The Legal Low Down With Birmingham's Lawyer, Joe Ingram

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This week on The Legal Lowdown: Social Security is closer to running out of money than most people realize, Jamie Dimon is putting Alabama on the national map, and Blount County DA Pam Casey joins me in studio to endorse Jay Mitchell ahead of the June 16th Republican runoff for Attorney General. We also get into marriage and affairs, Jennifer Garner and co-parenting, Alabama's first medical cannabis dispensary, the future of the Riverchase Galleria, and a death row case set for execution on June 11th.Jamie Dimon Is Talking About AlabamaIf you have listened to this show for any length of time, you know I am a big fan of Jamie Dimon. He is the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, and when the most powerful banker on Wall Street references our state, not once but twice in three months, that matters.This week, Dimon wrote a letter to his shareholders and gave Alabama some genuinely glowing praise. He described Alabama as having a prosperous job market that forms the foundation of a strong economy, with high demand for skilled workers, particularly those doing technical work in industries vital to America's security and local economic growth. When he talks about America's security, he is talking about Huntsville and Redstone Arsenal. JPMorgan is also building out a banking presence in Alabama, particularly in the Hoover area. We should all be proud of that kind of national attention.Social Security Cuts Are Coming in Less Than Seven YearsA nonpartisan committee for responsible federal budget released projections this week showing that Social Security recipients could see cuts of roughly $500 a month beginning as early as 2032. That is less than seven years from now, and it is what happens if Congress does nothing.For Alabama, about 19% of recipients are projected to face that reduction. I looked it up: that is approximately 978,000 people in our state. You do that math, $500 a month times 978,000 people, and you understand why this is not just a retirement issue. It is an economic issue that trickles all the way down to local businesses and families. We have paid into this program our entire working lives. The people we elect to Washington in the next four to eight years do not have the luxury of kicking this further down the road.Should You Stay After an Affair? A 45-Year Marriage and a Hard QuestionI had someone come see me recently who had been married for more than 45 years, raised four children, and had just received confirmation that their spouse had been unfaithful years earlier. The question they brought me was not really a legal question. It was: should I stay, or should I go?My answer was that just because someone had an affair does not mean the marriage is automatically over. I asked them the real questions. Do you still get along? What does your life look like without your spouse now that you are in your 70s? What about the grandkids, the holidays, the finances? I am not here to push people toward divorce. Go see your pastor. Go to counseling. For a lot of people, there is still something worth saving.Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck: What Good Co-Parenting Looks LikeJennifer Garner spoke publicly this week about her former marriage to Ben Affleck. They were married from 2005 to 2015 and have three children together. Even after the divorce, they have maintained a respectful relationship and continued to co-parent well. She described him not as Ben Affleck the movie star but as the love of her life, even though the marriage is over.As someone who handles family law cases every day, I want people to understand this: a divorce ends a marriage, but it does not end a family. There are still graduations, weddings, and grandchildren ahead. Learning to co-parent well after a divorce is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children.Alabama's First Medical Cannabis Dispensary Has OpenedAfter five years of legislation, court challenges, and regulatory battles, Alabama's first medical cannabis dispensary opened this week. It is called Callie's Apothecary, located in Montgomery.You must see one of the 35 physicians certified by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners to receive a medical cannabis card. Qualifying conditions include autism spectrum disorder, various cancers, Crohn's disease, depression, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, panic disorder, Parkinson's disease, PTSD, sickle cell disease, terminal illnesses, and Tourette syndrome, among others. Available products include gummies, lozenges, tablets, capsules, gels, oils, topical creams, and inhalers. Raw plant material, products that can be smoked or vaped, and food items like cookies and candies are not allowed under Alabama law.More dispensaries are expected to open soon in Mobile, Daphne, Birmingham, Demopolis, and Owens Crossroads.Pam Casey on the AG Race and Her Endorsement of Jay MitchellBlount County District Attorney Pam Casey joined me for the second hour, making her fourth appearance on The Legal Lowdown. She earned about 25% of the vote in the Republican primary for Attorney General while spending roughly $200,000, compared to the millions spent by other candidates. The morning after the election, she was back in the office by 9 a.m.After taking a week to think it over, Pam decided to endorse Jay Mitchell in the June 16th runoff against Catherine Robertson. Her two main reasons were courtroom experience and money transparency. She believes the Attorney General must have real courtroom experience, and Jay Mitchell spent six years on the Alabama Supreme Court with a strong background in civil litigation before that. He has argued cases, taken depositions, and litigated. The other candidate has not. She also has serious concerns about the 501(c)(4) organizations, some established just days or weeks before contributions of hundreds of thousands of dollars flowed into the race, that were used to obscure the source of funding. Jay Mitchell's money came approximately 95 to 97 percent from within Alabama.Her message to everyone who voted for her: the best choice on June 16th is Jay Mitchell. Early and absentee voting is available now through your county courthouse.The Riverchase Galleria Is on the MarketIt was announced this week that the Riverchase Galleria, the largest mall in Alabama at 1.4 million square feet, has been put up for sale. It opened 40 years ago and, like large malls across the country, has been hollowed out by Amazon and the shift to online shopping. There has been talk of converting the property into a medical facility or residential use. I will have Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato on the show June 19th to talk about what comes next for that prime piece of real estate.Capital Punishment and the Rule of LawA man named Jeffrey Lee is scheduled to be executed on June 11th at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore by nitrogen hypoxia. His attorneys sought to block the execution, arguing the method causes unconstitutional suffering, but a federal judge denied the request. The crime that put him on death row happened 25 years ago, and every level of appeal has been pursued. Whatever your position on capital punishment, cases like this one remind us of the enormous responsibility carried by our justice system and the importance of due process for every defendant.For a private legal consultation, visit joe...

