Digital Commons Network^™

Beyond Liberal Apologies, Toward Abolitionist Trans Politics, Koda Sokol, Kaden Paulson-Smith

Journal of Feminist Scholarship

In the wake of Trump’s second election, the liberal fantasy of a benevolent state reared its head: the right policy, politician, or police officer will end anti-trans oppression. This article heeds the warning from generations of abolitionists before us that violence is not a defect of the state but endemic to it. By consequence, reforms that strengthen the state by expanding avenues for criminalization, resourcing the police, and incorporating more people into the military further jeopardize those subject to premature death, trans or otherwise. The current U.S. political regime’s overt cruelty provides an opening for widespread reckoning with the state’s …

The Preventative Care Gap: Completing The Aca’S Vision For Health, Abby Nagaich

Seattle University Law Review

This Note examines the preventive care mandate under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the legal, political, and practical challenges that threaten its effectiveness. While the ACA significantly expanded access to no-cost preventive services, gaps remain—particularly in behavioral health, obesity management, and equitable service delivery. Ongoing litigation, potential administrative rollbacks, and shifting political leadership further destabilize this critical component of public health policy.

This Note argues that for the ACA to fulfill its original promise—and for any health framework to succeed—preventive care must be redefined as a comprehensive, early intervention approach grounded in both systemic access and patient education. It …

Regulating The Australian Legal Profession The Law Societies And Bar Associations, Don Fleming

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

Abstract

Human Rights In The Americas Symposium: An Examination Of Past, Present, And Future, Caroline Bettinger-López, Tamar Ezer, Shantanice Vaxter, Hannah Garry, Alexzandrea Bartle, Austin Brewster, Brittany Findley, Ana Garcia-Velez, Andrew Kiliment, Christian Kruger, Ana Luiza Potgornik Ferreira, Abigail Matherne, Genice Nadal, Lucia Niño Junyent, Yasmin Rizvi, Amanda Sarmientos, Megan Schutzen, Roberta Spehl, Sara White, Meg Williams

University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review

Human Rights in the Americas Symposium: An Examination of Past, Present, and Future documents a week-long convening hosted by the University of Miami School of Law in November 2025, held in conjunctions with the 194th Period of Sessions of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The Symposium brought together scholars, advocates, policymakers, students, artists, and community members to assess the evolution, current challenges, and future trajectory of human rights in the Americas.

Through interdisciplinary panels, thematic hearings, artistic exhibitions, and community-based engagements, participants examined pressing regional issues, including democratic backsliding, migration, housing justice, racial and gender inequality, environmental harm, and …

Upr Report Submissions: Compiled By The International Human Rights Clinic At The University Of Illinois Chicago School Of Law And The Human Rights At Home Litigation Clinic At The Saint Louis University School Of Law, Sarah Dàvila A., Lauren E. Bartlett

Faculty White Papers

This unofficial summary compiles information from reports submitted by civil society and others for the Fourth Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of the United States.

The authors reviewed the submissions, which are reports from civil society and others, and grouped issues thematically, using the 2020 UPR themes and recommendations as the organizing framework. Within each theme, the authors synthesized recurring issues, patterns, and concerns identified across multiple submissions. For each issue, the unofficial summary follows a structured approach that presents international obligations first, followed by United States domestic law, and then facts drawn from the submissions. However, where reports …

Advokat Dan Penegakan Hukum Dalam Perspektif Peradilan Pidana, Luhut M.P. Pangaribuan, S.H.

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

Abstract

Bantuan Hukum Sebagai Sarana Menanggulangi Kemiskinan Struktural, Abdurahman S.H.

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

Abstract

Studi Kebutuhan Hukum, Bantuan Hukum Struktural Dan Penegakan Hak-Hak Azasi Manusia, Drs. Mulyana W. Kusumah

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

Abstract

Human Rights In The U.S.: Handbook For Public Interest Attorneys (2026 Version), Lauren E. Bartlett

Faculty White Papers

Legal services attorneys, public defenders, law clinics, and other public interest law practitioners, fight every day to secure basic rights for the most vulnerable persons in the U.S.—among them, people living in poverty, racial minorities, children, the elderly, and immigrants. Yet, U.S. law more often than not falls short of providing a “floor” of minimum protections for these marginalized individuals. More expansive guarantees are found under international human rights law, and some advocates in the U.S. successfully incorporate human rights norms, language and strategies into their domestic work to help advocate for increased protections.

