin was once a real, live judge, she’s not acting as one on her show.

Toblerone is no longer Swiss enough for the Swiss mountain peak in its logo.

One more spin could land you in the slammer.

You go about your day trying to be a good citizen. Little did you know that your bingo game can't last more than five hours.

Many people use the terms interchangeably, but there’s a substantial difference between the two methods of incarceration.

Shark-related tourist activities are now illegal in Mexico’s Isla Guadalupe Biosphere Reserve—a hotspot for great whites.

Real night court inspired fake night court.

Harried judges in Manhattan and elsewhere hear cases into the early morning hours, including allegations of cleaver attacks.

Some countries aren't messing around when it comes to baby names.

IKEA is beloved around the world, but there’s at least one place where it’s illegal to name your baby after the furniture store: Its home country of Sweden.

For when you’re ready to reintroduce yourself.

People legally change their first, middle, or last names for a variety of reasons. So what’s in a name (change)? A whole lot of paperwork.

Not all sesame seed ingredients are this obvious.

Thanks to a stringent new FDA mandate, food suppliers are now adding sesame to products that didn’t previously contain it.

Why Are Elections Held on Tuesdays?

Curtis Chillingworth, the Florida Judge Who Vanished From the Bench

Why Are Unidentified People Called John or Jane Doe?

How Old Is Too Old for Trick or Treating?

10 Misconceptions About Serial Killers

11 Facts About the Salem Witch Trials

Thanks to a Privacy Breach, Facebook May Owe You Some Money—But You Have Just a Week Left to Collect

Bar Fight: When ‘Cheers’ Robots Took Over for the Actors

If You Bought A&W Root Beer in the Past 7 Years, the Company Might Owe You Money

Is It Illegal to Falsely Shout 'Fire' in a Crowded Theater?

5 Ways to Define a Sandwich, According to the Law

What Is the Citizenship of a Baby Born on an International Flight?

How Are Speed Limits Enforced by Aircraft?

The Real Reason You Can’t Bring Water Bottles Through Airport Security

Why Can’t You Pump Your Own Gas in New Jersey?

What Legal Authority Does Judge Judy Have?

Toblerone Must Remove the Matterhorn From Its Logo Due to 'Swissness' Law

45 Weird Laws Still on the Books

What’s the Difference Between Prison and Jail?

Yes, 'Night Court' Fans—Night Court Actually Exists

37 Outlawed Baby Names From Around the World

7 Things To Know Before Legally Changing Your Name

Allergic to Sesame Seeds? A New Food Labeling Law Is Going to Make Things Worse