Category Archives: Insights

Amazon’s “Alexa”: An At-home Dream or Free-speech Nightmare?

ALEXIS MASON— It is a typical morning when my mom yells, “Alexis Karina Mason, come to the kitchen right now!” A multi-color light illuminates around the top rim of Amazon’s “Alexa.” “Sorry I did not understand you,” it replies. This is the daily exchange with Alexa in my household. The device is most often triggered unintentionally […]

Legal Fixed Income: The Rise of Litigation Financing

DANIEL NARCISO—On January 17, 2017, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California announced changes to its Standing Order that requires automatic disclosure of third-party funding agreements for proposed class-action lawsuits. In short, the court has made it a requirement that any outside party funding a proposed class action will have to disclose […]

I Did Not Have Communications with That Russian Diplomat: A Quick Look into Perjury

KARLA UTSET—In 1998, the House of Representatives approved two articles of impeachment against then President Bill Clinton. The charges included obstruction of justice and lying under oath to a federal grand jury. The perjury charge was regarding statements made by President Clinton during Paula Jones’ sexual harassment suit against Clinton and in connection with the […]

Charter Schools: The Key to Our Children’s Success?

JILLIAN KOVLER—Every day, we wake up to news stories about controversial cabinet appointments and highly contested subjects being debated in Congress. But House Bill 610 is especially worrisome for parents and public school advocates alike. This bill establishes an educational voucher program in which the states distribute funds to local educational agencies (LEAs). These LEAs […]

A Feud of Property and Procedure: A Planned Parenthood Affiliate’s Win in the Florida Supreme Court

LAURA CONNOR—On Thursday, February 23, an Orlando-area Planned Parenthood affiliate won a procedural victory in the Florida Supreme Court. The Court overturned two lower-court decisions that had temporarily blocked the Kissimmee Health Center, a Planned Parenthood affiliate, from providing abortions. The dispute, however, arose from property restrictions that were implemented over three decades ago. In […]