This Handbook was designed for attorneys …

The Broken Promise Of The Idea: How Delays And Disparities Undermine Special Education Rights, Silvia C. Montiel Morales

Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was enacted to guarantee children with disabilities the right to a free appropriate public education. In practice, that promise is too often broken. Students, especially those from low-income families and communities of color, wait months or years for evaluations, attend underfunded schools that lack qualified staff, and face systemic barriers to enforcing their rights. Meanwhile, families with resources can sidestep delays through private testing, attorneys, and advocacy, leaving others behind. This Note examines how systemic delays, underfunding, and inequities in special education services undermine children’s rights under the statute. It argues that these …

Cedaw's General Recommendation No. 37: A Sweeping Reconceptualization Of Women’S Rights In The Climate Crisis And A Tool To Assess State’S Compliance With Them, Ingrid Nifosi-Sutton

American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law

INTRODUCTION: Climate change is one of the most formidable challenges of our time that threatens our way of life and the very existence of humankind. While climate change has negative impacts on all persons, it affects women and girls disproportionately. During floods and severe storms fueled by climate change, for example, women are more likely to die than men because they lack access to essential information on how to survive in these emergencies. In certain regions of the world—such as Sub-Saharan Africa—women smallholder farmers are bearing the brunt of climate change because, in the aftermath of droughts, these women have …

Integrating Human Rights Into State And Federal Court Litigation, Lauren E. Bartlett

All Faculty Scholarship

Human rights have never been more important in the United States as they are today. After more than 10 years of dormancy, the seminal work that guides public interest attorneys in incorporating human rights work has been finally updated. The Human Rights in the U.S. Handbook for Public Interest Attorneys is a handbook that provides practical direction to public interest attorneys, including clinical law teachers, legal aid attorneys, public defenders, and others, on how to use human rights in their everyday work. The Handbook invaluably advises attorneys on best practices for using human rights arguments before U.S. state and federal …

Indigenous Law Is Real Law: Ending Erasure Through Legal Reform And Recognition, Callie Mobley

University of Cincinnati Law Review

No abstract provided.

Halt Under Threat Why Legislators Must Demand Compliance Before Change A Playbook For Action, Vanda Seward

Capstones

This playbook examines the implementation of New York State’s Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act and presents evidence demonstrating that the law has not been fully or consistently enforced by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (NYSDOCCS). Drawing on findings from the New York State Inspector General, the Correctional Association of New York, the Justice Center, court rulings, and community testimony, the analysis documents persistent violations, including excessive and illegal use of solitary confinement, inadequate documentation, failures to protect vulnerable populations, and insufficient accountability for staff misconduct. The playbook critically evaluates the recommendations of …

Law Review Symposium: Prisoners' Rights: Protecting Civil Liberties Behind Bars & Beyond 11-7-2025, Roger Williams University School Of Law

School of Law Conferences, Lectures & Events

No abstract provided.

"Have You Met My Lawyer?" And "Making Lists Of What Was Lost", Kirsten Anderson

Loyola Interdisciplinary Journal of Public Interest Law

The theme of what justice looks like for those experiencing homelessness finds expression in two poems by social justice lawyer and poet Kirsten Anderson. Based on her nearly two decades of representing clients experiencing homelessness, she explores the nature of the client-lawyer relationship in a society where lawyers are usually only available to persons with wealth and power. Both poems explore the consequences of housing not being recognized as a human right—given visible expression in a humanitarian crisis of homelessness in a country where the rent is unaffordable for more than half the population.

The first poem, “Have you met …

Beyond The Flames: Housing Justice And Rebuilding After The Wildfires, Michala Storms, Awoenam Mauna-Woanya, Christopher Chinn, Kaimipono D. Wenger

Loyola Interdisciplinary Journal of Public Interest Law

The speakers for this symposium explored the intersection of housing justice and the legal and policy obstacles encountered in rebuilding efforts in Los Angeles following the devastating wildfires. The wildfires burned more than 55,000 acres. That's approximately the size of Los Angeles city. Destroyed over 16,251 structures and has claimed at least 29 lives. These fires were the most catastrophic in all of Los Angeles County's history. The speakers discussed the challenges faced by displaced communities amid ongoing housing shortages, as well as the broader implications for housing policy and zoning. The conversation examined how attorneys, policy makers and the …

Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Commit $6 Million To Name Clinical Education Program At Cardozo School Of Law, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo Law News Archive

Cardozo School of Law announced a $6 million gift from alumna Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano to renovate and expand its clinical education facilities. The gift will establish the Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano Program for Clinical Education, supporting experiential legal education and increasing access to justice through Cardozo's nationally recognized clinical programs.

Countering The Criminalization Of Solidarity: An Analysis Of Legal Frameworks Proposed To Protect Humanitarian Aid For Migrants And Asylum Seekers, Katherine E. Smart

William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice

Thousands of migrant fatalities are reported each year all across the globe, and as staggering as current numbers are, they are likely an undercount. These deaths are a direct result of government policies that funnel migrants into dangerous routes through deserts and seas to deter immigration. Further, when individuals and groups step forward to provide immediate aid to migrants—such as food, water, shelter, first aid, and search and rescue (SAR)—they are often targeted by intimidation, harassment, discipline, and even criminal prosecution. Thus emerges a question: what legal framework can protect the rights of humanitarian aid workers acting in solidarity with …

Children’S Rights At The United States-Mexico Border: Is The United States Of America Breaking International Laws?, Avery Anderson

