Elder Law Commons^™

Re-Imagining Tomorrow: A Technology, Innovation Law, And Ethics Symposium On Addictive Technology And Children, Margaret Chon

Seattle University Law Review

In this Foreword, Professor Margaret Chon introduces Seattle University's Technology, Innovation Law, and Ethics (TILE) program, the 2024 TILE Symposium, and Dr. Gaia Bernstein’s Unwired: Gaining Control Over Addictive Technologies.

The Hidden Struggle: Challenges Older Women Face In Nevada, Annie Vong

Student Research

In 2020, almost one in five Nevadans was over the age of 65.[1] However, within this age group, women outnumber men due to longer life expectancies[2] and migration patterns. Women over 65 years of age make up an estimated 18.1% of the female population in Nevada.[3] Of the male population in Nevada, 15.1% are over 65 years of age.[4] Older women are less likely to be married, are less likely to have completed a bachelor’s degree, are more likely to drop out of the labor force, and are more likely to be living in poverty in …

Same Crime, Different Time: Sentencing Disparities In The Deep South & A Path Forward Under The Fourteenth Amendment, Hailey M. Donovan

Seattle University Law Review

The United States has the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world. The American obsession with crime and punishment can be tracked over the last half-century, as the nation’s incarceration rate has risen astronomically. Since 1970, the number of incarcerated people in the United States has increased more than sevenfold to over 2.3 million, outpacing both crime and population growth considerably. While the rise itself is undoubtedly bleak, a more troubling truth lies just below the surface. Not all states contribute equally to American mass incarceration. Rather, states have vastly different incarceration rates. Unlike at the federal level, …

Memories Of An Affirmative Action Activist, Margaret E. Montoya

Seattle University Law Review

Some twenty-five years ago, the Society of American Law Teachers (SALT) led a march supporting Affirmative Action in legal education to counter the spate of litigation and other legal prohibitions that exploded during the 1990s, seeking to limit or abolish race-based measures. The march began at the San Francisco Hilton Hotel, where the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) was having its annual meeting, and proceeded to Union Square. We, the organizers of the march, did not expect the march to become an iconic event; one that would be remembered as a harbinger of a new era of activism by …

Religious Freedom And Diversity Missions: Insights From Jesuit Law Deans, Anthony E. Varona, Michèle Alexandre, Michael J. Kaufman, Madeleine M. Landrieu

Seattle University Law Review

This Article is a transcript of a panel moderated by Anthony E. Varona, Dean of Seattle University School of Law. During the panel, Jesuit and religious law school deans discussed what law schools with religious missions have to add to the conversation around SFFA and the continuing role of affirmative action in higher education.

Verses Turned To Verdicts: Ysl Rico Case Sets A High-Watermark For The Legal Pseudo-Censorship Of Rap Music, Nabil Yousfi

Seattle University Law Review

Whichever way you spin the record, rap music and courtrooms don’t mix. On one side, rap records are well known for their unapologetic lyrical composition, often expressing a blatant disregard for legal institutions and authorities. On the other, court records reflect a Van Gogh’s ear for rap music, frequently allowing rap lyrics—but not similar lyrics from other genres—to be used as criminal evidence against the defendants who authored them. Over the last thirty years, this immiscibility has engendered a legal landscape where prosecutors wield rap lyrics as potent instruments for criminal prosecution. In such cases, color-blind courts neglect that rap …

We Shall Overcome: The Evolution Of Quotas In The Land Of The Free And The Home Of Samba, Stella Emery Santana

Seattle University Law Review

When were voices given to the voiceless? When will education be permitted to all? When will we need to protest no more? It’s the twenty-first century, and the fight for equity in higher education remains a challenge to peoples all over the world. While students in the United States must deal with the increase in loans, in Brazil, only around 20% of youth between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-four have a higher education degree.

