University of Michigan Law School journal dedicated to the exploration of issues relating to race and law
By: Shelly Feldman, Associate Editor, Vol. 27 One of the most pressing global challenges is human trafficking. Human trafficking is defined as “a crime whereby traffickers exploit and profit at the expense of adults and children by compelling them to perform labor or commercial sex.”[i] Former… <a href="https://mjrl.org/2022/01/21/race-and-human-trafficking/" class="read-more">Read More</a>
By: Madelyn Hughes Associate Editor Vol. 27 The Constitution establishes the right for those charged with a crime to have a trial by an impartial jury comprised of their peers.[i] As the United States reckons with the history of racism and discrimination that colors many… <a href="https://mjrl.org/2021/12/06/unequal-protection-in-jury-convictions/" class="read-more">Read More</a>
By Shawntel Williams Associate Editor, Vol. 27 Survivors of human trafficking who have criminal records stemming from their victimization have some redress in vacatur laws. These laws allow victims of human trafficking the chance to start anew with a clean slate by expunging their arrests and convictions. <a href="https://mjrl.org/2021/11/30/the-disconnect-in-vacatur-laws-human-trafficking-and-race/" class="read-more">Read More</a>
By Alexis Franks Associate Editor, Vol. 27 When Brian Laundrie pulled his white van into his family’s driveway on September 1st, 2021, friends and family all began asking the same question: where was Gabby? Brian and his fiancé, Gabby Petitio, had set out on a cross-country road… <a href="https://mjrl.org/2021/11/22/missing-white-woman-syndrome-how-gabby-petito-reminded-us-that-women-of-colors-disappearances-are-largely-ignored/" class="read-more">Read More</a>
November is Native American Heritage Month (also known as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month). In honor of this American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, I will be writing about an issue affecting Native communities across the country: the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples (MMIP). This is a crisis “centuries in the making that will take a focused effort and time” to unravel. Recent legislation and policy initiatives to address the crisis mark a turning point in terms of the government’s priority in tackling the crisis. <a href="https://mjrl.org/2021/11/15/the-mmip-crisis-we-must-not-be-silenta-href_ftn11-a/" class="read-more">Read More</a>
By: Liza DavisExecutive Editor, Vol. 27 In March of 2014, now-retired congressional leader Paul Ryan appeared on a radio talk show to discuss the causes of “the economic conditions…plagu[ing] much of the country.”[1] At one point, Ryan said, “We’ve got this tailspin of culture, in our… <a href="https://mjrl.org/2021/09/06/racist-at-its-core-the-continual-push-for-work-requirements-in-public-assistance-programs/" class="read-more">Read More</a>
By: Liza DavisAssociate Editor, Vol. 26 On January 29, 2021 and in the middle of a mental health crisis, a 9-year-old Black girl was handcuffed, forced into a squad car, and pepper sprayed by Rochester, NY police officers who then told her, “‘You did it to yourself,… <a href="https://mjrl.org/2021/04/26/impossible-to-erase-the-disparate-impact-of-zero-tolerance-policies-on-black-girls-with-and-without-disabilities/" class="read-more">Read More</a>
By Clara ButlerAssociate Editor, Vol. 26 After a national tragedy, within the thoughts and prayers usually offered to the affected community is a deep thread of pro-carceral sentiment. This response to instances of hate crimes and “domestic terrorism” is increasingly concerning, especially as most of the… <a href="https://mjrl.org/2021/04/14/white-liberals-stop-demanding-more-police-it-wont-help/" class="read-more">Read More</a>
By Aashna RaoAssociate Editor, Vol. 26 In the past several years, a model of legal advocacy known as movement lawyering has gained increased attention. In reality, movement lawyering is nothing new—those who do this kind of work aim to provide legal support by following the lead of… <a href="https://mjrl.org/2021/04/14/on-movement-lawyering-an-interview-with-azadeh-shahshahani/" class="read-more">Read More</a>
By Lexi WungAssociate Editor, Vol. 26 I joined the Juvenile Justice Clinic as a student attorney during my fourth semester of law school. Immediately I dove into the intricacies of the juvenile justice system in Michigan, my client’s individual cases, and the realities of converting law school… <a href="https://mjrl.org/2021/04/06/implicit-bias-exposed-the-michigan-juvenile-justice-system/" class="read-more">Read More</a>
