By Britteny Leyva “You never thought that hip-hop would take it this far[.]”[1] On August 21, 2018, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court affirmed Jamal Knox’s two count conviction—one for terroristic threats and the other for witness intimidation—for his creation and participation in a song titled “F—k the Police.”[2] Looking to Supreme Court First Amendment precedent, Pennsylvania’s highest…

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By Andrew Johnson The violations of international humanitarian law and gross human rights abuses that have occurred in Syria since 2011 have been well-documented.[1]  The Assad Regime has perpetrated attacks against civilians, tortured and executed political prisoners, starved the Syrian people through siege warfare, and used chemical weapons indiscriminately.[2]  There is no question that these acts constitute…

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By Marissa Ditkowsky On February 28, 2019, the Supreme Court decided Madison v. Alabama.[1]  The Court expanded the previously established tests under Panetti and Ford, holding that executing an individual experiencing dementia who does not comprehend why he is facing execution may violate the Eighth Amendment.[2]  On its face, this decision appears to be a…

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By Samantha Schram On July 9, 2018, President Donald Trump nominated D.C. Circuit Judge Brett Kavanaugh to fill the vacancy left when Justice Anthony Kennedy retired from serving on the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in June. The nomination has fueled discussions on the potential influence Kavanaugh might have on the high court.[1]…

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