The crime of blackmail is centuries’ old and an offense in every state. But if the act itself is not illegal, why is the threat to do it criminalized? For example, if I threaten to tell your wife that you’re having an extramarital affair, my threat may be criminal blackmail.
In pursuing a divorce, you are taking an active step in improving your own life, through ending an unhappy marriage. Taking action through the nefarious means of extortion or blackmail will only set your case back and have a negative effect on the court’s perception of your character.
Here, the blackmailer is leveraging the power of the third party without permission. For example, “Pay me or I’ll call a strike” leverages the power of the union to the benefit of the individual blackmailer. By contrast, “Agree to these bargaining terms or we’ll strike” involves no usurpation of the union’s power.
Usurping others’ power to use or receive the information. Under this theory, the victim of a blackmail scheme is not the recipient of the threat, but the third party who has an interest in the information. Here, the blackmailer is leveraging the power of the third party without permission.
Some theories make blackmail a crime because it victimizes the person being threatened. Viewing the threatened person as a victim makes blackmail almost like extortion, because victims are people who are on the receiving end of a criminal act (the threat). But on closer examination, this explanation might not hold up.
Most states take this approach, including threats that demand property or money, as well as coercing the victim or a third party to take a particular action.
How States Define Blackmail 1 Blackmail includes a broad range of threats, with many exceptions. Most states take this approach, including threats that demand property or money, as well as coercing the victim or a third party to take a particular action. Exceptions are numerous, such as excusing the person who acts (threatens) only to make the other side correct a wrong, stop misbehaving, or return stolen property. 2 Blackmail includes a broad range of threats, with few exceptions. Here, a very narrow group of threateners are given a pass: they are the ones who act only in order to get restitution for a harm done or to get paid for services rendered (“Repay the money you took or I’ll sue,” or “Pay your bill or I’ll file in small claims court”). 3 Blackmail as threats to gain property only, with few exceptions. Here, the demand is for property, excepting only those who demand restitution for harm done, or payment for services rendered or property given. 4 The outliers. A few states, who define blackmailing threats either broadly or narrowly, provide for no exceptions at all.
Another way to understand blackmail is to view it as a triangular balance of power, among the threatener, the subject, and a third party whose power has been co-opted by the threatener. This makes blackmail not a crime against the recipient of the threat, but against whatever party would have received the blackmailer’s information had the threat not been made. Here, the blackmailer’s acts either violate the blackmailer’s moral or legal duties towards the third party; or the blackmailer is usurping the third party’s power to regulate or discipline the threat, for the personal gain of the blackmailer. Here are some examples of this theory:
The blackmailer is “ stealing” their power to act on the information, using it to extract payment for silence. But the problem with this theory is that it’s not at all clear or accepted that reporting all crime is legally required, let alone morally necessary. Usurping others’ power to use or receive the information.
How States Define Blackmail. Although every state has a blackmail statute, they vary widely in two respects: the range of demands, or threats, that are criminalized; and the exceptions that make the conduct not criminal. Here’s a run-down. Blackmail includes a broad range of threats, with many exceptions.
The outliers. A few states, who define blackmailing threats either broadly or narrowly, provide for no exceptions at all. Needless to say, to understand your state’s approach to the crime of blackmail, you’ll need to look closely at the statute and the cases that have interpreted it.
Because they are used to being objective, lawyers might be cold and lack affection sometimes, but this doesn’t mean your date doesn’t like you. It’s just he/she is very objective about it. 2. Legal field is filled with parties.
Another thing you need to know about lawyers is they get over-excited over free-time plans, simply because they have so little free time. Advertising. 3. You will be alone a lot. Dating a lawyer sometimes feels like dating a ghost because they work a lot. A whole lot!
You will often find yourself alone while your lawyer friend is at the office preparing a case. If you are the kind of person who likes to go out at 6 PM in the evening, you will be disappointed, because lawyers often work late hours. You will probably find yourself first going out on the town around 9 or 10pm.
1. Lawyers think differently. This is the starting point: lawyers and law students think completely different from the rest of us. They are trained to think differently from the first day they decide to become a successful lawyer, so you will have to get used to this.
This is due to the huge student loan debt a lawyer has, and he or she is forced to use all their skills to make a living so they can manage to repair their debt.
Because they are so used to people who tell hundreds of lies, lawyers are able to sniff a lie from a mile, so there is no point in trying to hide something from them. On the other hand, you will notice how objective and sincere a lawyer is in a relationship.
Also, if you propose white, they will instinctively reject it and propose black instead. They can’t help it, so don’t be mad about it.
Unless a female lawyer finds the right man who is confident and not threatened by her achievements, she is likely to intimidate a lot of men. That is why the law office is a popular place where many female lawyers have met their future lawyer husbands.
Lawyers are known to lead busy lives and work very long hours. Some men are, therefore, concerned that their lawyer wives may not find enough time for home duties and chores.
Alas, the fact is that in India marriage also usually means marrying a family and not just a boy. Thus, there are some compromises that girls and boys have to make in order to make the marriage work. Here are some points that I believe are important to discuss and negotiate before marriage, especially for girls marrying into a traditional Indian family setup:
Ageing grandparents want to see you get married before they pass away! This one is tricky . It is bad when parents put pressure on you to get married, but worse when your innocent, sweet, grandparents emotionally blackmail you and put pressure about your ticking clock due to their ticking clock. It is hard to have an answer then!
These are jobs that require constant networking and follow up. They usually meet with high-net-worth individuals or other pillars in the community, which can lead to potential client referrals.
Lawyer intermarriage can be a good thing. Both spouses may have similar backgrounds and work ethic. One spouse is likely to be understanding if the other has to work long hours. Divorce rates for lawyers are far lower than average.
Unsurprisingly, it turns out that most lawyers marry other lawyers. But male lawyers also marry schoolteachers, secretaries, and miscellaneous managers. And lesbian lawyers marry people in other computer occupations. For some reason, judicial law clerks are listed separately. Most of them also marry lawyers or judges.