Dei Newsletter 2025 Volume 3 Issue 1, University Of Maine School Of Law

DEI Newsletter

• BIPOC Meet & Greet Event on Feb. 20
• Maine Law BLSA Delegates Shine at
• NEBLSA Regional Convention
• Seeking Applications for 2025-2026 Community Outreach & Inclusion Fellow Position
• Bias Incident Student Feedback Requested
• Upcoming Events
• Around Town
• Living Room Library

Standing To Enforce The Future: Citizen Suits And Climate Change, Jordan Budd, Margaret Sova Mccabe

Law Faculty Scholarship

This Article takes as its starting point the premise that Congress, facing an existential climate catastrophe, might choose to impose direct and significant restrictions on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Were it to do so, federal policy would require powerful enforcement mechanisms to reach the myriad emission sources fueling the nation’s vast contribution to global warming.

Among the most potent and far-reaching enforcement tools available to Congress are citizen suits—actions brought by private litigants to enforce federal regulations and to hold agencies accountable for related inaction. Private enforcement in the context of climate change, however, faces a nearly insurmountable barrier—Article III …

Taxes And Certainty: Challenges In Judicial Review Of U.S. Tax Legislation, Reuven S. Avi-Yonah, Moshe Jaffe

Law & Economics Working Papers

The application of judicial review to tax legislation presents unique challenges and inconsistencies. Unlike other forms of legislation, tax laws in the United States are seldom invalidated by the Supreme Court, and when this does occur, it is done using various and inconsistent tests, suggesting a need for a more balanced and effective approach. This paper explores the U.S. court's approach to judicial review in tax cases, empirically analyzing the methods and tests used in key decisions. The findings will reveal a complex and inconsistent picture, highlighting the need for a more coherent approach. Additionally, the research will analyze several …

Is The Housing Access Voucher Program The Solution To New York’S Affordable Housing Crisis?, Ushna Khan

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights and Social Justice (ERSJ) Blog

New York City’s affordable housing crisis has reached an alarming state, with nearly half of renters spending more than thirty percent of their annual income on rent, and eviction filings surpassing pre-COVID pandemic levels.  The rising eviction rate continues to disproportionately impact low-income and marginalized communities.  The longstanding impact of antiquated, restrictive zoning policies, underinvestment in affordable housing, and mounting construction costs have compounded the housing crisis into a “state of emergency” in New York.

This post was originally published on the Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights and Social Justice website on February 27, 2025. The original post can be …

Is The Housing Access Voucher Program The Solution To New York’S Affordable Housing Crisis?, Ushna Khan

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights and Social Justice (ERSJ) Blog

No abstract provided.

Collaborative Study Guide Assignment: Materials, Templates, “Reusable” Pedagogy, Penny Geyer

Open Educational Resources

This collaborative study guide assignment engages undergraduate criminal justice students in defining key concepts related to research methods through a peer-driven, reusable process. Along with an overview, this document includes multiple instructional materials, including a pedagogical rationale for student-created study guides, detailed instructions for six sequential assignments, grading rubrics, and a structured study guide template. Each assignment follows a rotating role system: students alternate between acting as “creators,” who draft definitions and examples for assigned terms, and “editors,” who provide feedback and refine content. Contributions are compiled in a shared doc or within the Brightspace LMS, culminating in a comprehensive, …

From High Hopes To Hesitation: What Rfk Jr.’S Senate Confirmation Hearings Say About His Current Stance On Marijuana Reform, Andrew Greenberg

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights and Social Justice (ERSJ) Blog

Recently, Robert F. Kennedy (“RFK”) Jr.’s nomination for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) was confirmed by the Senate, and he will soon become the leader of America’s largest health agency.  While some of his controversial claims include his “refusal to embrace science that shows vaccines do not cause autism” and “denials of the efficacy of vaccines” in general, he has also advocated for the federal decriminalization of marijuana.  However, his more recent declarations and the government forces at play mean this decriminalization will not likely come to fruition.

