# Is the New York branch of the NAACP completely retarded?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-new-york-branch-of-the-naacp-completely-retarded/189973>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [July 21, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-new-york-branch-of-the-naacp-completely-retarded/189973 "2003-07-21T18:42:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-new-york-branch-of-the-naacp-completely-retarded/189973/81 "2003-07-24T20:30:50Z")

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I don’t think “jurisdiction” is quite the concept you’re looking for. That has to do with whether a court has the authority to adjudicate a controversy and bind the parties to its judgment. What I think you’re probably asking about is “choice of law,” which is how to decide which state’s substantive law applies to resolve a particular controversy that involves more than one jurisdiction. It’s impossible to summarize that analysis, unfortunately–the Restatement on that subject is three volumes long, as I recall, even without the appendices. Heck, most law schools teach major courses on conflict of laws.

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**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-new-york-branch-of-the-naacp-completely-retarded/189973/82 "2003-07-28T22:39:09Z")

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minty green,

Please explain in nice small words for the slow among us why one is responsible for following laws in a state in which he is not in?

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**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-new-york-branch-of-the-naacp-completely-retarded/189973/83 "2003-07-28T23:28:33Z")

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One is not “responsible for following laws in a state in which he is not in.” One is responsible for adhering to the laws of another state’s when one’s conduct is directed towards that other state.

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**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-new-york-branch-of-the-naacp-completely-retarded/189973/84 "2003-07-29T04:22:44Z")

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How is one completing a legal transaction action directed towards another state?

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