Law Commons^™

Law School Exams During A Pandemic: One Law School’S Experience, Beth Parker

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental & Innovation Law

In 2020, toward the end of the spring semester, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted life across the globe. Institutions, including law schools, felt the widespread effects of this public health crisis. Law schools were forced to move entire curriculums online in record time and consider how they were going to administer final exams. There is no precedent or manual for how to do this successfully. Law school exams are inherently stressful events in a law student’s career because their performance on the exam inordinately influences their grades and class rankings. Typically, law students are already on edge during final exams without …

An Australian Conundrum: Genomic Technology, Data, And The Covidsafe App, David Morrison, Patrick T. Quirk

Pace International Law Review

This paper examines the difficulties that have arisen in Australia in the use of its contact-tracing app. We examine the privacy implications around the use of the app, the wider economic imperative, and the balancing of those concerns against the health threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. We posit that default options are superior in times of emergency and rather than begging for the adoption of lifesaving technology, we suggest that the evidence gathered by behavioral economists provides an apposite and powerful alternative worthy of consideration.

Covid-19’S Complications For Family Law Counsel: Domestic Violence And Threats To The Well-Being Of Children, J. Thomas Sullivan

The Arkansas Journal of Social Change and Public Service

No abstract provided.

Faculty & Staff Faq From 6 Ft. Together Portal, University Of Georgia School Of Law

COVID-19 Pandemic Archive

This Google Document was originally shared and linked to from within the 6 Ft. Together faculty, staff and student portal in 2020. A document was created for faculty and staff to access the most up to date information related to the pandemic and the law school. The last edit in this FAQ took place on December 17, 2020. It was edited by members of the School of Law problem solving team including Communications and Human Resources departments. A copy of this document has been preserved as a PDF for archival purposes.

Law School News: 'Unmatched Opportunities' 12-16-2020, Michael M. Bowden

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Law School News: Rwu Law Dean Seeking To Build On Culture Of Service, Innovation 12/09/2020, Barry Bridges, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Feminist Perspectives On Disaster, Pandemics, And Intimate Partner Violence, Margaret Drew

Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic brought international awareness to the likelihood of increased abuse of those in abusive intimate partner relationships because of the forced confinement with their abusers (Bettinger-Lopez and Bro, A double pandemic: domestic violence in the age of COVID 19, Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/in-brief/double-pandemic-domestic-violence-age-covid-19, 2020). While this awareness was much discussed, assistance to survivors of abuse was limited because survivors often could not reach out for help, nor could advocates wishing to offer assistance safely reach in to advise them (Taub, A new Covid-19 crisis: domestic abuse rises worldwide. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/world/coronavirus-domestic-violence.html, 2020). The ever-present influence of the …

Law Library Blog (December 2020): Legal Beagle's Blog Archive, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Law Library Newsletters/Blog

No abstract provided.

Elections: Elections And Primaries Through The Pandemic, Joseph M. Brickman, Logan D. Kirkes

Georgia State University Law Review

The 2020 election cycle was all but normal. Due to certain health concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia delayed its primary election three months from March to June and summarily mailed absentee ballot request forms to all active, registered voters. From presidential social media postings to a federal lawsuit, debate ensued over the widespread usage of absentee ballots, their overall effectiveness and security, who would receive request forms, and whether postage requirements qualified as an impermissible poll tax. To further compound these uncertainties, Georgia legislators, who are not permitted to fundraise or campaign during the forty-day legislative session, had …

Rwu Law News: The Newsletter Of Roger Williams University School Of Law 12-2020, Barry Bridges, Michael M. Bowden, Nicole Dyszlewski, Louisa Fredey

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Pledging Intellectual Property For Covid-19, Jorge L. Contreras

Utah Law Faculty Scholarship

COVID-19 differs from other recent public health crises with respect to its sudden onset, its rapid spread, the lack of any known vaccine or cure and resulting shortages of critical medical equipment. The convergence of these factors has prompted both governments and IPR holders around the world to seek ways to increase the availability of IPR necessary to combat the pandemic. Governmental compulsory licensing, IPR pools and voluntary IPR pledges have all been used in the past, though in situations that differ in important respects from the COVID-19 pandemic. Each is designed to result, to a greater or lesser degree, …

Supreme Court Institute Annual Report, 2019-2020, Georgetown University Law Center, Supreme Court Institute

SCI Papers & Reports

During the U.S. Supreme Court’s October Term (OT) 2019—corresponding to the 2019-2020 academic year—the Supreme Court Institute (SCI) provided moot courts for advocates in 100% of the cases heard by the Supreme Court, offered a variety of programs related to the Court, and continued to integrate the moot court program into the Law Center curriculum. As in past Terms, the varied affiliations of advocates mooted this Term reflect the SCI’s commitment to assist advocates without regard to the party represented or the position advanced.

