Digital Commons Network^™

Hb 239 - Business Courts, Laura A. Shoop, L. Whitney Woodward

Georgia State University Law Review

Georgia voters passed a constitutional amendment in November 2018, endorsing the establishment of a state-wide business court. The Act serves as the enabling legislation for the state-wide business court’s creation and implementation. Among other provisions, the Act provides the court’s location alternatives, jurisdictional limitations, filing fee, amount in controversy requirements, filing and transfer procedures, consent and objection rights for parties with cases and controversies slated for adjudication in state-wide business court, and minimum experience requirements for the presiding judge.

Hb 346 - Tenant Retaliation Protection, Joseph N. Guardino, Megan A. Kirk

Georgia State University Law Review

The Act prohibits landlords from taking retaliatory action when tenants exercise their rights or express habitability concerns. The Act provides for several authorized tenant actions that notify and hold landlords responsible for fixable property defects. If the landlord attempts to deprive the tenant of the use or enjoyment of the premises because the tenant expressed habitability concerns, the Act finds a prima facie case of retaliation. The Act specifically protects landlord action when a tenant damages property or is delinquent in rent. The Act provides for civil penalties against landlords who have retaliated under the statute.

Hb 282 - Preservation Of Sexual Assault Evidence, Rebecca A. Dickinson, Alessandra T. Palazzolo

Georgia State University Law Review

This Act extends the time that law enforcement agencies are required to preserve certain evidence of sexual assault. Physical evidence of a reported sexual assault will be preserved for fifty years, and if there is an arrest, for thirty years from the date of arrest or seven years from the sentence’s completion.

Hb 217 - Needle Exchange Program, Alexandra L. Armbruster, J. Bryan Watford

Georgia State University Law Review

The Act authorizes certain nonprofit organizations and hospitals to operate clean needle exchange programs. These programs allow individuals who inject drugs to exchange their needles for clean, unused needles. The purpose of these programs is to prevent the spread of HIV, Hepatitis C, and other infectious diseases associated with the repeated use and sharing of needles. The Act further authorizes the Department of Public Health to regulate the registration of organizations that will participate in these programs and protects employees of those organizations from being charged with crimes or offenses associated with selling, lending, giving, or exchanging needles.

Sb 213 - Campaign Contributions Reporting, David R. Carducci, Minho R. Seo

Georgia State University Law Review

The Act amends Georgia’s campaign contributions reporting requirements for public officials. Specifically, the Act amends the dates that campaign contributions must be filed by public officials during nonelection years from January 31, before the start of the legislative session, to June 30, after the end of the legislative session. The Act also amends an election year reporting date from March 31 to April 30. Furthermore, the Act requires that any person or independent committee that contributes to, accepts contributions for, or makes expenditures on behalf of candidates to file a December 31 campaign contribution disclosure report

Hb 324 - Low Thc Oil, Allyson M. Clawson, Kady D. Litwer

Georgia State University Law Review

The Act allows for the production, manufacturing, and dispensing of low THC oil in the State of Georgia, in accordance with a licensing regime that will be regulated by a twelve-member board. Additionally, the Act provides for a tracking system of production, purchase, and patient registration information, as well as licensing provisions for the University System of Georgia and the State Board of Pharmacy.

Sb 158 - Human Trafficking, Starr Crafton, Lillian K. Henry

Georgia State University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Hb 316 - Voting System, Beth K. Boatright, Andrew Smith

Georgia State University Law Review

The Act authorizes and requires a new voting system be used in all elections, provides for auditing procedures, provides for updates to the voter list maintenance laws, and specifies additional revisions to election processes.

Sb 18 - Direct Primary Care, Valentin H. Dubuis, Juliana Mesa

Georgia State University Law Review

This legislation allows physicians to offer specified care for a specific time pursuant to a fixed fee. The physician cannot require more than one year’s payment upfront, and the agreement has to be terminable by either party with thirty days’ notice. Physicians do not have to provide care if the fee has not been paid or the patient has committed fraud, failed to adhere to treatment, or is in physical danger.

Sb 1 - C.J.'S Law, Michael C. Duffey, Stephen Swanson

Georgia State University Law Review

The Act primarily functions to increase the penalty for drivers who cause death or serious bodily injury as a result of a vehicular accident and then flee the scene. Also known as C.J.’s Law, the Act establishes a maximum prison sentence of ten years for such a hit-and-run violation. In addition, the Act rewords and clarifies existing statutory language regarding license suspensions subsequent to reckless driving or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Hb 481 - Heartbeat Bill, Michael G. Foo, Taylor L. Lin

Georgia State University Law Review

The Act adds an unborn child with a detectable human heartbeat to the definition of a natural person and includes such unborn child in state population counts. The Act defines abortion, prescribes when abortions may be performed, provides exceptions to abortion performance limitations, establishes requirements for performing an abortion, and provides for a right of action, damages, and affirmative defenses. The Act permits alimony and child support payments starting when an unborn child has a detectable human heartbeat. Parents have the right to recover the full value of a child’s life when a detectable human heartbeat exists. The Act requires …

Sb 106 - Patients First Act, Jasmine Nicole Becerra, Leanne E. Livingston

Georgia State University Law Review

The Patients First Act amends both Title 49 and Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, which allows the state to apply for two federal waivers. One being the Section 1115 waiver to the Social Security Act. The second being the Section 1332 waiver to the Affordable Care Act. Section 1115 waivers apply to Medicaid and may be sought to include a maximum income threshold up to 100% of the Federal Poverty Level. The Section 1332 innovation waiver applies to insurance coverage generally.

