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Remembering California’s History in Youth Corrections
Full text linkCalifornia Governor Gavin Newson’s 2021-22 state budget sets forth plans to permanently close the California’s Division of Juvenile Justice and transition any children in the state’s care to the counties who committed them. On September 30, 2020, California lawmakers passed SB 823, the pillar of this transition. As the closure of the state-run juvenile correctional system marks a new journey for California’s youth, the state’s gloomy history in youth corrections looms overhead
Texas Heartbeat Act Poses Threat to the Future of Abortion Access
Full text linkAs the abortion debate in the United States has grown increasingly tense over the recent years, a newly enacted Texas law could lay the groundwork for a national trend of restrictive abortion laws. SB 8, also known as the Texas Heartbeat Act, was first signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in May 2021, and came into effect on September 1st. The Texas Heartbeat Act is not the only recent bill that attempts to challenge Roe v. Wade. In 2018, Mississippi passed the Gestational Age Act, which bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The Texas Heartbeat Act is even more restrictive, banning abortion after just six weeks of pregnancy. While national opinion on the abortion debate continues to be divisive—a nearly 50/50 split between pro-life and pro-choice over the last 20 years—this newest development, if upheld, could substantially impact abortion access
SB320: A Call to Arms for Victims of Domestic Violence
Full text linkUnder California law, a person restrained by any domestic violence protection order is prohibited from owning, possessing, purchasing, receiving, or attempting to purchase or receive a firearm while the order is in effect. According to the Armed Prohibited Persons System (APPS), over 23,000 restricted people are armed in California. This number reflects only the number of known registered firearms in the state. Of these 23,000 restricted people, special agents recovered 1,243 prohibited firearms last year — 778 of those firearms were identified in APPS; however, 465 were previously unknown.
Senate Bill 320 purports to redress the inadequacy of current practice and procedures by requiring courts to consistently enforce firearm prohibitions arising out of domestic violence protection orders, making it the latest policy effort to protect domestic violence survivors, their children, and the public from gun violence at the hands of batterers
A Comparative Study of Copyright Protection in China and the U.S, In the Context of U.S-China Trade Disputes
Full text linkIntellectual property rights (IPR) are almost central subjects in US-China relations. The debates between the two countries over IPR protection have been more like an endless chess puzzle. It has become a popular topic to compare the two countries to gain a deep understanding of the legal differences and the reasons of disputes in this regard. To a certain extent, the two countries represent the future course of copyright development. Therefore, this paper attempts to compare the copyright legal system of the two countries by examining the historical development of foreign copyright protection, including domestic legislation and international conventions
Combatting Misinformation: Effective Twitter Responses to The Removal of Civil Liability Protection in Section 230
Full text linkGrowing concern surrounding the harmful effects of widespread misinformation on social media platforms, policymakers and influencers, including the Department of Justice, have proposed reforms to Section 230 such as the removal of civil liability protection to incentivize more effective business practices at preventing widespread misinformation on social media platforms. This study gained insight into the perceived effectiveness of business practices Twitter may undertake to significantly reduce volumes of misinformation incentivized by the removal of civil liability protection from Section 230. In particular, a Theory of Change was examined in which Twitter Inc. would attempt to significantly reduce misinformation through an increase content moderation; improvement of user verification and authentication processes; and intensification of public transparency practices. Relevant literature indicated that increased moderation could have harmful effects upon the user experience, such as over-moderation, but showed promising benefits in the application of improved user verification and public transparency practices. Quantitative insights from survey respondents generally validated each of business practices encapsulated in the assumptions from the Theory of Change, but qualitative insights from the survey respondents and interviews with selected subject matter experts identified significant challenges, limitations, and caveats regarding the implementation of each assumption. Of each assumption, the act of improving user verification and authentication process was expected to provide the greatest benefit. If civil liability protection is removed from Section 230 in efforts to incentivize more effective business practices to reduced and limit misinformation, it is recommended that Twitter increase content moderation, improve user verification, and intensify its public transparency practices, however with several caveats informed by qualitative perspectives
