Digital Commons Network^™

The Other Right To Counsel: The Civil Guarantee In State Constitutions, Dmitry Bam

Maine Law Review

When most people speak of the right to counsel, they speak in the singular. After the Supreme Court’s seminal decision in Gideon v. Wainwright, the right to counsel in criminal prosecutions has become one of our most cherished fundamental rights. It is a right ingrained in our culture. Even children can recite the mantra that the accused have the right to a lawyer, and if they can’t afford a lawyer, one will be provided to them free of charge. It is no surprise, then, that our constitutional focus is trained on the criminal defendant’s right to counsel. After all, there …

United States V. Alfonso: The Eleventh Circuit's Choice To Follow The Tide Of Other Circuits In Deciding What Constitutes The High Seas, Jaidin Winsor

Ocean and Coastal Law Journal

In United States v. Alfonso, three appellants challenged the constitutionality of the assertion of subject matter jurisdiction by the United States over a vessel involved in illicit drug smuggling activity within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Dominican Republic. On appeal the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit rejected this challenge. The decision made by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals followed the approach taken explicitly by the Fourth Circuit and indirectly by the First and Second Circuits. This decision affirmed the expansive reach of United States territorial jurisdiction and is likely to encourage other cCircuits …

Should I Stay Or Should I Go? The National Flood Insurance Program And Where We Go When The Next Storm Hits, Kevin Fitzpatrick

Ocean and Coastal Law Journal

In Spring, Texas, there is a house that has flooded twenty times due to heavy rain and flooding, resulting in National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) payouts totaling over $912,000 to cover the repairs. This house’s current value is $42,000, so the payouts have dwarfed its value by over nineteen times. The story of this home is indicative of an ongoing crisis regarding the NFIP, but also a larger crisis of how we manage the risks of flooding in the United States. Flooding causes more damage in the United States than any other severe weather-related event, costing an average of $5 …

High Stakes On The High Seas: Sailing Through Mdlea Jursidictional Waters, Sean Kim

Ocean and Coastal Law Journal

This article argues that what makes the difference in success between these two regimes is how strictly the scientific advice underlying catch limits the advice is adhered to, and the influences allowed unto decisionmakers in the catch limit negotiation process. Whereas the United States uses the scientific advice about the MSY as a strict upper limit in determining annual catch limits, the EU does not. This allows stakeholders in the EU’s CFP governance, in particular fishing industry actors, to influence regulators to raise TACs above adequately precautionary levels in the name of “balancing” sustainable fishing with short-term economic interests. The …

"Tac-Ing" On Coherence: Achieving Sustainable Baltic Sea Fisheries Management By Hooking Precautionary Science And Greater Transparency In Eu Total Catch Negotiations, Patrick Seroogy

Ocean and Coastal Law Journal

This article argues that what makes the difference in success between these two regimes is how strictly the scientific advice underlying catch limits the advice is adhered to, and the influences allowed unto decisionmakers in the catch limit negotiation process. Whereas the United States uses the scientific advice about the MSY as a strict upper limit in determining annual catch limits, the EU does not. This allows stakeholders in the EU’s CFP governance, in particular fishing industry actors, to influence regulators to raise TACs above adequately precautionary levels in the name of “balancing” sustainable fishing with short-term economic interests. The …

Alaska's Hidden Gems: Advocating For The Protection Of Deep-Sea Corals, Both In The Courtroom And Beyond, Lauren Beizer

Ocean and Coastal Law Journal

Coral reefs are ecologically, financially, and aesthetically one of the world’s greatest resources. Off the coast of Alaska, many unique species of deep-sea cold-water corals exist and provide various public health benefits, contribute vital ecosystem functions to their surrounding environment, and serve as economic tourist attractions. Alaska’s corals reefs are exceedingly valuable to the earth due to their overall ecological value. However, these unique coral species significantly lack state and federal protections–which have recently been under consideration in several lawsuits at the federal level. American Oceans Campaign v. Daley and Oceana, Inc. v. National Marine Fisheries Service et al., are …

A Response To China'a "Legal Assessment Of U.S. Views On "Freedom Of Navigation", Raul Pete Pedrozo

Ocean and Coastal Law Journal

In August 2025, the China Institute for Marine Affairs (CIMA) conducted a legal assessment of U.S. views on freedom of navigation. CIMA concluded that U.S. views on freedom of navigation lack “a basis in international law,” “seriously distort[] the interpretation and development of international law,” and embody “distinct illegality, unreasonableness, and double standards.” Part 1 of the assessment provides an overview of U.S. views on freedom of navigation. Part 2 “analyzes the gaps between U.S. perceptions of navigational rights and related practices and the rules of international law.” Part 3 “analyzes the legality of U.S. restrictions on the rights of …

Rape And Sexual Assault On The High Seas: A Case Of Murky Jurisdiction, Linny Kit Tong Ng

