Unbinding Leniency: Evaluating the Obama Clemency Initiative and Its Lessons

6/22/20  //  In-Depth Analysis

A recent article evaluates President Obama's clemency initiative and its lessons for criminal justice reform.

Take Care

Versus Trump: Easha's Back, To Talk Qualified Immunity and Police Reform

6/21/20  //  Commentary

On this week’s Versus Trump, Easha Anand makes her triumphant return to talk qualified immunity and police reform. The trio talk about the proposal to reform qualified immunity and debate whether that will do much. They then break down other new legal innovations in the various proposals and ask: is it enough to create new grounds for people to sue? Or are other reforms more important? Listen now!

Easha Anand

San Francisco

Charlie Gerstein

Gerstein Harrow LLP

On Bill Stuntz, the Supreme Court’s (Sort of) Unanimous Opinion In Bostock, and the Relationship To Black Lives Matter

6/16/20  //  Commentary

Following the Supreme Court's decision in Bostock, it's worth asking: Why has the law been so successful at improving the lives of gay people but much less successful at improving the lives of people of color?

Versus Trump: The Military in the U.S. and Proxy Voting in the House

6/7/20  //  In-Depth Analysis

On this week’s Versus Trump, Jason and Charlie take on two topics. First, what can the president legally do to use the military on American soil? Second, is it legal for the House of Representatives to vote by proxy, without being physically present in D.C., as alleged in a new lawsuit by House Republicans? Listen now!

Charlie Gerstein

Gerstein Harrow LLP

Versus Trump: What Will Happen To Michael Flynn?

5/24/20  //  Commentary

On this week’s Versus Trump, Jason and Charlie discuss the extraordinary motion to dismiss Michael Flynn's criminal case. Does the DOJ's logic make sense? And what can Judge Sullivan do if he chooses not to dismiss the case? Listen now!

Charlie Gerstein

Gerstein Harrow LLP

Ten Thoughts On Ramos v. LA

4/20/20  //  Quick Reactions

Ten thoughts on Ramos v. LA

Leah Litman

Michigan Law School

Versus Trump: Should Vulnerable Detainees Be Released?

3/27/20  //  Commentary

On this week’s Versus Trump, Jason and Charlie discuss a lawsuit in Seattle, Dawson v. Asher, requesting that several vulnerable people in immigration detention be released. They discuss the legal standard for detention, why detention centers are particularly dangerous places, and what courts will be balancing when they consider these requests for release. Listen now!

Charlie Gerstein

Gerstein Harrow LLP

Jason Harrow

Gerstein Harrow LLP

Versus Trump: Method or Manner?

12/19/19  //  Commentary

On this week’s Versus Trump, Easha and Charlie discuss the Trump Administration’s efforts to resume federal executions after a decade-and-a-half hiatus. Listen now!

Easha Anand

San Francisco

Charlie Gerstein

Gerstein Harrow LLP

Why Regulate Guns?

11/30/19  //  Commentary

When the Supreme Court considers an important Second Amendment case this week, it ought to consider a robust conception of the state's interest in regulating firearms. Properly understood, the state's interest in adopting gun laws includes much more than mere empirical studies about how effective gun laws are at preventing wrongful gun deaths.

Reva Siegel

Yale Law School

Joseph Blocher

Duke Law School

Versus Trump: Watch Out, Watch List

9/12/19  //  Commentary

On this week's episode of Versus Trump, Charlie and guest-host Alexandra Brodsky discuss a recent opinion invalidating the FBI's terrorism watch-list. They discuss the implications of the opinion for the Trump administration (and beyond), the merits (and demerits) of the court's reasoning, and all sorts of other cool stuff, including how annoying it is when people think they're important enough to be spied on by the FBI. Listen now!

Charlie Gerstein

Gerstein Harrow LLP

Federal Defenders and the Sixth Amendment's Zone of Interests

9/6/19  //  In-Depth Analysis

The zone of interests test shouldn't apply to constitutional claims seeking injunctive relief. But even if it does apply, it doesn't prevent federal defenders from challenging arbitrary limits on attorney access under the Sixth Amendment.

United States v. Davis: And Now Comes The Good Part

6/24/19  //  Quick Reactions

The reach of the Supreme Court’s opinion in United States v. Davis will be dictated by a host of procedural rules.

Leah Litman

Michigan Law School

Relitigating Dunn v. Ray

4/17/19  //  In-Depth Analysis

The Supreme Court has insisted on relitigating and reaffirming its decision in Dunn v. Ray. So let's do that.

Leah Litman

Michigan Law School

Something Is Rotten In States’ Execution Protocols And Capital Litigation at SCOTUS

4/15/19  //  In-Depth Analysis

Some recent cases suggest that, if anything, the Supreme Court should be harder on states in capital litigation proceedings. Instead, the Court has done the opposite.

Leah Litman

Michigan Law School

The Mandatory Guidelines Predicament in the Sixth Circuit

4/11/19  //  Commentary

A recently filed amicus brief asks the Sixth Circuit to reconsider en banc whether prisoners challenged under the mandatory Guidelines can ever air the claim that their sentences are unconstitutional in light of Johnson v. United States.

Leah Litman

Michigan Law School