The OT 2019 Term was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Supreme Court cancelled its …

Covid And Crime: An Early Empirical Look, David S. Abrams

All Faculty Scholarship

Data from 25 large U.S. cities is assembled to estimate the impact of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic on crime. There is a widespread immediate drop in both criminal incidents and arrests most heavily pronounced among drug crimes, theft, residential burglaries, and most violent crimes. The decline appears to precede stay-at-home orders, and arrests follow a similar pattern as reports. There is no decline in homicides and shootings, and an increase in non-residential burglary and car theft in most cities, suggesting that criminal activity was displaced to locations with fewer people. Pittsburgh, New York City, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington …

Law Library Blog (November 2020): Legal Beagle's Blog Archive, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Law Library Newsletters/Blog

No abstract provided.

Policing And Challenges Throughout The Covid-19 Pandemic, Fatos Haziri

UBT International Conference

In this paper I aim to examine some new roles and practices that the police should have during the COVID 19 pandemic crisis, some of the challenges that this situation creates; new policing approach to developing a two-dimensional police response, both in carrying out traditional legal missions and responsibilities, as well as in its new role in the complex context created by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, to operate and to serve their community as the broadest function of public safety. Police today is facing a new challenge, that of policing the Covid-19 Pandemic. Traditional police practices in the pandemic situation …

Reflections On A Light Unseen, Vincent Rougeau

Journal of Catholic Legal Studies

(Excerpt)

I am very pleased to have an opportunity to offer some reflections on the manuscript for A Light Unseen by Professors John Breen and Lee Strang. It is an extraordinarily comprehensive look at the history of Catholic law schools in the United States. That aspect of the work alone makes it an important contribution to the scholarship on Catholic higher education in this country, and I am sure it will become an essential resource for scholars and educators across a wide range of fields. Nevertheless, A Light Unseen is much more than a history. It also raises a critical …

Law Students Faq From 6 Ft. Together Portal, University Of Georgia School Of Law

COVID-19 Pandemic Archive

This Google Document was originally shared and linked to from within the 6 Ft. Together faculty, staff and student portal in 2020. A document was created for students to access the most up to date information related to the pandemic and the law school. It was maintained by the Student Affairs team and contributed to by members of the School of Law problem solving team. The last edit in this FAQ took place on October 14, 2020. A copy of this document has been preserved as a PDF for archival purposes.

Access To Education And Affordable Housing (Panel Discussion), Serge A. Martinez, Deb Haaland

Faculty Scholarship

"Housing is not just about housing--there's a straight line from housing stability to educational achievement and other issues including public health, physical and mental health and community development."
- Professor Serge Martinez.

Congresswoman Deb Haaland held a discussion on access to education and affordable housing, particularly the importance of accessible education and the role evictions and financial stress play in education.

If the video is not playing, watch the panel discussion on Facebook (log-in not required).

5 Minute Meditation Breath Awareness Video, Heather Simmons, Rachel S. Evans

COVID-19 Pandemic Archive

KORU Mindfulness practitioner and Law Librarian Heather Simmons created multiple mindfulness and wellness resources for law students throughout the pandemic. A law library strike team on mindfulness was formed to promote these resources, including expanding a research guide for sharing resources and delivering live and pre-recorded content to better serve our students in Fall 2020. This video was one of two created in collaboration between Rachel Evans and Heather Simmons. Heather authored the script and guided the look and feel of the videos while Rachel provided technical support including narration recording.

3 Minute Grounding Video, Heather Simmons, Rachel S. Evans

COVID-19 Pandemic Archive

KORU Mindfulness practitioner and Law Librarian Heather Simmons created multiple mindfulness and wellness resources for law students throughout the pandemic. A law library strike team on mindfulness was formed to promote these resources, including expanding a research guide for sharing resources and delivering live and pre-recorded content to better serve our students in Fall 2020. This video was one of two created in collaboration between Rachel Evans and Heather Simmons. Heather authored the script and guided the look and feel of the videos while Rachel provided technical support including narration recording.

Mid-Atlantic Ethics Committee Newsletter, Fall 2020

Mid-Atlantic Ethics Committee Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Congressional Securities Trading, Gregory Shill

Indiana Law Journal

The trading of stocks and bonds by Members of Congress presents several risks that warrant public concern. One is the potential for policy distortion: lawmakers' personal investments may influence their official acts. Another is a special case of a general problem: that of insiders exploiting access to confidential information for personal gain. In each case, the current framework which is based on common law fiduciary principles is a poor fit. Surprisingly, rules from a related context have been overlooked.

