By: Julianna Meely, Staff Editor “[A]s long as the state provides a warm body with a law degree and a bar admission, little else matters.”[1]Unfortunately, Georgetown Law professor and prominent author, David Cole’s, sentiment seems to be an accurate reflection of the public’s view of public defense attorneys and indigent defense commissions. As an aspiring criminal attorney, it’s frustrating to think that criminal attorneys on … Continue reading Is Your Defense Attorney Paid Less Than You? How Virginia Values Appointed Counsel

By: Terri Morris The first time I became aware of a meals tax was when I purchased some bread from a bakery. I had purchased that same loaves many times before but one day, they cost more. I never really thought to check the receipts that were emailed to me but this price increase was enough to spike my curiosity. When I reviewed my e-receipt … Continue reading Check Your Receipt The Next Time You Eat…Out: The Impact of The Meals Tax

  By: Sogand Falahatpour, Staff Editor   It is no secret that over the past few years CBD, the mysterious lesser-known offspring of the cannabis plant, has consistently grown in popularity.[1] Whether it’s cosmetics, nasal spray, or cheeseburgers, today’s consumer is bombarded with an overwhelming array of CBD-infused products.[2]   What exactly is known about CBD so far? While CBD is an essential component of … Continue reading From Oils to CBD-infused Burgers: Closing the Knowledge Gap and Providing Market Clarity for the Cannabidiol Industry

By: Mitchell Beebe, Staff Editor Of all the challenges facing our country today, it is my opinion that there is no greater threat to our economy and national security than America’s infrastructure. Yet, it has gone almost unnoticed by mainstream politics and the public for decades. In many ways, the Oroville Dam in northern California exemplifies the general condition of the rest of the nation’s … Continue reading The Dam Thing is Broken: Fixing America’s Infrastructure

By: Rachel N. Hott, Communications Editor Domestic violence can occur in many forms.[1] Women are disproportionately affected by domestic violence; homicide committed by an intimate partner is the number one cause of women’s death’s in the workplace.[2] An early study examining the relationship between domestic violence and employment found that between 35% and 56% of employed battered women were harassed at work by their batterers; … Continue reading Safety and Empowerment for Domestic Violence Survivors: Implications and Benefits of the Security and Financial Empowerment Act

By Kristen Tolbert, Staff Editor While it’s not a topic on most people’s minds, elder abuse is a huge problem in Virginia.[1] The Virginia Department of Adult Protective Services has received over 12,000 reports of elder abuse within a year. 60% of those cases required intervention.[2] However, many victims do not ever report their abuse.[3] Federally, elder abuse was first dealt with in the Older … Continue reading How Virginia Can Prevent the Financial Exploitation of Elderly Adults

By: Sidney Balman, Staff Editor From 2008 to 2016, social justice issues rose to the forefront of domestic policymaking across the United States. The Obama Administration spearheaded criminal justice reform with the enactment of the Fair Sentencing Act, the creation of the Smart on Crime Initiative, and the establishment of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.[1]A few years later, the Republicans enacted additional … Continue reading 2020: The Decade of Criminal Justice Reform?

By: Parker Allen, Staff Editor While millions of Americans enjoy increased minimum wages, Virginians are being left out. The current minimum wage in Virginia is $7.25 an hour.[1] While Virginia’s minimum wage is tied to the federal minimum wage, many other states have decided to introduce their own laws.[2] Some states have also taken increased steps to prevent wage theft, the illegal practice of withholding … Continue reading Working Dignity: The Minimum Wage in Virginia

[1] By Samantha E. Teets, staff editor   Regardless of what you believe causes climate change, we can all agree – it’s getting hot out here. The Earth’s temperature increased from 1.1 to 1.6-degree Fahrenheit between 1906 and 2005.[2] That statistic alone may not mean much to you, but couple it with the fact that the rate of temperature increase has nearly doubled in the … Continue reading Change is Coming– and Bringing Security Threats With It to the Artic

By Lindsey Sweetgall-Brock, Staff Editor As at-home DNA test kits grow in popularity, consumers need to be aware of what is happening to their genetic information after sharing it with the company. Some answers may lie in the consent forms and privacy information, but what about privacy risks that are not shared with the consumer? At-home genetic testing companies started with a simple goal: to … Continue reading The Risky Business of DNA At-Home Test Kits