What if I use a fake ID?
Using a fake ID is against the law and is either a misdemeanor or petty offense. It doesn′t make any
Judge Tom
Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.
Can I gamble? What if I win the lottery?
“You wanna bet?” “Put your money where your mouth is.” “I′ll bet you 5 bucks I′m right.” Everyone has said something like
Is it illegal to belong to a gang?
In the United States, it′s not against the law to be a member of a gang. The First Amendment′s freedom
What if I damage someone else′s property?
If you damage property, it makes little difference whether it was a car, home, school, or business. And it doesn′t
What if I start a fire that gets out of control?
Most fires are either accidental or acts of nature: defective wiring or appliances, lightning, campfires, or explosions. A number of
What is trespassing?
The definition of trespassing is entering or remaining on someone′s property without permission. You′ve probably seen these signs like “Private Property”, “Do
Is it against the law to fight?
Your everyday spat between siblings isn′t against the law. But if the argument escalates and someone is injured, you’ve probably broken
What happens if you get caught shoplifting?
One question on AsktheJudge concerns the possible consequences for teens and tweens who have been caught shoplifting. Check out the
Am I in trouble with the law if I disobey my parents?
Behavior that at one time was considered fun and mischievous— or just part of growing up— may now be reason for you
What is a juvenile delinquent?
Words and phrases differ between the juvenile and adult justice systems. There′s a long-standing philosophy that children who break the