This post was originally published on the …

Researching The U.S. Senate Presidential Nominee Confirmation Process, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

The beginning of 2025 has seen renewed public attention and emphasis on the constitutionally mandated U.S. Senate confirmation process. This stems from the beginning of the second Trump Administration as its nominees navigate this process. The presentation provides historical background on this process, demonstrates what nominees, Senate oversight committees, and the full Senate in administering this process and enables readers to find out how to access information resources documenting this process. The confirmation process continues throughout presidential administrations and may involve little public attention and controversy or acute public attention and controversy. The contrasting 2025 confirmation experiences of Secretary of …

15th Annual Ballsa Celebration Event Flyer, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

2024–2025 Flyers

Promotional graphic for the 15th Annual BALLSA Celebration held on February 27, 2025, at The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. The annual celebration honored Daniel J. Dominguez ’05 and recognized the achievements and contributions of Cardozo’s diverse community through the BALLSA Alumni Celebration, one of the law school’s signature annual events.

Neurocriminology: A Beginner’S Guide, Jerrod Brown

Forensic Scholars Today

No abstract provided.

Neurocriminology: Revolutionizing Specialized Training For Criminal Justice System Professionals, Janina Cich

Forensic Scholars Today

No abstract provided.

A Distinctive Court: A Glimpse Into The History And Significance Of The D.C. Circuit, Hon. J. Michelle Childs, James J. Brudney

Jurist in Residence Lectures

In her lecture, Judge J. Michelle Childs discusses the unique nature of the docket of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, highlighting its collegiality as well as its role in addressing issues of national significance, particularly in administrative cases and those involving the scope of governmental power.

Beyond Congestion Pricing, Gregory H. Shill

Journal of Law and Mobility

After years of political and legal efforts to block it, congestion pricing finally went into effect in New York City in January 2025. Early indications are positive, though threats to its continuation from the Trump administration and others remain. But its journey to this point has already made one thing clear: it is time for the Big Apple to seize more of its own destiny in transportation policy.

The battles that delayed and still imperil the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s congestion pricing scheme underscore the need for policies that New York City can implement unilaterally. Making urban transportation policy in the …

Early Neutral Evaluation: Flawed Foundations In Statistical Predictions, Jacqueline Kitzes

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution (CJCR) Blog

Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE) is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) designed to help parties resolve disputes more efficiently. It is an increasingly popular method encouraged by courts and private providers alike. ENE involves a neutral third party, often an experienced attorney or retired judge, who assesses the strengths and weaknesses of each party’s case early in the dispute. The primary goal is to encourage parties to focus on the strengths and weaknesses of their cases and their opponent’s early in the litigation process, potentially avoiding unnecessary pre-trial expenses. ENE aims to facilitate a more informed negotiation process and …

Subcontracting Agreements, Salem Saleh Alameri

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This study examines subcontracting agreements, which play a crucial role in the construction sector, particularly given the increasing complexity of engineering projects and the need to distribute tasks among specialized contractors. The research aims to analyze the legal challenges associated with these agreements, including the obligations of the parties, the scope of liability, and mechanisms for dispute resolution. It also highlights the relationship between the main contractor and the subcontractor, as well as the role of legal frameworks, including FIDIC contracts, in regulating this relationship.
The study concludes that subcontracting agreements significantly enhance the efficiency of engineering project execution; however, …

Wipo Negotiations On Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources And Associated Traditional Knowledge, Peter K. Yu

Akron Law Review

This article examines the ongoing negotiations at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) regarding the protection of genetic resources, traditional knowledge (TK), and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs). It provides a comprehensive overview of the historical background, key provisions, challenges, and reflections on the diplomatic efforts leading to the establishment of the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Associated Traditional Knowledge (GRATK Treaty). It explores issues surrounding disclosure obligations, including the lack of a clear definition for "confidential information" and the debate over sanctions and remedies. The article examines the challenges and implications of key provisions in the Basic …

Do Androids Dream Of Economic Incentives?, Timothy Murphy

Akron Law Review

Current discussions on artificial intelligence inventorship or authorship are focused in the patent and copyright spaces. These discussions largely ignore the trade secrets space outside the context of other’s ownership of AI-related technology. This is likely due to the disconnect between creatorship and ownership that exists in trade secrets law, but that is not present in patent and copyright law. In particular, there is no requirement of human creatorship in trade secrets law, but patents and copyrights might require a human creator. This article explores the possibility of AI ownership of AI-generated information under current trade secrets law for modern …

Governing Generative Ai, Daryl Lim

Akron Law Review

This Article paper explores the evolving landscape of copyright law in the age of generative artificial intelligence, dissecting the multifaceted challenges and opportunities it presents for creators, legal practitioners, and policymakers. Part I, “Governing Authorship,” delves into the existential questions AI poses to traditional notions of creativity and authorship, illustrating the tension between innovation and the preservation of human creators’ rights within existing legal frameworks. Part II, “Governing Infringement,” examines the intricate issues of copyright infringement in the digital era, especially the unauthorized use of copyrighted content by AI for training purposes and the exploration of private ordering mechanisms as …

Virginia Bar Exam, February 2025, Section 2

Virginia Bar Exam Archive

No abstract provided.