The primary objective of this Article is to conduct an in-depth comparative analysis of the development, implementation, and legal adjudication of educational quota systems within …

Students For Fair Admissions: Affirming Affirmative Action And Shapeshifting Towards Cognitive Diversity?, Steven A. Ramirez

Seattle University Law Review

The Roberts Court holds a well-earned reputation for overturning Supreme Court precedent regardless of the long-standing nature of the case. The Roberts Court knows how to overrule precedent. In Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA), the Court’s majority opinion never intimates that it overrules Grutter v. Bollinger, the Court’s leading opinion permitting race-based affirmative action in college admissions. Instead, the Roberts Court applied Grutter as authoritative to hold certain affirmative action programs entailing racial preferences violative of the Constitution. These programs did not provide an end point, nor did they require assessment, review, periodic expiration, or revision for greater …

How To Interpret The Securities Laws?, Zachary J. Gubler

Seattle University Law Review

In discussions of the federal securities laws, the SEC usually gets most of the attention. This makes some sense. After all, it is the agency charged with administrating the securities laws and regulating the industry as a whole. It makes the majority of the laws; it engages in enforcement actions; it reacts to crises; and it, or sometimes even its individual commissioners, intervene publicly in policy debates. Often overlooked in such discussion, however, is the role of the Supreme Court in shaping securities law, and a new book by Adam Pritchard and Robert Thompson demonstrates why this is an oversight. …

After Affirmative Action, Meera E. Deo

Seattle University Law Review

This is a time of crisis in legal education. In truth, we are in the midst of several crises. We are emerging from the COVID pandemic, a period of unprecedented upheaval where law students and law faculty alike struggled through physical challenges, mental health burdens, and decreased academic and professional success. The past few years also have seen a precipitous drop in applications to and enrollment in legal education. Simultaneously, students have been burdened with the skyrocketing costs of attending law school, taking on unmanageable levels of debt. And with the Supreme Court decision in SFFA v. Harvard, we are …

Going Forward: The Role Of Affirmative Action, Race, And Diversity In University Admissions And The Broader Construction Of Society, Steven W. Bender

Seattle University Law Review

The third annual EPOCH symposium, a partnership between the Seattle University Law Review and the Black Law Student Association took place in late summer 2023 at the Seattle University School of Law. It was intended to uplift and amplify Black voices and ideas, and those of allies in the legal community. Prompted by the swell of public outcry surrounding ongoing police violence against the Black community, the EPOCH partnership marked a commitment to antiracism imperatives and effectuating change for the Black community. The published symposium in this volume encompasses some, but not all, the ideas and vision detailed in the …

The Sffa V. Harvard Trojan Horse Admissions Lawsuit, Kimberly West-Faulcon

Seattle University Law Review

Affirmative-action-hostile admissions lawsuits are modern Trojan horses. The SFFA v. Harvard/UNC case—Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina, et. al., decided jointly—is the most effective Trojan horse admissions lawsuit to date. Constructed to have the distractingly appealing exterior façade of a lawsuit seeking greater fairness in college admissions, the SFFA v. Harvard/UNC case is best understood as a deception-driven battle tactic used by forces waging a multi-decade war against the major legislative victories of America’s Civil Rights Movement, specifically Title VI and Title VII …

A Synthesis Of The Science And Law Relating To Eyewitness Misidentifications And Recommendations For How Police And Courts Can Reduce Wrongful Convictions Based On Them, Henry F. Fradella

Seattle University Law Review

The empirical literature on perception and memory consistently demonstrates the pitfalls of eyewitness identifications. Exoneration data lend external validity to these studies. With the goal of informing law enforcement officers, prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys, judges, and judicial law clerks about what they can do to reduce wrongful convictions based on misidentifications, this Article presents a synthesis of the scientific knowledge relevant to how perception and memory affect the (un)reliability of eyewitness identifications. The Article situates that body of knowledge within the context of leading case law. The Article then summarizes the most current recommendations for how law enforcement personnel should—and …

Silver And Old: How Emtala's Outdated Appropriate Medical Screening Standard Impacts The Aging Population, Madisyn Uekawa

Seattle University Law Review

With the U.S. elder population on the brink of booming, attention to the ramifications of legal standards that affect them is a must. In 2018, the Sixth Circuit split from its sister circuits and solidified an interpretation of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act’s (EMTALA) “appropriate medical screening” standard that will adversely affect aging individuals. Since older adults are the most likely demographic to use emergency care services, laws that impact emergency care will inevitably trickle down to this group of people. To protect already vulnerable older adults, EMTALA should be modified in such a way that (1) it …

Caring For Humanity: Non-Profit Elderly Law, Sierra Samp

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This Capstone was an internship that focused on care in Humanity at Legal Services for Seniors. There is a journal that includes the observations of care in the law office. I focus on how attorneys care for each clients humanness while they are working on their cases. Attorneys may be doing work that can be quite intimidating, but the care they give is quite extraordinary.

