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Faculty Journal Articles and Book Chapters

Pandemic

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Full-Text Articles in Law

Remote Criminal Justice, Jenia I. Turner Jan 2021

Remote Criminal Justice, Jenia I. Turner

Faculty Journal Articles and Book Chapters

The coronavirus pandemic has forced courts to innovate to provide criminal justice while protecting public health. Many have turned to online platforms in order to conduct criminal proceedings without undue delay. The convenience of remote proceedings has led some to advocate for their expanded use after the pandemic is over. To assess the promise and peril of online criminal justice, I surveyed state and federal judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys across Texas, where virtual proceedings have been employed for a range of criminal proceedings, starting in March 2020. The survey responses were supplemented with direct observations of remote plea hearings …


Virtual Guilty Pleas, Jenia I. Turner Jan 2021

Virtual Guilty Pleas, Jenia I. Turner

Faculty Journal Articles and Book Chapters

The coronavirus pandemic led criminal courts across the country to switch to virtual hearings to protect public health. As the pandemic subsides, many policymakers have called for the continued use of the remote format for a range of criminal proceedings. To guide decisions whether to use remote criminal justice on a regular basis, it is important to review the advantages and disadvantages of the practice.

Remote criminal proceedings have been praised for their convenience and efficiency, but have also raised concerns. Many have worried that videoconferencing inhibits effective communication between defendants and their counsel, hinders defendants’ understanding of the process, …


Presidential Administration And Fda Guidance: A New Hope, Nathan Cortez, Jacob S. Sherkow Jan 2021

Presidential Administration And Fda Guidance: A New Hope, Nathan Cortez, Jacob S. Sherkow

Faculty Journal Articles and Book Chapters

Assessments of a President’s first 100 days in office typically focus on legislative priorities and executive orders. Less attention is paid to early victories achieved via guidance and other informal acts of “presidential administration.” The COVID-19 pandemic has opened a window for the Biden Administration to effectuate critical public health policies through guidance issued by the Food and Drug Administration. This brief essay highlights the power—and pitfalls—of effectuating public health policy this way, and discusses the lasting power of guidance for any new administration.