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The U.S. Critical Minerals List: Between A Rock And A Hard Place, Wesley Peebles

Fordham Environmental Law Review

Critical minerals are minerals found essential to economic and national security and vulnerable to supply chain disruptions. Congress and presidents from both political parties have actively promoted critical mineral production, offering up billions of dollars to secure mineral supply chains. The federal government has invested to increase domestic mineral production, grow global partnerships, and reinvigorate U.S. industry in an attempt to reduce the risk of supply disruptions for these valuable minerals. To identify which minerals are critical to the United States, Congress tasked the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), to evaluate and identify a …

Confinement And Consent: A Comparative Analysis Of Sexual Abuse In Finnish And U.S. Prisons, Madison A. Greico

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

The Bangkok Rules and The Basic Principles for The Treatment of Prisoners are a specific outline of protections and rights for individuals( Bangkok specifically about women) within prisons adopted by the United Nations compromising states. While The United States is a leader in the United Nations and adopted this set of rules, their failures of commitment are extremely apparent. Every year, thousands of prison rapes occur behind bars in New York alone by the very guards meant to protect them. In Finland, another United Nations member, however, has virtually no record of sexual abuse within their prisons. In investigation of …

Deepfake Danger: The Urgent Need For Federal Protections Against Ai-Generated Pornography, Benjamin Comfort

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

No abstract provided.

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The Effectiveness Of Public-Private Partnerships In Addressing Residential Urban Development Challenges In Greater Cairo, Sara Nagy Abdelmessih

Theses and Dissertations

This research explores the effectiveness of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in tackling the residential urban development challenges facing Cairo today. In the past two decades, PPPs have emerged as a dominant mode of housing production, positioned as collaborative ventures between state agencies and private developers. They have become integral to the expansion of Greater Cairo, producing vast new urban extensions under the promise of mobilizing private capital, technical expertise, and delivery capacity. Yet, questions remain about whether these arrangements genuinely address Egypt’s most urgent housing needs, or whether they reproduce market-driven logics that leave large segments of the population excluded.

The …

Law And The (Re)Production Of Class Hierarchies In Egypt, Ahmad Abdelnaby

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates how Egypt’s legal system, structurally tilted toward the elite and constitutive of inequality, has interacted with the country’s entrenched culture of class-based discrimination to produce a legal culture uniquely comfortable with hierarchy. It contends that class-based discrimination in Egypt has evolved from a social prejudice into a juridical condition, one in which the law does not merely mirror inequality but actively constructs and rationalizes it. By examining the intersection between legal structure and Egypt’s entrenched moral order of class-based discrimination, the study reveals a legal culture that no longer hides its hierarchies behind the veil of neutrality …

The Taxing Ambiguity: Defining "Return" In Bankruptcy Dischargeability Cases, Elizabeth Tsai

Cleveland State Law Review

This Note examines the circuit split over the dischargeability of tax debts tied to late-filed returns, which has led to inconsistent bankruptcy outcomes and inequitable treatment of debtors across jurisdictions. Some courts, adopting the strict “one-day-late” rule, hold that any tax return filed even a single day past its deadline is not a “return” for bankruptcy discharge purposes, permanently barring relief. Others apply a more flexible standard grounded in the Beard test, considering a debtor’s good-faith compliance efforts. This inconsistency contradicts the fresh start principle of bankruptcy law, disproportionately harms low-income debtors, and fails to serve the government’s tax collection …

Legal Implications Of The Mauritius V Maldives Case On The Delimitation Of Archipelagic States, Aishath Ruhsha Nasheed, Mohd Hisham Mohd Kamal

Indonesian Journal of International Law

Maritime boundary delimitation is a complex field of international law characterized by uncertainty and unpredictability. Historically, States have relied on case law to develop and elaborate on the ambiguous provisions stipulated under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) concerning maritime boundary delimitation. However, case law related to the maritime delimitation of archipelagic States is limited, leading to conflicting interpretations of the basic principles of maritime delimitation in the context of archipelagic States. This paper aims to examine the legal implications of the latest Mauritius v. Maldives case on the maritime boundary delimitation of archipelagic States. …

The Structural Obligations Approach To Human Rights, David Birchall

Indonesian Journal of International Law

This paper starts from the observations that access to socio-economic rights is retrogressing in many wealthy states and that human rights argumentation is failing to address the causes of this retrogression. The paper locates a core reason for this failure in an imbalance between narrow but forceful claim rights and inclusive but imprecise structural approaches. It builds a form of rights practice that merges the strength of each approach. It is predicated on five key principles: structural obligations should identify discrete rights-based problems that engender specific obligations upon feasibly obligated duty-bearers to make practicable changes to conduct to realise rights …

