Naturalization ceremonies, the rare court event where everyone can walk out a winner, are a time-worn tradition of our system older than most of the courthouses where they may occur. This past spring, as part of an internship with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division (DOJ Civil Rights), I had the opportunity to play a small role assisting two ceremonies and I would like to take this chance now, with social distancing all but quashing normal gatherings, to reflect on this incredibly public feature of an immigrant’s journey.
Balance, Politics, or Legacies: Which is the Deciding Factor for the Court?
By Katherine Wahl There is a misconception that the Supreme Court is supposed to be politically “balanced,” made up of even numbers of liberals and conservatives.[1] Several 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls proposed increasing the size of the Court or imposing judicial term limits to balance the bench.[2] Despite these general impressions and proposals to change […]
SCOTUS Opinion Reaction: Kahler v. Kansas
By: David Russell After hearing oral arguments on October 7th, 2019 the Supreme Court released its opinion in Kahler v. Kansas on March 23, 2020. The case asked whether a state legislature may eliminate the insanity defense without violating the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. In an opinion written by Justice Kagan and joined by Justices […]
Sounds about White: Constitutional Issues Surrounding the Advent of Facial Recognition Technology Used in Modern Data Policing
By: Phoebe Varunok The essence of George Orwell’s 1984 is felt throughout the streets of the Southwestern Chinese city of Guiyang. The Guiyang authorities have a vast network of high-tech cameras blanketing the city that can identify anyone who steps out in public.[1] Almost instantly, these cameras can match the face of a Guiyang […]
How to Solve a Murder: Submit your DNA
By: Mary Kate O’Connell When the Golden State Killer was apprehended in 2018 after decades of killing, raping, and burglarizing Californians, genetic genealogy was heralded as the best new forensic method for solving cold cases.[1] The identification of the Golden State Killer was in part due to the work of genealogist Barbara Rae-Venter, who uploaded […]
“Do You Know Where Your Brother Is?”[1]: Commonwealth v. Carter and “Pure Speech”
By: Ben Schroff On July 13, 2014, police found Conrad Roy’s body in his truck in a parking lot. He died by suicide. Roy met Michelle Carter while both visited family in Florida in 2012; they discovered that they both lived in Massachusetts. The pair maintained a long-distance relationship, mainly through phone calls and text […]
Notes from a Member of Generation Ratify: The Power of Youth in Social Movements
By: Emilia Couture Almost half of the world’s population is under thirty years old.[1] In the United States, approximately twenty-four percent of the population is under eighteen.[2] The 18-year-old voting age can make it difficult for the political interests of virtually a quarter of the population to be voiced. However, an increase in availability of information […]
All of Phyllis Schlafly’s Nightmares Came True: Why Schlafly’s Anti-ERA Arguments are Out-Dated and Illogical
By: Kate Miceli The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) has been getting major political buzz lately as we are one state away from ratification. The renaissance of the ERA has reignited one of its largest opponents, Phyllis Schlafly. Schlafly was a constitutional lawyer, conservative, and famously anti-feminist advocate. So, it’s no surprise Schlafly was in extreme […]
Protecting the Amazon Means Protecting Indigenous Rights
By: Andrew Johnson Fires still threaten large expanses of the Amazon rainforest, and the policies of President Bolsonaro and the Brazilian government encourage the Amazon’s continued destruction.[1] The pattern occurs in a similar manner in several Brazilian states, where plots of land are illegally seized, cleared, and then set on fire to make room for […]
“Keeping Up with Bar Admissions”
By: Katherine Wahl[1] If you have read the news recently, you will have heard about the ongoing tariff war between President Trump and China, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had a son named Archie, and that Kim Kardashian West is studying to be a lawyer.[2] Kim Kardashian West is a reality television star and entrepreneur.[3] […]