By Alexandra van DorenAssociate Editor, Vol. 26 In September of 2020, many reacted with equal parts shock and disgust at the headlines that began to emerge detailing the unauthorized hysterectomies being performed in the Irwin County immigration detention facility in Georgia.[1] That shock, while understandable, is unfounded. Jamille Fields Allsbrook, the Director of Women’s Health […]
From Our Editors
Time for the Government to Show that it “CARES” about Individuals who are Incarcerated
By Emma RosenAssociate Editor, Vol. 26 “The IRS’s decision to exclude incarcerated persons from advance refund payments is likely contrary to law…. Plaintiffs have established they are likely to be irreparably injured without an injunction.”[i] Judge Hamilton, of the Northern District of California, gave hope to incarcerated individuals and their families by issuing an injunction […]
A Call for Standardizing Voting in Jails
By Clara ButlerAssociate Editor, Vol. 26 The 2020 election came down to slim margins in counties across the nation. Yet, over five million people in this country were unable to cast a ballot because of their involvement with the criminal justice system.[1] The Supreme Court has held that it is not a violation of the […]
Are Caste and Race Really Analogous? Examining Caste-Based Discrimination in America
By Aashna RaoAssociate Editor, Vol. 26 As the U.S.’s South Asian immigrant population continues to grow, scholars across disciplines and cultures have attempted to reckon with the concept of caste-based discrimination in America.[i] Lawyers and authors alike have tried to draw parallels between caste and race, perhaps in an attempt to squeeze the still-unfamiliar […]
Supreme Court Reform: Expansion, Balance, Limits
By Abigail HesterAssociate Editor, Vol. 26 The Supreme Court is in crisis. With the death of Ruth Bater Ginsberg and the rushed confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett, the national attention is on the Supreme Court like never before.[i] Now is the time to act to reform the Supreme Court. Now is also the time to […]
Executive Order Banning Anti-Discrimination Training Makes a Case for Continuing CRT Training
By Jasmine BenjaminAssociate Editor, Vol. 26 On September 22, 2020, President Trump issued an executive order entitled, “Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping.”[i] The order prohibits government contractors from conducting workplace anti-bias training that is based on Critical Race Theory (CRT).[ii][iii] The executive order takes aim at the use of CRT-based anti-discrimination training […]
A Reexamination of America’s Mexican Immigration Policy
By Juan MoraAssociate Editor, Vol. 26 After another United States presidential election, the resounding clash over the problem of Mexican immigration continues. President Trump won the 2016 presidential election largely centered on his hard stance on immigration, an anchoring issue that was vital to his agenda. No one could possibly forget those troubling three words […]
Overdue Expungement Legislation Signals Michigan’s Commitment to Criminal Reform and Recognition of Racial Inequality
By Meghan Patero Associate Editor, Vol. 26 2020 has drawn attention to the glaring consequences of racial inequality within the criminal justice system.[i] And while efforts to enact policies aimed at decreasing the number of people who enter the criminal justice system are important, we must also not forget about those who have already exited […]
Showing the Government CARES – Using Prior Crises to Support Minority Communities
By Lexi Wung Associate Editor, Vol. 26 At the beginning of my second year of law school I tested positive for COVID-19. I spent my first week of classes isolating in remote apartment housing on Michigan’s north campus. Aside from mild symptoms and lingering fatigue, I was able to quickly recover from the disease. The […]
What’s Safety Got To Do With It? Why We Shouldn’t Be Shackling Youths (or Anyone) in Michigan
By Melissa Almonte Associate Editor, Vol. 25 During my first seminar with the Juvenile Justice Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School, I learned that children are routinely shackled in juvenile proceedings in Michigan. My jaw dropped. I thought: but that’s only supposed to happen in criminal court! But I shouldn’t have been surprised. […]