Finding Luis: A Creative Nonfiction Account Of Law & Society, Jason M. Leggett

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This essay explores the contradictions in legal theory and human experience through creative nonfiction. Its main purpose is to argue that a truly just society requires acknowledging the profound influence of individual narratives on the law. This is supported by blending personal narratives, critical analysis, and philosophical inquiry to reveal the gap between codified law and lived realities for marginalized individuals. This unique Legal Poetics methodology employs a series of six vignettes, such as the author's and Luis's shared experiences with traumatic brain injury and the denial of justice, as data. By integrating autoethnography, law as narrative, and performativity theories, …

The Poly Problem In Zoning: Redefining "Family" For A Changing Society, Aric K. Short, Tanya Pierce

Faculty Scholarship

Single-family zoning has long dictated not only where people may live but also with whom. Although extensively critiqued for perpetuating racial and economic exclusion, these laws also privilege relationships defined by blood, marriage, or adoption and marginalize nontraditional families. This Article focuses on a particularly overlooked group: polyamorous families who often face legal uncertainty, social exclusion, and housing discrimination due to restrictive zoning definitions of “family.”

As polyamory gains cultural visibility and increasing legal recognition—through West 49th Street, LLC v. O’Neill and municipal reforms in cities like Somerville and Cambridge—now is the time to examine zoningÊs role in reinforcing outdated …

Recommendations For Developing A Regulatory Sandbox And A Comprehensive Legal Framework For Fintech In Vietnam - Part I, Sue M. Altmeyer, Phan Dang Hai

Akron Law Faculty Publications

Fintech, a product of the 4.0 revolution, has experienced rapid growth in Vietnam, attracting significant attention from investors and government agencies. In encouraging innovation, the authors write, the need for a practical legal framework to regulate fintech activities has become a critical issue. The authors believe that this new legal framework should include a regulatory sandbox, which would allow fintech startups to test their products in a controlled environment, helping to mitigate risks, foster creativity, and enhance regulatory oversight. This two-part article discusses challenges in creating and implementing a regulatory sandbox and provides recommendations for overcoming these hurdles. This first …

Between Borders And Bodies: Sovereignty, Universality, And The Crisis Of Enforcement In International Law, Aliaa Riad Hassanien Aliaa Riad

Theses and Dissertations

Atrocities such as genocide and war crimes persist not despite international law, but within its very structure. Although international law is designed to protect humanity, it repeatedly fails to do so due to its inability to enforce its most fundamental norms. In the absence of enforcement, the law exists—but merely stands still. This failure stems from the structural contradictions embedded in the system—specifically, the tension between the principles of sovereignty and universality. As a result, international law has become a selective, politicized, and ineffective framework. Incidents such as the Rwandan genocide and the civil wars in Syria and Sudan demonstrate …

Sahel Region In French Postcolonial Discourse: Macron's Production Of Space And Security Rhetoric, Azzahrah F. A Putri, Abellia Anggi Wardani Dr.

International Review of Humanities Studies

Between the Sahara Desert and the Sudanese Savannah, the Sahel region has become a contested geopolitical space. This study analyses how France is reconstructing its hegemony following its military withdrawal through the rhetoric of Emmanuel Macron (2021 and 2025). Using Critical Discourse Analysis (Fairclough, 1995) and the theory of spatial production (Lefebvre, 1974), this study examines how the discourses of “partnership” and “security” are employed to maintain French influence. Qualitative methods were applied to Macron's speeches, French media, and statements by former presidents of Sahel countries. The results show that France is redefining the Sahel as a ‘crisis zone’ requiring …

Preserving Cultural Memory And Identity Of Eviction Through Digital Archives: A Case Study Of @Tamansarimelawan Instagram Account, Zulfi Al Hakim, Himawan Pratama, Mochamad Aviandy

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study examines how the Instagram account @tamansarimelawan plays a significant role in preserving collective memory and the identity of marginalized groups through digital archives. In the context of the Taman Sari urban village community, which resisted land eviction for the construction of row houses in Bandung, this research explores how Instagram as a social media platform contributes to the formation and maintenance of collective memory and community identity. Using content analysis of the @tamansarimelawan account, the study investigates the mechanisms through which social media functions as a digital repository, a medium for fostering a sense of belonging and continuity, …

Public Perception Of Pedestrian Space In Industrial Zones: A Case Study Of The Pulogadung Industrial Zone, Herlina Merinda, Hayati Sari Hasibuan, Sri Setiawati Tumuyu