Video: Elder Law For Beginners, Arlene Lakin, Gail Fisher

NSU Law Seminar Series

This particular seminar is designed to educate attorneys about how to be an elder law attorney. Practitioners will learn the various skill sets involved: estate and incapacity planning as well as protection of assets in order to qualify for, or remain qualified for, public benefits such as Medicaid and veteran’s pension with aid and attendance.

1. How to work with senior citizens and their families in a clinical as well as legal format
2. How to determine capacity of elderly clients to execute legal documents
3. How to analyze family relationships
4. How to design an estate and incapacity plan …

Advance Health Care Directives: Problems And Solutions For The Elder Law And Estate Planning Practitioner, Brooke M. Benzio

St. Thomas Law Review

"Remember that what you possess in the world will be found at the day of your death to belong to some one else; but what you are, will be yours forever. "' -Henry Van Dyke.

Since the modem movement for patient autonomy began gathering steam in the 1900s, individual concerns about the purpose, nature, and quality of medical care have become a larger component of the practice of medicine. However, state and federal law has been relatively slow to respond, and establishment of the relevant legal framework is relatively recent. New Jersey courts led the charge with their decision in …

Standards And Basic Principles Of Examining And Evaluating Capacity In Guardianship Proceedings, Stephanie Villavicencio, Alex Cuello

St. Thomas Law Review

In the realm of guardianship law, an elder law attorney is well aware that a declaration of incapacity may strip an individual of more rights than that of a convicted felon. The concept of whether capacity is a matter of fact or law is often debated. The framework for establishing standards governing which rights warrant removal is tenuous and complex. A factual determination of incapacity requires a finding, by clear and convincing evidence, that the Respondent, or alleged incapacitated person, is both functionally unable, either wholly or partially, to care for their person (self) and/or property. This determination culminates in …

Medicaid Managed Long-Term Care: Is Florida Ready, Rebecca C. Bell

St. Thomas Law Review

Medicaid is a nationwide health insurance program, created in 1965 as Title XIX of the Social Security Act for the poorest and sickest individuals. The Medicaid program operates through a federal and state partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") providing federal oversight. States must provide coverage of certain groups and services in order to receive federal funds for their Medicaid programs. However, states may include additional "optional" groups and services in each state plan. States use different methods of service delivery to Medicaid beneficiaries. In July 2011, a national average of 74.22% of Medicaid beneficiaries were …

Filial Responsibility: Breaking The Backbone Of Today's Modern Long Term Care System, Twyla Sketchley, Carter Mcmillan

St. Thomas Law Review

This article will briefly discuss the development of filial responsibility in the United States, the government programs that have displaced it, and its modem day application, including the ambiguity that creates problems for indigent elders' family members and care providers. This article will outline the current long term care system, including its costs and the government and private programs that primarily assist consumers with these costs. It will end by arguing that enforcement of filial responsibility unfairly targets the informal caregiving structure that is the backbone of today's modem long-term care system, which is why filial responsibility is unsustainable today. …

Long-Term Care Insurance: A Life Raft For Baby Boomers, Enrique Zamora, Deborah Nodar, Krista Ogletree

St. Thomas Law Review

This article begins in Part I by giving a brief introduction to the historical development of long-term care. Part II focuses on what "long-term" care entails and describes the types of individuals who are in need of it. Part III investigates the various costs of long-term care and the sources responsible for paying those costs. Part IV provides a general overview of long-term care insurance. Part V argues that other alternatives to long-term care insurance are not viable options to pay for long-term care. Part VI discusses the implications of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. And finally, Part …

Issues In Interstate Guardianship, William P. Donaldson

Marquette Elder's Advisor

This article focuses on In the Matter of the Guardianship and Protective Placement of Jimmie L. v. Sauk County. The guardian in the case was appointed in one state, but the guardian desired to relocate to another state. The article also explores the use of the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act where issues arise in interstate guardianship.