More Than a Hashtag: Why We Need to #ProtectBlackWomen in Real Life
Full text linkThis piece will address the ways in which Black women continue to be disrespected, unprotected, and neglected, both publicly—as a result of systemic racism and police brutality—as well as privately—as a result of the legal system’s failure to appropriately address domestic violence committed against them
Third Panel: Animals In Entertainment
No full textPanelist: Bruce Wagman
For almost three decades, Bruce Wagman has been using his legal education and well-honed skills to help animals in all sectors of society, and benefit both society and the animals themselves. He is the only lawyer running an exclusive animal law practice in a major United States firm. He litigates, drafts animal-friendly legislation, oversees rescue operations, and consults clients who care for and protect animals. He has published two major works, the leading casebook for law schools nationwide — Animal Law: Cases and Materials — and a global survey of animal laws, A Worldview of Animal Law, the only global survey of animal law. Bruce also founded Project Chimps, a chimpanzee sanctuary that is home to chimpanzees retired from a research laboratory
The Politics of Stupidity at the U.S.-Mexico Border: The Devil’s Highway by Luís Alberto Urrea
Full text linkA vivid, shocking, and provocative story about 26 “walkers”—migrating Mexican men who suffered and died in the Arizona desert on May 19, 2001—The Devil’s Highway is a profound work of nonfiction by Luís Alberto Urrea. Born in Tijuana to a Mexican father and an American mother, Urrea understands the contradictions and absurdities at the U.S.-Mexico border. While Urrea clearly wants the reader to learn about the walkers’ humanity and motivations to leave Mexico, he leaves it up to readers to arrive at their own conclusions about their coyotes and guides. Sometimes Urrea sympathizes with the walkers’ main guide, while in other instances, he paints him as the villain. When it comes to the Border Patrol, Urrea also focuses on their humanity. The Border Patrol agents are filled with “rage [at] the deaths of the illegals lured into the wasteland and then abandoned by their coyotes.” While it is gratifying to learn that the Border Patrol agents have a heart, Urrea falls short of painting the whole picture. Even a decade later after its publication, The Devil’s Highway is a must-read for everyone, particularly those in Congress who currently oppose any type of immigration reform and Americans who think immigrants do not pay taxes and come here solely to steal their jobs. And, for those who believe all immigrants are rapists and murderers, The Devil’s Highway is an important read that will inform otherwise
Criticism, confusion over California’s Proposition 19 property tax amendments
Full text linkProposition 19, the California measure narrowly approved by voters last November, created a tax break for some and tax hikes for others. Proponents of the measure tout the new tax revenue stream for the state as well as benefits for some of its vulnerable residents. In contrast, those opposed argue it disproportionately benefits wealthy, white residents while hurting people of color and low-income Californians.
The measure amended the California constitution by adding new sections to Article XIII A, which relates to tax limitations. As of April 1, 2021, Proposition 19 removes certain restrictions for eligible homeowners who transfer their home’s property tax bill to a new home. Starting February 16, 2021, the amendment also requires certain inherited family homes and farms to be reassessed at current market value, which may significantly increase property taxes for the inheritor and thus produce a new revenue stream for state and local governments
Democracy is Fragile: Extreme Partisan Polarization Has Become Rampant in the World
Full text linkThe status of democracy once seemed irrelevant in discussions of government in the United States and other long-established democracies. However, with the rise of extreme partisan polarization and the contempt that each party shows for the other, maintaining constitutional democracy is now a major concern for people in America. There is no longer any ideological overlap between the most conservative Democrats and the most liberal Republicans. In the words of Professor Daryl J. Levinson and Professor Richard H. Pildes of NYU School of Law, the “separation of powers” has been replaced by a “separation of parties.” The actions of the Trump administration have only added fuel to the fire, with the former President popularizing the term “fake news” to berate the media, tip toeing the line of violating the right to freedom of the press. Added with the recent attempted coup at the U.S. Capitol, people have been uneasy about the status of a true democratic government. While a democracy-ending emergency has not happened in America, Trump’s repeated attacks on the media, the judiciary, and Congress have left Americans concerned about a constitutional crisis. The future of constitutional democracy is also at serious risk in many other parts of the world