International Review of Humanities Studies

Addressing the difficulties of sustainable development, the Jakarta Industrial Estate Pulogadung encounters the challenge of becoming more inclusive in constructing infrastructure for walkers by creating paths that are friendly for pedestrians As walking serves as an important sustainable and healthful means of transport, having pedestrian pathways can enhance how the public views pedestrian accessibility in their workplace. This, in turn, can promote the use of more eco-friendly public transport options. This research aims to explore how the public views pedestrians in industrial zones, with the goal of promoting spaces that are friendly to walkers. The study utilized a quantitative method …

Extraordinary Or Excessive? Rethinking Nonretroactive Changes In Decisional Law As Grounds For Compassionate Release, Anna Zumbar

Akron Law Review

Federal courts are deeply divided on whether nonretroactive changes in decisional law affecting sentencing are an “extraordinary and compelling reason” for compassionate release under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A), The First, Second, Fourth, and Tenth Circuits recognize district courts’ broad discretion to weigh such changes, emphasizing that broad judicial discretion supports consideration of any relevant factors. In contrast, the Sixth, Seventh, Eights, and D.C. Circuits exclude nonretroactive changes in decisional law from consideration, confining “extraordinary and compelling reasons” to narrower circumstances. This circuit split has produced inconsistent outcomes, with similarly situated defendants subject to disparate treatment based solely on geography. The …

Land Use And Sovereignty Along The Catawba River, Thomas C. Brugh, Lucile C. Rencher

Student Scholarship

This document-based case study explains how land-use change along the Catawba River Corridor (Lancaster and York Counties, South Carolina) has been produced through the interaction of property rights (dominium) and rule-setting authority (imperium), showing why sovereignty continues to shape development even after land disputes appear “settled.” Through analyzing legal records (Treaty of Nation Ford, the 1959 Catawba Division of Assets Act, the 1986 Supreme Court timing decision, and the 1993 Settlement Act), planning documents, parcel records, and field observations, we trace how shifting jurisdiction and title certainty structured what kinds of land uses were possible and when. We argue that …

The Disaster Management Complex: Law’S Adaptations In Times Of Climate Disaster, Michael Burger, Jeffrey Schlegelmilch, Lucia Bragg

University of Chicago Legal Forum

The Anthropocene is marked by constant climate-related disasters and defined by the urgent need to foster and implement adaptations to future climate impacts that reduce disaster risk. The intensity, frequency, and severity of extreme weather events continue to rise even as nations and corporations alike miss their emissions targets, all promising a hotter, wetter, and more extreme future. A number of federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), have, at times, sought to adapt their own famously fragmented responses to these changing circumstances. However, federal disaster response is conducted against a backdrop of authorizing legislation that is designed …

Women In Law And The Draft, Thomas Helgerman, Benjamin David Pyle

Faculty Scholarship

Between 1964 and 1973, women’s representation in full-time law school programs rose fivefold, from 3.7% to 20.1%. This paper examines whether Vietnam War draft policy contributed to this increase. In 1968, men enrolled in law school lost eligibility for 2-S student deferments, threatening law schools’ tuition revenues and incentivizing schools to admit more women to stabilize enrollment. To test this mechanism, we construct a school-by-year dataset of enrollment counts split by women/men and full-time/part-time status. Using a uniform adoption difference-in-differences design, we find that women’s representation rises by 2 percentage points in full-time programs relative to part-time programs (which were …

Burdened Communities, Beleaguered Wombs, & Barren Choices: The Impact Of Dobbs On Environmental And Reproductive Justice, Emily R. Rudo, Elizabeth E. Sharp, Michael R. Desjardins

Journal of Health Care Law and Policy

No abstract provided.

The Question Of “Territory” In The Wto Jurisprudence: A Critique Of Panel's Decision On Us-Origin Marking Requirement Dispute, Yuanyuan Ren

Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law

This article draws on the US—Origin Marking Requirement case study to critically examine the concept of “territory” under the World Trade Organization (WTO) law, particularly in relation to trade with contested territories among WTO members. It argues that while trade with contentious territories is not explicitly covered in current WTO rules, WTO law does provide a regulatory framework for tackling such issues. Nevertheless, resolving trade disputes involving contested territories at the WTO remains challenging, particularly due to the limited discussion on the notion of “territory” and the national security exceptions in WTO jurisprudence. The US—Origin Marking Requirement case marks the …

Unlocking The Benefits Of Transparent And Reusable Science For Climate Risk Management, Adam B. Pollack, Lisa Auermuller, Casey D. Burleyson, Jentry Campbell, Madison Condon, Courtney Cooper, Matteo Coronese, Sönke Dangendorf, James Doss-Gollin, Prabhat Hegde, Casey Helgeson, Robert E. Kopp, Jan Kwakkel, Corey Lesk, Justin Mankin, Robert E. Nicholas, Jennie Rice, Samantha Roth, Vivek Srikrishnan, Moira Scheeler, Nancy Tuana, Chris Vernon, Mengqi Zhao, Klaus Keller