Ocean and Coastal Law Journal

Rape and sexual assault on the high seas present a complex, dual-faceted challenge encompassing both legal and socio-cultural dimensions. The high seas are marked by jurisdictional ambiguity. International law assigns jurisdiction to the flag State of the vessel. However, many vessels are registered to States lacking adequate legal frameworks or the capacity to address such crimes effectively. While international law does allow for intervention by other States under certain principles of jurisdiction, the lack of legal clarity and political will often results in hesitation from non-flag States, except for the United States. This hesitance leaves victims without recourse. This Article …

Alternative Marine Fuels And Mrv Liability Under Unclos Part Xii, Andrey Chernov

Ocean and Coastal Law Journal

Shipping’s decarbonization depends not only on adopting alternative fuels but also on the reliability of the monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems that underpin compliance. Ammonia, hydrogen, methanol, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) each introduce distinctive risks of error at the stages of certification, custody transfer, onboard measurement, and verification. At the same time, maritime law is increasingly data-driven. The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) depend on reported fuel-use data, while the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) and FuelEU Maritime Regulation impose direct financial penalties for inaccurate reporting. This …

Ai-Assisted Inventorship: A Problem For Inventive Conception, Rana Matared, Harut Minasian

Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property

No abstract provided.

Regulating Manipulative Design Is Not Preempted By Cda 230 Or The First Amendment, Brett Frischmann, Peter Ormerod

Faculty Publications

For over two decades, there has been a heated debate among legal scholars, activists, judges, and others about the scope of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. A persistent theme in those debates has been hyperbolic claims about the necessity of immunity from state laws for digital tech platforms and fearmongering that anything less than maximum immunity will destroy the Internet.

This Article argues that states retain considerable discretion to regulate digital platforms’ design and engineering decisions. We argue that manipulation, engineered behavior, and even habituation and normalization of engineered behavior by digital platforms are content-agnostic harms attributable to …

The Institutional Production Of Ethical War Across Modern Conflict, Katerina Udov

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

This paper argues that modern warfare operates through an ethical infrastructure that enables, rather than restrains, the use of violence. Contrary to the common assumption that moral frameworks such as Just War Theory function as safeguards against harm, the historical record shows that ethical language, humanitarian rhetoric, and democratic narratives serve as mechanisms to legitimize intervention, manufacture consent, and naturalize civilian suffering. Through case studies including Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, U.S.-backed coups in Latin America, and French intervention in Mali, the paper traces how political leaders, media institutions, and corporate actors frame war as a moral necessity while pursuing strategic and …

Masthead, Chicago-Kent Journal Of Intellectual Property

Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property

No abstract provided.

Decoupling Innovation From Regulation: Why The U.S. Needs A General Statutory Experimental Use Exception, Shahrokh Falati, Ph.D.

Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property

No abstract provided.

Volume 16 Issue 2 - Full Issue

Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Letter From The Editor

Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

The Art Of Misuse: Could The European Union Benefit From The U.S. Copyright Doctrine?, Isabella Fazio

Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Direct Representation And Negotiorum Gestio In Scots Law, Jonathan Brown

Journal of Civil Law Studies

The Scottish Court of Session recognized, in 1887, that “it is a frequent case, if a man is not able to manage his affairs, and has a relative who is willing to take the responsibility, there are many instances in which, without their coming to the court… the management goes on with his assistance.” This being an arguably frequent occurrence has not resulted in it being a commonly litigated occurrence, and the topic of law engaged by this state of affairs—negotiorum gestio—is critically understudied within Scotland (and, arguably, other Civilian and mixed legal systems). Like Louisiana, Scotland is a ‘mixed’ …

The Creation Of Immovable Real Rights By Testament In Kosovo: A Comparative Approach, Bedri Bahtiri, Kastriote Vlahna

Journal of Civil Law Studies

The establishment of real rights over immovable property constitutes a central issue in contemporary civil law. This paper investigates whether a testament (testamentum) may function not merely as an instrument for the mortis causa transfer of existing real rights but also as a juridical title (titulus iuris) capable of constituting new real rights (constitutio iuris). The analysis emphasizes the doctrinal distinction between the transfer of ownership (translatio dominii) and the creation of rights (constitutio iuris) within the legal framework of Kosovo, further examined through a comparative lens with the German Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) and the French Code Civil.
Drawing on …

Collaboration, Coopération Et Intérêt Commun : La Fluidité De L’Exigence De Bonne Foi En Droit Égyptien Et Français Des Contrats, Rana Mohammad Safi

Journal of Civil Law Studies

Le contrat, étant la source d’obligation primordiale dans la société, a connu une évolution remarquable depuis le XIXe siècle. Créant des obligations réciproques, le contrat peut être perçu sous un prisme antagoniste, chaque contractant veillant à ses propres intérêts avant les intérêts du cocontractant. Cependant, le droit des obligations connut une émergence des devoirs contractuels, notamment avec l’introduction de la bonne foi, renforcée au cours du temps pour inclure, en plus de l’honnêteté, les devoirs d’information, de loyauté et de coopération. Certains ont même considéré que cette évolution a conduit à une « crise du contrat » affaiblissant le fondement …

Restrictions For The Modern-Day Child: Act 456, No. 162, Implementing Social Media Restrictions For Minors Under 18 In Louisiana, Elizabeth Kelone

Journal of Civil Law Studies

Student Note

Cover, Masthead & Contents

Journal of Civil Law Studies

Contents

Editorial, Olivier Moreteau

Journal of Civil Law Studies

For the first time since the pandemic, the Journal of Civil Law Studies returns to publishing two issues per year, enabling faster publication.

