Felony Convictions: The Disenfranchisement and Disempowerment of Black Communities

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

The Ukrainian Refugee Crisis: How Lawyers and Law Students Can Help

By: Caleb Thompson In times of political turmoil, be it domestically or abroad, lawyers can always be of immense use. Lawyers have the tools to help with refugee resettlement, citizenship logistics, and managing the political aspects of the crisis. The current crisis in Ukraine is no exception. Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has shocked the world. As of March 7, 2022, UN … Continue reading The Ukrainian Refugee Crisis: How Lawyers and Law Students Can Help

Virginia’s Own Tiger King: How the Netflix Documentary Impacted Roadside Zoos

By Jessica Rooke Hey all you cool cats and kittens, remember Tiger King? This sensational Netflix documentary premiered in the height of the 2020 pandemic displaying Joseph Maldonado-Passage, the star known better as “Joe Exotic” and his concerning roadside zoo in Oklahoma. [1]    This documentary did not only just provide entertainment for us stuck at home, it also sparked a movement. A movement of animal … Continue reading Virginia’s Own Tiger King: How the Netflix Documentary Impacted Roadside Zoos

We Don’t Protect Student Speech As Much As We Think: Where Tinker Falls Short

By: Elizabeth Vanasse When discussing the rights of students to enjoy free speech, the frequently cited case is Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District.[1] This case is heralded as the “high-water mark” of students’ rights to freely express themselves and to enjoy constitutional rights in the school-building.[2] However, the reality of Tinker is that its most progressive statement of student freedom is only … Continue reading We Don’t Protect Student Speech As Much As We Think: Where Tinker Falls Short

The Unconstitutionality of Ag-gag Laws

by Enzo Chiariello, Staff Editor In 2020, the Animal Legal Defense Fund (“ALDF”) released footage from the Dick Van Dam Dairy, a California dairy farm which supplies milk to corporations producing well known products such as the DairyPure and TruMoo brands.[1] The video contained images of “newborn calves . . . left to die or decompose in the same pens with mother cows,” “workers poking … Continue reading The Unconstitutionality of Ag-gag Laws

A Global Pandemic Highlights the Need for Robust Local Government

Authored by: Andrew Mullen; Staff Editor  As the United States struggles to get control over the COVID-19 outbreak and a consequential presidential election in three weeks, local government is a vital, often overlooked function of American society. While many people may be tempted to focus on national politics and national policy, most of the decisions relating to the pandemic have been made by mayors, school boards, county … Continue reading A Global Pandemic Highlights the Need for Robust Local Government

From the Streets to the Court: Virginia’s Fight for Environmental Justice Has Just Begun

Authored by: Kelley Flint; Staff Editor As America faces a racial reckoning, renewed interest in tackling systemic inequality is pressuring courts and legislatures alike. Environmental Justice is one such movement gaining popularity both with lawmakers and challengers in court.[1] The concept sits at the intersection of civil rights and environmentalism. It is a bridge between the technical aspects of regulating pollution and the human element … Continue reading From the Streets to the Court: Virginia’s Fight for Environmental Justice Has Just Begun

Opinion in Canadian Council for Refugees v. Canada Spotlights U.S. Immigration Policies

Reprint from the International Enforcement Law Reporter (24 Sep. 2020). Authored by Mitchell Beebe; Staff Editor In an unusual rebuke by one of America’s closest allies, the Canadian Federal Court decided that the Safe Third Country Agreement (“STCA”) between the United States and Canada was unconstitutional. The Court determined that in light of recent U.S. immigration policies, it was a deprivation of human rights for … Continue reading Opinion in Canadian Council for Refugees v. Canada Spotlights U.S. Immigration Policies

How Political Parties Divided the Supreme Court

Authored by: Chris Davis, Staff Editor  President Trump celebrates his appointments to the Supreme Court as political victories.[1] At a rally he boasted to his supporters that “Justice Kavanaugh now sits alongside Justice Gorsuch to defend your rights, your Constitution, and your God-given freedom.”[2] Trump recently released a list of people he is considering appointing if he gets reelected and there’s a vacancy on the … Continue reading How Political Parties Divided the Supreme Court

Judicial Bypass for Pregnant Teenagers Seeking Abortions in Virginia

  Authored by: Emily Siron; Staff Editor      Central to the conversation in favor of reproductive justice advocacy is the issue of safe, accessible reproductive healthcare, including access to abortion care. Abortion care is particularly difficult to access safely for pregnant teenagers, largely due to the prevalence of parental consent laws in the United States.[1] Thirty-seven states require some form of parental consent from … Continue reading Judicial Bypass for Pregnant Teenagers Seeking Abortions in Virginia