Crime
Cornell Dean Eduardo M. Peñalver on the Jacobson Controversy
Dean Peñalver defends Jacobson's academic freedom, but adds an entirely gratuitous, and somewhat unfair condemnation of Jacobson's writings.
"Policing the Police: The Impact of 'Pattern-Or-Practice' Investigations on Crime"
An interesting draft study by Harvard economics professors Tanaya Devi and Roland G. Fryer Jr.
Rights and Wrongs of "Defunding the Police"
If "defunding the police" means abolishing them completely, it's a bad idea. But there are ways to use cuts in funding to improve police incentives for the better.
Pennsylvania Adopts Variant of ABA Model Rule 8.4(g)
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, with one recorded dissent, finally acted on a process that began in 2016.
Is Attending a Political Protest More Important than Attending a Funeral?
American rabbis were strongly in favor of strict "stay at home" policies--until the recent protests started.
Post-COVID Lockdowns, Early Big City Crime Stats Are Slightly Encouraging
Early COVID lockdown effects show no significant increases in most crime. In most cases, there were drops.
The PROMESA Board Members Are Not "Officers of the United States." So What Are They?
Article IV territorial officers hold “Office[s] under the Authority of the United States,” and are bound by the Sinecure Clause.
One Win, One Loss for Second Amendment Claims in the Epidemic
A federal court in Connecticut struck down a policy that effectively stopped gun purchases; a week ago, a federal court in California upheld such a policy.
"The Oft-noted Hollowing Out of the Middle Class is a Metropolitan Phenomenon"
Income inequality is increasingly a phenomenon driven by big cities.
Download the Powerpoint Slides for 100 Supreme Court Cases
All of the files are now available on a shared drive.
Public Health Experts are Embarrassing Themselves
While the current protests are certainly well-meaning and anger over police violence and racism justified, claiming that the protests' positive effects on public health will exceed the harms from the spread of coronavirus is an assertion of faith, not science.
Another Take on Judge Sullivan and Michael Flynn's Petition for a Writ of Mandamus
Professor Peter Margulies argues the writ should be denied, for the most part, at least for now.
AI Means Superfuzzing plus Whaling at Scale
Episode 319 of the Cyberlaw Podcast - an interview with Ben Buchanan
Is the Future of Freedom of Speech in Jeopardy?
Constitutional protection of freedom of speech depends on cultural foundations that are being eroded, left and right.
Cities Should Take a Hard Look at Police Department Budgets (UPDATED)
Despite a massive decrease in crime, the NYPD has more officers and twice as many civilian employees now than in 1991.
How Adversarial is the Relationship Between African Americans and the Police?
Not as adversarial as you might think based on some radical/extremist activists' rhetoric.
Short Circuit: A Roundup of Recent Federal Court Decisions
Common sense, various poems, and rogue, mooning journalists.
University of Washington Urging "Accommodations," "Especially" for "Members of the Black Community," as to Assignments and Exams
"Accommodations might include extra time to finish assignments or providing a 'final examination optional' pathway, for example."
Powerpoint Slides and Other Resources for 100 Supreme Court Cases
Email me if you'd like access to our library, which is perfect for distance learning constitutional law class.
Joe Biden Wants To Reform the Criminal Justice System He Helped Create
The presidential candidate deserves praise for retreating from his tough-on-crime stance. But let's not forget that his policies contributed to mass incarceration and the police misconduct that people are protesting today.
What Happened to the Public Health Emergency?
People who were insisting that public gatherings, even for funerals, were grave, completely unacceptable threats to public health that must be harshly suppressed are supporting public protests over racism.
Who will write the remaining major Supreme Court decisions?
My prediction: Roberts for Title VII, Roberts for DACA, and Roberts for Espinoza, and Roberts for Tax Return Cases
Another Way to Think About South Bay: Why Allow Protest, But Not Prayer?
Mayors and Governors admit they think prayer simply isn't as important.