Sb 77 - Protection For Monuments, Evelyn Graham, Timothy J. Graves

Georgia State University Law Review

The Act prohibits persons and entities from destroying, concealing, or relocating any publicly or privately owned monument. Monuments may only be relocated when necessary for construction, expansion, or alteration to a site of equal prominence within the same municipality. Violators of this legislation are subject to treble the amount of the cost to repair or replace such monument, exemplary damages, attorney’s fees, court costs, and being charged with a misdemeanor.

“At Home” In Georgia: The Hidden Danger Of Registering To Do Business In Georgia, Brian P. Watt, W. Alex Smith

Georgia State University Law Review

Georgia law prohibits any foreign corporation—a corporation with an originating registration initiated in a state other than Georgia—from transacting business in the state until it obtains a certificate of authority from the Georgia Secretary of State. Attorneys advise foreign corporations to register as a matter of course, and business owners readily comply. Georgia is not unique in its registration requirement. Every state in the union has enacted such a statute. But very few states require a foreign corporation to forfeit the guarantees of due process as a condition for transacting business in the state. Georgia is one of them. In …

Predicting Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Case Outcomes Using The Federal Judicial Center Idb And Ensemble Artificial Intelligence, Warren E. Agin, Gill Eapen

Georgia State University Law Review

In this project, the authors obtained public data on over 100,000 Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases and used machine and deep-learning methodologies to explore whether models could be designed to predict Chapter 11 case outcomes. The data used was obtained from the Federal Judicial Center’s bankruptcy Integrated Database and included information about case filing dates, the court where the case was filed, the type of business entity, and basic information about assets and liabilities. Using this information, the authors initially sought to predict whether a particular case was dismissed, converted to another Chapter under the Bankruptcy Code, or closed with a …

The Model Rules Of Autonomous Conduct: Ethical Responsibilities Of Lawyers And Artificial Intelligence, Ed Walters

Georgia State University Law Review

Practitioners use artificial-intelligence (AI) tools in fields as varied as finance, medicine, human resources, marketing, sports, and many others. Now, for the first time, lawyers are beginning to use similar tools in the delivery of legal services. Where once lawyers may have only used AI for electronic discovery (eDiscovery), today they are using AI for legal research, drafting, contract management, and litigation strategy. The use of AI to deliver legal services is not without its detractors, and some have suggested that the use of AI may take the jobs of lawyers—or worse, make lawyers obsolete. Others suggest that using AI …

Automatically Extracting Meaning From Legal Texts: Opportunities And Challenges, Kevin D. Ashley

Georgia State University Law Review

This paper surveys three basic legal-text analytic techniques—ML, network diagrams, and question answering (QA)—and illustrates how some currently available commercial applications employ or combine them. It then examines how well the text analytic techniques can answer legal questions given some inherent limitations in the technology. In more detail, ML refers to computer programs that use statistical means to induce or learn models from data with which they can classify a document or predict an outcome for a new case. Predictive coding techniques employed in e-discovery have already introduced ML from text into law firms. Network diagrams graph the relations between …

Legal Intelligence Through Artificial Intelligence Requires Emotional Intelligence: A New Competency Model For The 21st Century Legal Professional, Alyson Carrel

Georgia State University Law Review

The nature of legal services is drastically changing given the rise in the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Legal education and training models are beginning to recognize the need to incorporate skill building in data and technology platforms, but they have lost sight of a core competency for lawyers: problem-solving and decision-making skills to counsel clients on how best to meet their desired goals and needs. In 2014, Amani Smathers introduced the legal field to the concept of the T-shaped lawyer. The T-shaped lawyer stems from the concept of T-shaped professionals who have a depth of knowledge in …

Automation & Predictive Analytics In Patent Prosecution: Uspto Implication & Policy, Tabrez Y. Ebrahim

Georgia State University Law Review

Artificial-intelligence technological advancements bring automation and predictive analytics into patent prosecution. The information asymmetry between inventors and patent examiners is expanded by artificial intelligence, which transforms the inventor– examiner interaction to machine–human interactions. In response to automated patent drafting, automated office-action responses, “cloems” (computer-generated word permutations) for defensive patenting, and machine-learning guidance (based on constantly updated patent-prosecution big data), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) should reevaluate patent-examination policy from economic, fairness, time, and transparency perspectives. By conceptualizing the inventor–examiner relationship as a “patenting market,” economic principles suggest stronger efficiencies if both inventors and the USPTO have better …

Where Do We Go From Here? Transformation And Acceleration Of Legal Analytics In Practice, Patrick Flanagan, Michelle H. Dewey

Georgia State University Law Review

The advantages of evidence-based decision-making in the practice and theory of law should be obvious: Don’t make arguments to judges that seldom persuade; Jurisprudential analysis ought to align with sound social science; Attorneys should pitch legal work to clients that demonstrably need it. Despite the appearance of simplicity, there are practical and attitudinal barriers to finding and incorporating data into the practice of law.