Revisiting The Genesis Of French Louisiana: It’S No Coincidence The Civil Code Was Adopted—We Ain’T Anglos!, Warren Perrin

Journal of Civil Law Studies

This article examines how Louisiana’s distinctive civil law tradition survived the Louisiana Purchase and became embedded in the state’s identity through the interaction of culture, migration, and political compromise. Tracing the development of French Louisiana from the Acadian diaspora to statehood, the article argues that the adoption and preservation of the civil code was not accidental, but rather the product of a deeply rooted Francophone and multicultural society resistant to Anglo-American common law traditions. The study highlights the influence of major historical figures including Thomas Jefferson, William C.C. Claiborne, Julien Poydras, Casa Calvo, and Edward Livingston, while also emphasizing the …

La Place De La Loi Dans Le Code Civil De 1804 : Regard Rétrospectif, Mustapha Mekki

Journal of Civil Law Studies

La loi était conçue en 1804 comme le modèle normatif. Elle était la reine des sources et remplissait une noble fonction pédagogique et morale. Ce constat pouvait être fait également du code civil louisianais. Avec le temps, la concurrence entre les sources, le pluralisme juridique, la globalisation, le dogme de l’efficacité, ont-ils eu raison de cette fonction modèle attribuée à la loi au début du 19e siècle ? Cette étude s’efforce d’exposer cette loi mise à l’épreuve et de présenter ce qu’il reste de ce modèle normatif dans notre paysage juridique.

Civil Code Reforms And Sources Of Law: The French And Quebec Experience Compared, Pascale Deumier, Mathieu Devinat

Journal of Civil Law Studies

Can civil codes be reformed “like any other piece of legislation?” A comparison of the French and Quebec experiences illustrates the methodological challenges that arose from civil code reform projects for the Civil Code of Québec during the last two Centuries. It also reveals the complex relationship that jurists have with “their” own civil code, in a civil law context.

The Civil Law English Terminology (Civlet), A Louisiana Gift To The World, Olivier Moreteau

Journal of Civil Law Studies

In the early 19th century, Louisiana codified its civil law in French and in English. In the 20th century, it translated French civilian doctrine and then produced its own civilian literature in English. Over time, lawmakers and translators have crafted and refined new English legal terminology suited to expressing civilian concepts, thereby setting aside common law terminology. Quebec joined the process once Canada imposed bilingualism, while other English-speaking mixed jurisdictions also contributed. This article shows how, outside the common law English terminology (COMLET), a civil law English terminology (CIVLET) is developing, and is also enriched by a comparative law English …

Digital Surveillance In Remote Work In Ukraine: Privacy And Labor Law, Olena Sereda, Olena Ye. Lutsenko, Dmytro Sirokha, Liubov Kotova, Iliana V. Zinovatna

Journal of Civil Law Studies

This study aims to examine the balance between employers’ rights to monitor employee performance and employees’ rights to privacy in the context of remote work, emphasizing the transformation of labor relations under the influence of digitalization, the COVID-19 pandemic, and martial law in Ukraine.
The research applies comparative legal analysis, synthesis, induction, and deduction to explore international experiences, particularly those of the EU and the United States, and their applicability to Ukrainian labor legislation. The methodology integrates doctrinal legal research with an interdisciplinary perspective on digital governance and employment law.
The paper reveals a significant gap in Ukrainian labor law …

Jurisprudential Approach To The Concept Of Intent In Greek Law 3869/2010 (Personal Bankruptcy) With Comparative Perspectives, Andreas-Nikolaos Koukoulis

Journal of Civil Law Studies

Under Law 3869/2010 in Greece, fraud plays a central role in determining eligibility for debt relief. The law aims to protect individuals from banking practices that have led them to over-indebtedness, except for those who know they cannot or do not wish to repay their debts. Fraud is defined as a subjective element that must be proven by the creditor, highlighting behaviors such as willful avoidance of payments despite having the means to do so. The evaluation of the debtor's actions is examined for intent, particularly considering factors such as the debtor's lack of experience or understanding. Greek courts emphasize …

Variations On Property And Power: Corporations, Absolute Dominium, And Partus Sequitur Ventrem In The 1825 Louisiana Civil Code, John A. Lovett

Journal of Civil Law Studies

Over the past year, the Louisiana legal community has celebrated the bicentennial of the 1825 Louisiana Civil Code with enthusiasm, observing its solidification of the civil law tradition in Louisiana and documenting its importance in the spread of civil law throughout the Americas. This Article focuses on three areas of the 1825 Civil Code that have generally not attracted significant scholarly attention in Louisiana but that have important socio-legal significance. 
First, the Article addresses twenty articles appearing toward the end of Book I of the Civil Code that allow, define, and regulate corporations. Even though private corporations were still rare …