By: Katie Wotherspoon In the wake of numerous murders of Black Americans at the hands of law enforcement, a nationwide debate exploded regarding structural racism and police accountability—the legal doctrine of qualified immunity in particular, amassed much of the scrutiny. The killings not only sparked national outrage they were also met with vehement protests in … Continue reading Qualified Immunity—The Ultimate Circular Legal Doctrine
Justice System
The Opioid Epidemic: “Legal Genocide”
By: Bria Burgamy Over the past two decades, prescription opioids have wreaked havoc in the United States – despite evidence that the drugs’ manufacturers knew the drugs had potential to do just that. The opioid crisis has claimed more than 200,000 American lives since becoming commonly prescribed in the late 1990s. At the center of … Continue reading The Opioid Epidemic: “Legal Genocide”
The After Life: Something Worth Investing In
By: Nicole Nazari With a system that hosts about 2.3 million people, our corrections system does not correct. [1] At least 95% of all state prisoners will be released, and at least two-thirds of those released prisoners are rearrested. Many of whom are re-arrested for committing felonies and other serious crimes. [2] However, the statistics … Continue reading The After Life: Something Worth Investing In
President Trump wants to define transgender out of existence, but we cannot let him define us.
By: Ken Jensen On October 24, 2018, President Trump stated his administration was “seriously” considering changing the way it treats transgender people under the law. Given his history of statements which never come to fruition, one could dismiss it. The effort this administration to negate any effort to define gender identity in any manner besides … Continue reading President Trump wants to define transgender out of existence, but we cannot let him define us.
California Ends Cash Money Bail System: Ends a Pay-to-Play System of Justice
By: Robert Bryson In the United States, bail refers to a system wherein a suspect is conditionally released from custody upon the surrender of payment of money or pledge of property to the court. The funds are then refunded when the suspect returns to court for their trial. If the suspect fails to return, the … Continue reading California Ends Cash Money Bail System: Ends a Pay-to-Play System of Justice
PIAC’s Supreme Court Review: Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis
By: Ken Jensen “[A]s matter of law the answer is clear. In the Federal Arbitration Act, Congress has instructed federal courts to enforce arbitration agreements according to their terms—including terms providing for individualized proceedings.” Epic Sys. Corp. v. Lewis, 138 S. Ct. 1612, 1619 (2018) The Supreme Court thus continued to enforce arbitration agreements consistent … Continue reading PIAC’s Supreme Court Review: Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis
Supreme Court Promotes a Double Standard for Religious Animus: Muslims to Christians
By: Ridgeway Woulfe Last week, we explored the double standard the Supreme Court created by its Masterpiece Cake and its decision to uphold Trump’s nation-based immigration ban (apparently not a Muslim ban, as he routinely stated). In Masterpiece Cake, the Supreme Court held that a Commission’s animus toward a Christian baker was enough to find … Continue reading Supreme Court Promotes a Double Standard for Religious Animus: Muslims to Christians
PIAC Gun Control Series: The History of the 2nd Amendment
By: Jessica Colburn The Second Amendment, while hotly debated, is not well understood because the language of the Amendment is unclear and old, specifically 227 years old. Here, we shed some light on what is meant by the language of the Second Amendment, including the phrases, “a well-regulated militia” and “the right of the people … Continue reading PIAC Gun Control Series: The History of the 2nd Amendment
The Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act Headed to President Trump for Signature … or Veto
The Internet is a haven for sex traffickers and other criminals. Sex traffickers first made use of Craigslist, Myspace and other, legacy websites to sell sex. As Craigslist cracked down on sex ads, sex traffickers moved to websites like Backpage.com. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, there was an increase of … Continue reading The Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act Headed to President Trump for Signature … or Veto
How Stand Your Ground Laws Allow Implicit Bias to Legalize Death
By: Ridgeway Woulfe and Robert Bryson The entire country, and most of the world, is familiar with George Zimmerman and his acquittal of charges after killing black teenager Trayvon Martin. At the time of Zimmerman’s arrest, the debate concerning “stand your ground” laws surged. By the time Zimmerman was acquitted, over 30 states had stand … Continue reading How Stand Your Ground Laws Allow Implicit Bias to Legalize Death
Public Interest Advocacy Collaborative 