This article evaluates the current technologies and systems used to publish and analyze legal information from a researcher’s perspective. The authors also explore the technological, economic, political, and legal impediments that have prevented legal information systems …

Legal Analytics, Social Science, And Legal Fees: Reimagining "Legal Spend" Decisions In An Evolving Industry, Nancy B. Rapoport, Joseph R. Tiano Jr.

Georgia State University Law Review

To give you a feel for the power of legal analytics, imagine that you are the managing partner of a law firm. With a good set of algorithms and the push of a few buttons, you can make sure that you’ve delegated each part of an assignment to the professional with the exact combination of experience, talent, and diligence to maximize your firm’s client satisfaction and profitability. The client will be pleased both with the work product and its efficiency—and will pay your full bill without any grumbling or request for a reduction of the fees. The client will even …

Artificial Intelligence And Law: An Overview, Harry Surden

Georgia State University Law Review

Much has been written recently about artificial intelligence (AI) and law. But what is AI, and what is its relation to the practice and administration of law? This article addresses those questions by providing a high-level overview of AI and its use within law. The discussion aims to be nuanced but also understandable to those without a technical background. To that end, I first discuss AI generally. I then turn to AI and how it is being used by lawyers in the practice of law, people and companies who are governed by the law, and government officials who administer the …

Addressing Racial Bias In The Jury System: Another Failed Attempt?, Alisa Micu

Georgia State University Law Review

This Note explores the majority opinion and the dissents in Pena- Rodriguez regarding whether the Supreme Court has adequately provided guidance for lower courts to follow the ruling, which now allows exceptions for evidence of racial bias to Rule 606(b). Part I discusses the history of the no-impeachment rule, its foundation in the Sixth Amendment, and its constitutional requirements. Further, Part I discusses the different approaches that courts have taken in adopting Rule 606(b) and what problems courts have identified in its application. Part II analyzes whether the Supreme Court, as a practical matter, has provided a workable procedural scheme …

Cybersecurity Oversight Liability, Benjamin P. Edwards

Georgia State University Law Review

A changing cybersecurity environment now poses a significant corporate-governance challenge. Although some cybersecurity data breaches may be inevitable, courts now increasingly consider when a corporation’s officers and directors may be held liable on theories that they acted in bad faith and failed to adequately oversee the corporation’s affairs. This short essay reviews recent derivative decisions and encourages corporate boards to recognize that in an environment filled with increasing threats, a reasonable response will require devoting real resources and attention to cybersecurity issues.

Deference Condoning Apathy: Social Visibility In The Eleventh Circuit, Adriana C. Heffley

Georgia State University Law Review

This Note examines the history of the social-visibility requirement for Particular Social Groups in Eleventh Circuit asylum claims and the adjudication disparities that have resulted from its imposition in the southeastern United States. Part I of this Note introduces the asylum application process, examines the historical treatment of Particular Social Groups nationally, and traces the recent restrictions on Particular Social Groups within the Eleventh Circuit in particular. Part II compares the Eleventh Circuit’s treatment of Particular Social Groups to treatment in the Third and Seventh Circuits and considers how previously successful claims for asylum would fare under the current state …

Creative Lawyering For Social Change, Raymond H. Brescia

Georgia State University Law Review

Lawyers have long played an integral part in efforts to bring about social change. With an increasing desire to see change in the world, regardless of one’s political perspective, there is a growing interest in understanding the role that lawyers can play in bringing about such change. This type of lawyering is complex, however, and faces far more challenges than those the traditional lawyer faces in his or her work. Although all lawyers solve problems on behalf of their clients, the role of the social-change lawyer is more complex because the problems she seeks to address are more complex, mostly …

Panel 3: Free Speech And Freedom Of Religion

Georgia State University Law Review

Moderator: Eric Segall

Panelists: Mike Dorf and Eugene Volokh

Panel 6: The Median Justice

Georgia State University Law Review

Moderator: Eric Segall

Panelists: Jonathan Adler, Lee Epstein, and Sasha Volokh

Panel 4: Criminal Procedure And Affirmative Action

Georgia State University Law Review

Moderator: Lauren Sudeall

Panelists: Dan Epps, Gail Heriot, and Corinna Lain

Back To The Drawing Board! Legislating Hollywood, Christina Shu Jien Chong

Georgia State University Law Review

The United States Department of Justice “contended that equal employment opportunity in the broadcast industry could ‘contribute significantly toward reducing . . . discrimination in other industries’ because of the ‘enormous impact . . . television . . . [has] upon American life.’” Courts have also recognized that “communities . . . ’[must] take an active interest in the . . . quality of [television programming because television] has a vast impact on their lives and the lives of their children.’” Unfortunately, Hollywood continues to promote an insular culture that excludes minorities from influential behind-the-camera and on-screen positions.

Although the …