Crime goes up when the weather does. Every year without fail. This week I covered national legal headlines before getting into what Alabama families need to know heading into summer: domestic violence, DHR investigations, and why criminal defense requires independent investigation.ON THE NATIONAL FRONT: The Biden interview tapes are at the center of a lawsuit. The Supreme Court ruled the First Step Act does not apply retroactively to prior sentences. A retired Air Force pilot faces six to eight years for providing unauthorized flight training to Chinese military personnel. Matthew Perry's personal assistant was sentenced to 41 months in federal court. And more than 90 federal judges now require enhanced security after a wave of threats, swatting calls, and intimidation targeting the judiciary.IN ALABAMA: Barry Moore leads the Senate runoff 53-36. The redistricting fight is at the Supreme Court and I'm not sure the August primaries happen on schedule. Three lawsuits are now pending against the Central Alabama Water Board. And Columbiana just signed a $1.1 billion data center deal after publicly saying they'd put hard limits on them.ON CRIMINAL DEFENSE: I had two new cases this week that prove why you can't accept the government's version of events without your own investigation. One needed a crime scene reconstruction expert. The other needed independent forensic analysis of a cell phone. In both cases we got it. If you're not asking for independent evaluation of the evidence, you are not giving your client a proper defense.ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Calls triple in the summer. A conviction can cost you your job, your firearm rights, your professional license, and your custody arrangement. Prosecutors can move forward even when the alleged victim doesn't want to participate. Get legal help early.ON DHR: Alabama has no minimum age law for leaving a child home alone. Think carefully before calling DHR on a neighbor unless there is a genuine safety concern. Once that investigation opens, it doesn't stay contained. And if a caseworker shows up at your door without a search warrant, you are not required to let them in or answer questions without a lawyer.Joe Ingram Law: (205) 825-5297 | joeingramlaw.comSend us your fan mail! We'd love to hear from you!

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Including Caroleene Dobson candidate for Sec of State of Alabama, Jarred Welborn candidate for Shelby Co Judge, Pamela Casey candidate for Attorney General of Alabama, Jarred Hudson Candidate for US Senator to represent Alabama.Send us Fan Mail