Social Values And Older Persons: The Role Of The Law, Marshall B. Knapp

Marquette Elder's Advisor

Kapp discusses the relationship of law to social values, and how laws can permit, require, or restrain certain activities. Further discussion involves how laws, such as the Age Discrimination Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Fair Housing Act impact the elderly, and then asks whether the law alone is enough to protect the elderly.

The Legal Status Of Gambling In America's Senior Communities , Marc J. Randazza, Daniel Russell

Marquette Elder's Advisor

More seniors are gambling than ever before, and many may not know whether what they are doing is legal or illegal in their particular jurisdiction. Regulations involving penny-ante games, regular gambling, bingo, and amusement gambling are explored in five jurisdictions: Florida, Arizona, California, Wisconsin (the most restrictive), and Nevada (the least restrictive). Both association and personal liability are discussed.

The Schiavo Odyssey: A Tale Of Two Legislative Reprieves , Miriam Rosenblatt-Hoffman

Marquette Elder's Advisor

Between the time that Terri Schiavo's husband received court approval to discontinue her life support systems and her ultimate demise more than five years later, contentious legal battles were waged and specific state and federal laws were enacted to prolong Terri's life. The author postulates and explains why both laws were unconstitutional, and decries the legislative interference in patient autonomy.

Bankruptcy To Thwart Responsibility For Financial Abuse Of The Elderly, Richard Aaron

Marquette Elder's Advisor

In cases of financial abuse of the elderly, bankruptcy action has been pursued to thwart responsibility. This article is a brief map to the terra incognita of bankruptcy and suggests directions to consider and pits to avoid. The specific message is to plan for bankruptcy at the onset, step one. Whatever palliative path is chosen, it circles back to the beginning, alerting the representative of the victim to evasion efforts that might be headed off. Waiting to react with defensive steps when and if a bankruptcy out is threatened can destroy hopes of recovery.

Ensure Your Pet's Future: Estate Planning For Owners And Their Animal Companions , Rachel Hirschfeld

Marquette Elder's Advisor

Pets are a central and vital part of their owners' lives, and it is statistically well-documented that seniors and people with health issues derive substantial benefits from their pets. However, pet owners often do not consider what will happen to their pets if they die or become disabled. Many older people do not have pets because they are concerned about who will care for their pets if they become disabled or die and their pet survives them. Often, older people would like to have a pet companion and would benefit from acquiring one or keeping the one they already have. …

International Human Rights And The Elderly, Jaclynn M. Miller

Marquette Elder's Advisor

This article argues that despite the international instruments that make reference to the rights of the elderly, steps still need to be taken to ensure that both laws and enforcement policies are being created internationally and nationally to protect the elderly, especially those who need institutionalized care. For this to occur, better enforcement mechanisms must be created, primarily an international treaty specifically designed to protect the rights of the elderly. In the course of this argument, the article discusses the definition of old age, the existing international legal framework for the protection of the elderly, and examples of elder abuse. …

New Standards For The Involuntary Commitment Of The Mentally Ill: "Danger" Redefined, Elizabeth A. Mcguan

Marquette Elder's Advisor

McGuan's article examines the way legislatures have amended their involuntary commitment statutes to allow for the more aggressive commitment of the mentally ill. The article discusses whether the definition of dangerous conduct in an Illinois amendment deprives a mentally ill person of a fundamental liberty interest guaranteed by the Constitution. The article begins with an overview of mental health law in the United States since World War II, followed by an analysis of the constitutionality of the Illinois amendment.

Therapeutic Jurisprudence And Preventative Law In The Thomas M. Cooley Sixty Plus, Inc., Elder Law Clinic, Cindy E. Faulkner

St. Thomas Law Review

Gertrude Smith phones the SixtyPlus, Inc., Elderlaw Clinic ("Clinic") to schedule an appointment. She informs the receptionist that she wants to come to the Clinic so she can "get a trust." Ms. Smith is scheduled for an intake appointment to meet with two student legal interns ("interns"). Ms. Smith arrives for her appointment, is introduced to the interns, and agrees to be interviewed. The senior intern (a student in her second term at the Clinic) begins the interview by asking Ms. Smith what brought her to the Clinic. Ms. Smith reiterates that she "wants a trust because it is the …