The Precarious Fate of Obergefell v. Hodges
The Supreme Court was always an important factor in the 2020 presidential election. Even before Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death in September, it was unlikely she would survive another presidential term. And with three justices aged seventy or older, whoever wins the presidency will probably get at least one appointment. Ginsburg’s passing made the Supreme […]
Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the Incivility of Strategizing for Death
For our companion piece about the political ramifications of Ginsburg’s death and the legacy she leaves behind, click here. In the days before she succumbed to pancreatic cancer, as her strength faded, Ruth Bader Ginsburg told her granddaughter, “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.” […]
RIP RBG: The Political Climate Post-Ruth Bader Ginsburg
For our companion piece about how Ginsburg’s death illustrates the need for term-limited Supreme Court justices, click here. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away on September 18 due to complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer at age eighty-seven. Just days before her death, Ginsburg stated, “My most fervent wish is that I will not […]
Episode 1: “LGBTQ Rights and the Supreme Court” with Alex Jarecki
Listen and subscribe to our podcast: Via Spotify | Via Apple Podcasts Bryan and Alex sit down to talk about Alex’s article “Legally Sanctioned Discrimination? The Supreme Court Case and LGBT Employees’ Rights”. They discuss the potential rulings and consequences of upcoming Supreme Court cases, mainly the Title VII cases about sex-based employment discrimination against […]
Legally Sanctioned Discrimination? The Supreme Court Case and LGBT Employees’ Rights
The Basics On October 8, 2019, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments for three cases that will impact the lives of LGBT people across the United States. The cases will determine whether the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans employment discrimination on the basis of sex, also extends to […]
Peremptory Challenges: A Barrier to Justice
In 1981, James Kirkland Batson, an African-American man from Kentucky, was charged with second-degree burglary and receipt of stolen goods. During voir dire (jury selection), the prosecution struck down all four potential black jurors using peremptory strikes, which allow lawyers to disqualify potential jurors without providing objection or justification. Though the defense and prosecution both […]
Clouded Judgement: The Kavanaugh Confirmation Saga
The Kavanaugh hearings took the top spot on my ever-growing list of most disappointing moments in recent politics. The initial hearings put on bright display some of the most unnerving trends in modern partisanship, from the fight over the release of documents to Cory Booker’s (D-NJ) open revolt against Republicans.[1] The vitriol between the parties […]
On Kavanaugh: A Conversation with Katia Santiago-Taylor of BARCC
Katia Santiago-Taylor wore a tailored suit and high heels but her demeanor was warm and inviting, much like the couch-filled conference room in which we sat. Santiago-Taylor is the Advocacy and Legislative Affairs Manager at the Cambridge-based Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC). Originally from Puerto Rico, she has previously worked at the Massachusetts Office […]
A Dereliction of Duty
February 13, 2016: Antonin Scalia is dead. The brilliant conservative jurist, beloved on the right and often demonized on the left, had for decades stood as a conservative titan and stalwart on the Supreme Court. Scalia, 79, was discovered dead in his room at a luxury resort, where he had been visiting for the weekend, […]