Immigration and Human Rights Law Review

The treatment of migrant children at the United States-Mexico border has become a contentious issue worldwide. International human rights frameworks set certain standards for the treatment of migrant children, and there are growing allegations that the United States has violated international legal obligations due to its inadequate detention conditions. This article argues that while the United States is not explicitly violating international treaties due to specific reservations, its border policies are in direct contradiction with global norms for the humane treatment of children. Through a review of the legal obligations under customary international law and international treaties, this article highlights …

Organizing For Abolition In Ice Custody, Sarah R. Sherman-Stokes

Faculty Scholarship

The final Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) detainees were released from the Irwin County Detention Center in early September 2021.² A court did not order the end of ICE detention at Irwin. A social movement, led by people detained at Irwin, had a pronounced impact on the epistemological landscape and changed both normative principles and public opinion.³ Those detained at Irwin organized and acted to create new understanding of law and protect their rights in ways that courts and legislatures could not. This Essay tells the story of that demosprudential project; a dialectic between legal elites and people …

Reforming The Indian Bar: The Limits Of Technological Solutions, Varsha Aithala, Karthik Suresh

Articles

A majority of Indians do not have effective access to legal services, despite the constitutional promise of access to justice. There are two intertwined reasons for this: the unavailability of a sufficient number of good quality lawyers, and the high costs of accessing legal services. The Indian legal profession is highly unequal, with ‘prestige’ being the currency of upward professional mobility. The professional regulator, the Bar Council of India, simply lacks the capacity to regulate quality. As a consequence, clients lack the information to access lawyers, and to understand the outcomes they desire from them, and the fees they have …

Depaul Digest

DePaul Magazine

College of Communication faculty Matthew Ragas and Ron Culp mentor students on gaining access to executive-level administration. News briefs on exciting developments at DePaul University’s 10 colleges and schools, from nursing students studying public health protocols in Prague to a new DePaul-hosted conference exploring AI in filmmaking. DePaul alumni volunteers share their experiences spreading the Vincentian mission nationwide.

Guidelines On Access To Justice And Effective Remedies In The Context Of Toxics, Marcos Orellana

PEEL Faculty Scholarship

Guidelines on access to justice and effective remedies in the context of toxics

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, Marcos Orellana.

Positioning Justice: A Legal Cascade Of Sexual Violence Cases In Mombasa, Kenya, Melanie Olum, Gerald Githinji, Abigael Kenga, Abel Nyabera Mokua, Morris Kiio, Nawal Aliyan, Iqbal Khandwala, Celina Kithinji, Saida Wanjiku, Marleen Temmerman

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Introduction: Seeking legal redress for sexual violence (SV) is a daunting process for survivors. They must navigate their personal trauma societal stigma, and flawed systems, creating an arduous path to justice. This study was conducted to assess patterns of SV within Mombasa County, Kenya, and details the legal follow-up post-SV care.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using data from SV survivors attending the Gender-Based Violence and Recovery Centre (GBVRC) at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital (CGTRH) between 2017 and 2023. Data sources include post-rape care (PRC) forms, clinician notes, quarterly reports, police reports, counsellor …

No Lawyer, No Jail: A Critical Case Study Of Pragmatism And The Flaws Of “Purposeful” Decision Making In Argersinger V. Hamlin, Alisa Smith, Sarah K. Stice

Seattle University Law Review

By releasing conference notes and internal communications, Supreme Court Justices provide insight into the otherwise private decisionmaking process, shedding light on how case outcomes and legal reasoning are framed and negotiated. The watershed case of Argersinger v. Hamlin (1972) extended the constitutional right to counsel to some, but not all, misdemeanor defendants. The case was argued twice, and the Court relied on empirical and authoritative sources to answer complex and practical questions about requiring counsel. This case study employs critical discourse analysis to uncover what influenced the Justices’ decisions and how they framed, shaped, and constructed social realities to foreground …

Modern Day Colonialism Through HawaiʻI’S Quiet Title And Partition Laws, Cheyann Fujii

Seattle University Law Review

This Note will attempt to highlight important aspects of Hawaiian history to provide readers with a clear picture on how Native Hawaiians are still impacted by colonialism, specifically when plaintiffs bring a quiet title or partition action against Native Hawaiian owners of kuleana lands. Before colonization, the concept of private land ownership did not exist in Hawai‘i, and Native Hawaiians adopted a feudal system by dividing land into geographical areas. Missionaries and businessmen brought Western ideas to Hawai‘i and influenced legislation such as the Great Māhele and the Kuleana Land Act of 1850, which solidified the concept of private property. …

Case Law On American Indians: September 2023 - August 2024, Thomas P. Schlosser

American Indian Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Changemakers: Tracy Harper: Juris Doctorate: A Pioneer In The Provision Of Immigration Legal Services 03-2025, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

The Cardozo Center For Public Service Law Invites You To: P*Law 2025, Cardozo Center For Public Service Law

2025 Event Invitations

Cardozo's commitment to public service is highlighted every January during Public Interest Law Advocacy Week (P*LAW), a series of events that includes daily panels and workshops featuring inspiring conversations about the practice of public interest law. Join us for P*LAW 2025, which will feature panels discussing immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive freedom, human rights, labor relations, and more.