Virginia Bar Exam, February 2025, Section 1

Virginia Bar Exam Archive

No abstract provided.

Professor Jessica Roth Quoted In The New York Times About Justice Dept. Targeting Sdny, Jessica A. Roth

Cardozo Law News Archive

Professor Jessica Roth spoke to The New York Times about Emil Bove III, the acting deputy attorney general, targeting the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York over the Trump administration's plans to seek the dismissal of corruption charges against Mayor Eric Adams.

From Bots To Ballots: Democratic Integrity In The Era Of Digital Manipulation, Dalit Ken-Dror Feldman, Yifat Nahmias

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

Rudderless And Adrift: States’ Unwarranted Timidity Respecting Stateless Vessels, Andrew Norris

International Law Studies

This article argues that there is no international legal impediment to any State robustly asserting prescriptive, enforcement, or adjudicative jurisdiction over vessels without nationality. It first examines the rules relating to vessel nationality to demonstrate the strong international preference that vessels be properly flagged in a particular State. It then examines the phenomenon of vessels without nationality, with a focus on what constitutes statelessness, and what the contemporary understanding is of the jurisdictional effect of that status. It concludes with a legal analysis, based on the Lotus principle and a recent U.S. appellate court decision that relied upon it, of …

Let’S Be Cool About It: Anticipating Proper, Whole-Human Cryopreservation And The Necessary Oversight For Adequate Consumer Protection, Peter Lyon

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

I Am Become Meme, Manipulator Of Markets: An Analysis Of Elon Musk’S Tweets Under The Anti-Manipulation Provisions Of U.S. Securities Laws, Noah Schottenbauer

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

State Of Utah Plaintiff/ Appellee V. Michael Curwick Defendant/ Appellant : Reply Brief, Utah Court Of Appeals

Utah Court of Appeals Briefs (2020 –)

On appeal from the Second Judicial District Court, Weber County, Honorable Richard Mrazik, District Court No. 231500076

Aubrey Bisbee, Derek Brown, Counsel for Appellee

Freyja Johnson, Rachel Phillips Ainscough, Anna Grigsby, Counsel for Appellant

Brief Of Law Scholars As Amicus Curiae In Support Of Appellees And Affirmance, Charles Duan

Amicus Briefs & Court Filings

Amici are law professors and scholars who focus their scholarship and teaching on intellectual property law, property law, regulatory law, and health law. They write to address the plaintiff, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Novartis), contention that the Medicare drug price negotiation program effectuates a taking of personal property in violation of the Fifth Amendment. Amici submit this brief to provide the Court with the historical and legal background necessary to understand two issues: first, the constitutionality of government price negotiations and price regulations; second, the federal government’s use of patents. The amici explain how Courts have historically ruled on these questions, …

The Court We Need: Why The Supreme Court Is Worth Saving—Especially From Itself With Professor Steven I. Vladeck, Stephen I. Vladeck

2025 Event Invitations

For all of the ink that has been spilled over the Supreme Court in recent years, no one has been able to bridge the growing divide between those who think we should bury the Court and those who think we should praise it. Meanwhile, public faith in the Court continues to decline. The result has been an erosion of the Court’s moral authority and an impasse about how to restore it at the exact moment when we most need it—with the other institutions of government increasingly unable or unwilling to check each other. Now, more than ever, we need a …

Vol. 68, No. 07 (February 24, 2025)

Indiana Law Annotated

No abstract provided.

The Solidarity Spectrum: De-Solidarity, Anti-Solidarity, And Resistance, Obiora C. Okafor, Gabriella Sanchez, Sarah Soto

Articles & Book Chapters

In this essay, we examine legal and political challenges to solidarity with and among migrants. We begin by describing the disturbing and powerful turn toward de-solidarity, particularly in some Global North countries, that threatens to undermine the global refugee and migration law regime. Politicians seek to capitalize upon racial fears of migrants from the Global South to reject solidarity (with the latter group) as a concept and pursue anti-immigrant laws and policies. We next examine anti-solidarity, as shown by the criminalization of humanitarian assistance as migrant smuggling. Both de-solidarity and anti-solidarity operate through law and race to constrain human mobility …