Category Archives: Insights

Lack of Media Court Coverage Poses Serious Problem For The Legal System

BY LOGAN HAINE-ROBERTS — On February 11, 2013, a number of UMLR students had the incredible opportunity to meet privately with United States Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy when he visited UM. Among many other things, Justice Kennedy–entirely unprompted–launched into a discussion of his serious concerns about the dwindling number of journalists covering criminal trials following the economic downturn. Justice Kennedy believes […]

Fee Exemptions and Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals – A Primer

BY DAVID WERNER — Just weeks ago, the Department of Homeland Security–facing $3.2 billion in sequestration related budget cuts–released thousands detainees from detention facilities nationwide. Between February 9 and March 1, DHS released 2,228 individuals, including 225 detainees within Miami’s ICE jurisdiction.  While DHS granted these former detainees freedom from incarceration, they still face deportation proceedings. However, […]

In Maryland v. King, SCOTUS Examines Constitutionality of Law Enforcement DNA Profiling

BY LINDSEY MAULTASCH — On April 10, 2009, Alonzo Jay King, Jr. was arrested in Maryland on first- and second-degree assault charges. Pursuant to the Maryland DNA Collection Act, a swab was used to take a sample of King’s DNA.  On July 13, 2009, King’s DNA profile was uploaded to the Maryland DNA database. Shortly […]

New York Soda Ban Struck Down As Unconstitutional

BY JORDAN SHAW — In what the New York Times called an “unusually critical” opinion, a New York judge recently struck down the ever-controversial New York City Soda Ban. The ban, which stated that “sugary beverages” of more than sixteen ounces could not be sold at NYC food-service establishments, and, restaurants with “self-serve” soda fountains, […]

Citizens Who?: Delaware Statute Provides New Tool For Corporate Disclosure of Political Spending

BY BRENDAN RYAN — Proponents of increased transparency for political spending by corporations may have discovered a new tactic in their battle to offset the impact of Citizens United: § 220 of Delaware General Corporation Law. On February 22, Qualcomm Inc., the country’s largest maker of computer chips for mobile devices, agreed to disclose additional […]