Like lawmakers, public company insiders such as CEOs frequently trade securities while in possession of confidential information. Those insiders' trades are …

The Legal Landscape For Frontline Student Journalists, Jonathan Peters

Scholarly Works

They have exposed campus outbreaks and questioned reopening plans. They have documented social-distancing violations at fraternity and sorority houses. They have tracked and explained fast-breaking changes to instructional modes and commencement events. They have demanded transparency from school administrators. And through it all they have boldly told the story of the human experience.

Famously, at the University of North Carolina, the Daily Tar Heel published a biting editorial under the headline “UNC has a clusterfuck on its hands,” after virus clusters were identified in campus housing. And the day that Notre Dame announced it would move only temporarily …

Will Create Resolve The Philippines’ Unemployment Woes Amidst The Covid-19 Pandemic?, Krista Danielle Yu, Marites Tiongco

Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies (AKI)

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a proposal to amend the Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Reform Act (CITIRA) into the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE) Act. The proposed amendments are as follows: (a) An immediate five percentage point cut into the corporate income tax (CIT) rate starting July 2020; (b) Maintaining for up to nine years the status quo for registered business activities enjoying the 5% tax on gross income earned (GIE) incentive; and (c) More flexibility for the President to grant a combination of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, which will be critical …

Fixing Social Media: Toward A Democratic Digital Commons, Michael Kwet

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

In the past few years, big Social Media networks like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have received intense scrutiny from the intellectual classes. This article critiques the dominant strain of criticism, the neo-Brandeisian School of antitrust, for its narrow focus on “regulated competition” as an appropriate means to “fix social media”. This essay calls for a socialist alternative: a democratic social media commons based on free and open source technology, decentralization, and democratic socialist legal solutions. It reviews how existing solutions like the Fediverse and LibreSocial work, and how they may provide answers for a better way forward.

Science, Leadership, And Public Trust In The Covid-19 Pandemic, Lawrence O. Gostin

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

Adherence to science in health messaging and public policies helped determine which countries have performed well in containing COVID-19. In the United States, President Trump has interfered with and undermined the work of scientific agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, generating public distrust in science and amplifying fears about a future vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. He has also announced that the United States will not join a global partnership that aims to support the development of a vaccine and share access to it.

Science does not always tell us what …

Equipping The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation For The Low-Carbon Transition: How Are Other National Oil Companies Adapting?, Perrine Toledano, Martin Dietrich Brauch, Tehtena Mebratu-Tsegaye, Francisco Javier Pardinas Favela

Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment Staff Publications

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) persistent governance challenges have both hampered Nigeria’s oil sector development and deprived the country of public resources. The oil, climate, and COVID-19 crises and the ramp-up of the low-carbon transition exacerbate this reality, with the national oil company (NOC) delivering sub-optimal returns to its stakeholders.

Other NOCs have taken meaningful steps to become players in the low-carbon energy transition domestically or in­ternationally – for example, Sau­di Arabia’s Saudi Aramco, Norway’s Equinor, Brazil’s Petrobras, Malaysia’s Petronas, and Algeria’s Sonatrach. These NOCs can serve as sources of inspiration for NNPC. These five NOCs have also undergone …

Getting The Most Out Of Extractive Industries Transparency: How A More Explicit Treatment Of Political Considerations Could Strengthen The Impact Of Transparency Efforts, Columbia Center On Sustainable Investment

Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment Staff Publications

Work on transparency in the extractive industries (EI) has achieved important successes over the last two decades. For example, significant commitments to disclosure have been secured, the volume of publicly available information about critical activities has increased considerably, and norms around certain information being in the public domain have been established. There is also a growing library of use cases for this information. Nonetheless, important work remains to be done to translate these efforts into impact.

Political context is crucial to determining the fate of transparency efforts. Therefore, grappling with political context more effectively will also be key to unlocking …

Shareholders’ Rights And Corporate Meetings Post Covid‐19, Christopher Chao-Hung Chen

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

This short paper reflects on corporate governance and shareholders’ rights during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdown has affected the way companies’ organs operate. It is unfortunate that the pandemic took place around the critical time of year when most companies hold annual shareholders’ meetings (or general meetings). How, then, can shareholders exercise their rights? How can the board of directors and senior management function during the lockdown period? Technology naturally provides a solution, similar to online teaching and working from home. However, do virtual and remote meetings serve the purpose of having those meetings? Even when we get …

Stock Buybacks: Some Old Norm Should Remain New, Wei Zhang

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Corporate payouts, especially through stock buybacks, are never short of critics. COVID-19 has simply energized them further. From the energy industry to airlines and banks, US public companies are blamed for ensnaring themselves into the abysmal crisis in the midst of COVID-19 by handing out cashes extravagantly to buy back stocks years before. However, as astutely pointed out by Professors Jesse Fried and Charles Wang, the critics did not get the facts right even before COVID-19. After taking into consideration the amount of newly raised capital through equity or debt issuances, the cumulative net payouts by US public companies between …