Faculty Commentary

On Friday, March 7, just ahead of the Jewish Sabbath, a South Carolina firing squad will shoot to death my longtime pen pal and friend Brad Sigmon. This will mark the first American firing squad execution to take place in 15 years. Accordingly, it will be the first since I co-founded the 3,800+-member-strong L’chaim! Jews [...]

In 1996, when Professor Bernard Hibbitts first established JURIST, few could have foreseen the impact the project would have. Whether measured in terms of the individual lives it has touched, its global reach, or the impressions it has left on the landscape of online legal news coverage, JURIST’s role cannot be overstated. What began as [...]

The recent decision by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to dismiss the Judge Advocate Generals (JAGs) of the Army, Navy, and Air Force marks a troubling departure from the decades-long commitment of the US military to uphold the laws of armed conflict. This decision raises urgent concerns about the future of military engagement, the preservation of [...]

Positioned at the intersection of legal education and journalistic purpose, JURIST has a unique insight into how essential student voices are to advocating for the rule of law worldwide. The theme of this year’s Student Press Freedom Day, “Powerfully Persistent,” resonates deeply with our mission. Since our founding in 1996, JURIST has witnessed how student [...]

The rapid evolution of technology has transformed society in profound ways, presenting both opportunities and significant challenges. As a professor of public administration and public policy and a professor of law, I often explore the intersection of technological advancement, societal impact, and regulatory policy. Recent developments, such as the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act [...]

The third anniversary of Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of international norms and the rule of law. It marks a sobering moment, not just for Ukraine, which has borne the brunt of this unprovoked aggression, but for the entire global community that cherishes peace, diplomacy, and the [...]

The Office of the Attorney General was established some 200 years before the first woman ever served in the role (Janet Reno, 1993-2001). It would take an additional decade for the first person of color to hold the office (Alberto Gonzales, 2005-2007). Since the passage of the 1789 Judiciary Act — the law that created [...]

In 1996, when Professor Bernard Hibbitts first established JURIST, few could have foreseen the impact the project would have. Whether measured in terms of the individual lives it has touched, its global reach, or the impressions it has left on the landscape of online legal news coverage, JURIST’s role cannot be overstated. What began as [...]

Convention means nothing to Donald Trump. Neither does the Constitution. Since re-assuming office, he has summarily dismissed the Chair of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and a member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Inspectors General across federal agencies, too, something that the Biden administration itself unfortunately practiced. Without hearings, without credible reasons and [...]

Signed by President Donald J. Trump on January 20, 2025, the executive order titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats” lays the foundation for yet another discriminatory policy targeting individuals from predominantly Muslim and Arab nations. This directive mirrors the controversial 2017 Muslim Ban, granting the [...]