By: Carly Malamud The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in 1990 intending to provide legislated protection to individuals with disabilities.[1] Title III of the ADA protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in “places of public accommodation,” which includes facilities that are privately operated and affecting commerce in enumerated categories.[2] Due to […]
The 1965 Immigration Act and the Gaslighting of East Asians
By: Mary Marston A. Introduction From the mid-20th Century through the present, Eastern Asians have been used as a racial wedge between white Americans and other people of color. Pundits have used Eastern Asian’s perceived monetary and professional success as a means of telling other communities of color to simply pull themselves up by their […]
Free the Vote: Felony Disenfranchisement in 2020
By: Inka Boehm Over fifty years have passed since President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law, and yet voter disenfranchisement persists at a devastating rate. Despite the promises of the Voting Rights Act and the 24th Amendment, states continue to uphold disenfranchisement practices. An estimated 5.2 million Americans will […]
The Importance of Social and Emotional Learning Post-Pandemic
By: Sadie Janes In the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education, Chief Justice Warren wrote that education “is a principal instrument in awakening the child to cultural values, in preparing him for later professional training, and in helping him to adjust normally to his environment.”[1] The Chief Justice goes on to write that, […]
Assessing the Constitutionality of USDA’s GMO Labeling Standard Under the First Amendment
By: MacKenzie Battle Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were introduced into the U.S. food system less than three decades ago.[1] In that relatively short time frame GMOs have come to make up approximately 70 percent of all food on grocery store shelves.[2] Despite how prevalent GMOs are in the food that we eat, they are subject […]
Willfulness: Holding Trademark Companies Accountable
By: Rachel Reid On March 22, 2019, the Supreme Court granted a writ of certiorari in the case of Romag Fasteners Inc. v. Fossil Inc., and on April 23, 2020, the Court issued its opinion.[1] Romag and Fossil signed a contract allowing Romag’s fasteners in Fossil’s leather goods. The lawsuit was initiated when Romag discovered […]
Maryland Governor’s Involvement in the Parole Process Prevents Juvenile Lifers from Parole Approval
By Sandy Arce Do juveniles sentenced to life in prison have a realistic opportunity for parole consideration in Maryland? Currently, more than three hundred juvenile lifers await their “meaningful opportunity” for consideration through the parole process but instead juvenile lives have been used as political pawns since 1995.[1] A juvenile lifer is a juvenile who […]
How The First Amendment is Failing to Protect Minors from Conversion Therapy
By: Khatia Mikadze I. Yes, Conversion Therapy is Still Happening! You might have heard from a friend, a family member, or even in the news, that someone went through a gay conversion therapy. So-called “Conversion Therapy,” sometimes referred to as “sexual orientation change efforts” or “reparative therapy” is a range of practices that seek to […]
AN UNCEREMONIOUS NATURALIZATION
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 […]