By Kaitlyn Grant The Sixth Amendment guarantees defendants the right to counsel when being tried for a crime.[1] As part of the United States court system, defendants are appointed an attorney by the court if they are unable to afford one on their own.[2] This court-appointed attorney serves an important role in the assurance that a defendant can use the protections provided to him by … Continue reading Access to Justice and the Overworked Public Defender

By Melissa Hernandez Economic sanctions are by no means a new tool for nations to conduct foreign policy. They have been utilized for centuries, starting from around the time Athens imposed a trade embargo against Megara in 432 B.C. [1] Today, economic sanctions are defined as the partial or complete withdrawal of financial relations between entities for policy purposes. [2] They can be targeted precisely … Continue reading The Cost of Sanctions

By Mariam Rasooli On June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, holding that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion.[1] This ruling effectively overturned the earlier decisions in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey—which had prohibited states from substantially preventing abortions for women before fetal viability.[2] … Continue reading Prosecutorial Discretion in the Wake of Dobbs

By Sarah DeLoach It is difficult to overstate the wide-ranging ripple effects of Russia’s devastating invasion of Ukraine.[1] Situated amongst immense political turmoil and economic upheaval, Ukraine now faces an acute child protection crisis.[2] In addition to mass deaths and injuries, the escalation of armed conflict and ongoing violence has resulted in the displacement of more than half of all Ukrainian children.[3] This dire situation … Continue reading International Adoption During Crisis

By Kristie Thompson   When a child is removed from their home as a result of abuse or neglect allegations they are typically placed into foster care.[1] Over the past few years there has been an increase in placing children in alternative care arrangements often referred to as “hidden foster care” or “diversion.”[2] In such cases, parents are often given two alternatives as soon as … Continue reading Hidden Foster Care

By Frank Morris The theory that correcting racial and other demographic disparities in the administration of criminal justice can be achieved by electing reformist prosecutors who promise to use their broad discretionary and nolle prosequi privileges to reduce incarceration—so-called “progressive prosecution”—has gained traction in recent years.[1] The election of progressive prosecutors such as Larry Krasner in Philadelphia, Kim Ogg in Houston, and Rachel Rollins in Boston … Continue reading The Potential Pitfalls of Progressive Prosecution

By Zach Lisner The Problem When it comes to sentencing, who should have control? Currently, our nation is divided in every aspect; criminal sentencing is no exception. For most of our nation’s legal history, judges were entrusted by citizens to decide what an individual’s sentence was, based on the crime and specific circumstances. However, after the crime waves of the 1970s, Congress reacted with the … Continue reading Should Mandatory Minimum Penalties Be Mandatory?

By Claudia Leonor For violators of criminal law, the process of stigmatization begins with arrest and conviction.[1] Arrest and conviction create “a panoply of economic, social, and political post-conviction penalties . . . intended to assure that the shame of incarceration is not forgotten or avoided.”[2] A felony conviction, in particular, carries collateral civil consequences that condemn a criminal offender to a lifetime of second-class … Continue reading Felony Convictions: The Disenfranchisement and Disempowerment of Black Communities