Faculty Scholarship

People around the world seek climate risk information to guide their decisions. For instance, projections about future flood risk inform where households choose to live, how lenders manage credit risks, and which communities receive federal funding. Yet data limitations and fundamental validation challenges raise important concerns about the reliability of such projections. The principles of transparency and reusability help address these concerns by enabling scrutiny of assumptions and methods, development of foundational data and tools, and consistent application of evaluation standards. While there is ongoing debate about how much transparency commercial climate risk services should provide, many expect noncommercial actors …

The Corpus Juris Of (Alaska Native) Inherent Tribal Sovereignty, Nazune Menka

Alaska Law Review

The inherent Tribal sovereignty of Native nations predates the formation of the United States and is reflected in the constitutional vision of tripartite sovereignty. Yet their sovereignty is oft diminished explicitly by federal law or implicitly by federal courts. This implicit divestiture is often the result of the federal judiciary’s inconsistent interpretations of Indigenous Peoples law. This Article argues that a more principled and coherent approach for federal judges would be to consistently make use of the corpus juris, or whole body of law, including the in pari materia or affiliated statutes canon. The Article posits that the corpus juris …

Where There’S Fire, There’S Smoke: Regulation Of Fine Particulate Air Pollution In The Fairbanks North Star Borough, Caleb T. Anderson

Alaska Law Review

In 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency strengthened the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 24-hour fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5). A large portion of the Fairbanks North Star Borough, encompassing the cities of Fairbanks and North Pole, was designated a Clean Air Act nonattainment area under the revised PM2.5 standards. Wood smoke from home heating was found to be one of the primary culprits, particularly during strong inversions that trap air pollution at ground level. This Article reviews the complex legal history of federal, state, and local efforts to bring the Fairbanks area into compliance with the NAAQS. …

Land Use Zoning: The Answer To Housing Affordability? A Look At Aukland, New Zealand And Minneapolis, Minnesota, Charlsey Kelly

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

For many individuals, purchasing their first home is a monumental step which they look forward to for years. Homes are one of the most valuable assets individuals purchase within their lifetime. In the current housing market, reaching this milestone is becoming more and more difficult for individuals. Adequate and affordable housing is scarce. This is not just an issue plaguing the United States, but it is an issue many metro areas worldwide currently face.

Forever Un-Wild: How The Forever Wild Clause “Locks Up” New York’S Closed Correctional Facilities, William Carswell

Pace Environmental Law Review

Article XIV of the New York State Constitution, better known as the “Forever Wild Clause,” enshrines a conservationist ideal into law. The crux of article XIV prohibits the leasing, selling, or exchanging of state-owned land within New York’s Forest Preserve to private entities. Since its inception, this mandate has dictated the State’s approach to management of its Forest Preserve. Whenever New York decides to excise a piece of its Forest Preserve, the cumbersome yet necessary constitutional amendment process is triggered. Renewed attention to this legal requirement is peaking. Since 2009, five former Department of Corrections and Community Supervision sites located …

Legendary Houses: Trademarks, Transformation, And Ballroom Culture, Elizabeth L. Rosenblatt

Akron Law Review

No abstract provided.

Private Money: Stablecoins, Bitcoin, And The Genius Act, Henry H. Perritt Jr.

UC Law Science and Technology Journal

Cryptocurrency has been legalized in the United States. The 2025 GENIUS Act provides a sensible regulatory framework for cryptocurrency as a medium of exchange while avoiding predicted monetary chaos. The Act correctly distinguishes between volatile fiat cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which are unsuitable as payment mechanisms, and stablecoins backed by traditional currencies and reserves.

Historical analysis spanning American monetary systems from the “free banking era” before 1860 through modern digital payments demonstrates that private money has long coexisted with government currency but requires appropriate regulation to prevent bank runs, fraud, and monetary instability. The GENIUS Act addresses key cryptocurrency risks—technological failures, …

Reviving Novorossiya: Russia’S Invasion Of Ukraine Under International Law

Washington International Law Journal

Abstract: For nearly three years, the Eastern European nation of Ukraine has been entangled in a war it did not instigate, did not desire, but was forced into by its more powerful neighbor, Russia. Since the onset of the war, Russia has faced accusations of widespread atrocities, including severe violations of human rights, international humanitarian law, and breaches of other international norms. Following the inauguration of United States (US) President Donald Trump, there has been a renewed effort to bring both parties to the negotiating table and end the conflict. With the ongoing negotiations, there is no better time to …