Please find articles from the 2023-2024 academic year below!
News 2023-2024
Written by: Kaleah Baylee Taylor
Edited By: Brett Fisher and Sophia Stoute
Abstract
The contemporary legacies of redlining and its pervasive effects on American society are crucial. This article highlights how redlining persists in shaping the lived experiences of Americans across the nation and disproportionately populations of color. Disparities caused by redlining interact with critical aspects of life such as education, infrastructure, healthcare, and the carceral system. Through the lens of pivotal contemporary civil court cases, including Mieles v. Ronald McDonald…
Written by: Emma Farley
Edited By: Keana Simon and Lawrence Langen
Abstract:
This article explores a South African court case where three civil society organizations launched a youth-led constitutional challenge against the government regarding its plans to build new coal plants. By examining the historical context of the Paris Agreement and other South African cases that challenged government inaction toward climate change, this article delineates a timeline that contextualizes the coal vs. renewable energy debate in South Africa. This piece aims to explain why people…
Written by: Zoie Geronimi
Edited by: Monette Scipio
Abstract:
This legal review examines the challenges posed by applying traditional intellectual property (IP) frameworks—patents and copyrights—to software development. While patents incentivize innovation through exclusivity and copyrights protect creative expressions, their application to software often disrupts the collaborative and iterative processes that define the industry. Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank and Google v. Oracle highlight how patent thickets, lengthy approval processes, and restrictive copyright protections…
Written by: Emma Farley
Edited By: Keana Simon and Lawrence Langen
Abstract:
In my article, I discuss the history of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and how the program has changed under several presidential administrations. I analyze the importance of TPS designations among migrants who need this status in order to legally work and reside in the U.S. I explain how the Trump Administration's decision to terminate TPS designations for certain countries violated the U.S. Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act. I also address how TPS holders from countries…
Written by: Ahmed Mahmoud
Edited by: Blessing Adedeji and Lawrence Langan
Abstract:
First introduced under the Immigration Act of 1882, “public charges” were vaguely defined as immigrants who were likely to become dependent on government support and were thus allowed to be barred from entering the United States. This article explores the redefining and interpretation of the term “public charge” under law throughout history and its effect on American immigrants. Using the court case New York v. The Department of Homeland Security as a case study, when the…
Written by: Mia McIlwain
Edited by: Blessing Adedeji and Lawrence Langan
Abstract:
This article will examine how the ruling in Campos-Chaves v Garland has changed the interaction between the United States Government and a non-citizen when it comes to the legal process of removing the non-citizen. The article displays this change by tracking the evolution of that relationship through two prior cases that set a precedent, and the case of Campos-Chaves v Garland which broke the set precedent. In all three of these cases, the matter being discussed was whether or not the…
Written by: Amari Rasin | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
Edited by: Nuna Endale and Sophia Stoute
Abstract:
Through journal-based research, this article examines the Prisoner Rights Movement and the potential of divesting from prisons, police, and surveillance in favor of investing in mental health, housing, food, and educational resources to address the root causes of crime. In addition to analyzing key moments such as the Attica Prison Uprising, the 1979 Supreme Court case Bell v. Wolfish, and the 2016 prison labor strike, the article explores…
Written by: Helen Yibrah
Edited by: Christopher Brown
Abstract:
This piece examines the history of the congestion pricing plan in New York City (NYC) including the various legal battles it underwent as it attempted to gain state approval. Congestion pricing was first proposed in the mid-20th century and it has been implemented in cities such as Stockholm and London, but never in the United States. As New York’s population has increased since 1950, traffic and congestion problems have become more significant. To address this and improve public transit, Mayor Michael Bloomberg…
Written by: Teniola Adedire
Edited by: Adelaide Quaye
Abstract:
This article explores the constitutional implications of California's recent legislation regulating AI-generated deepfake content in political discourse. In 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills: the "Defending Democracy from Deepfake Deception Act" (AB 2655) and the "Elections: Deceptive Media in Advertisements Act" (AB 2839), which criminalize certain uses of AI-generated parody content in political contexts. The legislation has sparked a legal challenge in Christopher Kohls v. Rob Bonta, in his official…
Written by: Lana Muhagir
Edited by: Linda Robinson
Abstract:
As reggaeton’s popularity has surged from its Caribbean origins to a global phenomenon, legal battles have surfaced over the music’s core elements and their rightful ownership. This article explores the copyright infringement case Browne v. Donalds, filed by reggae producers, Cleveland "Clevie" Brown and Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson, against over 100 reggaeton artists for unauthorized use of their beats "Fish Market" and "Dem Bow.” Examining the complexities of distinguishing between transformative sampling and infringement,…
Written by: Williana Serve | Boston University
Edited by: Steycie Louis, Kaleb Sy, and Sophia Stoute
Abstract:
Although the experiences of women of color have often been marginalized, the feminist movement in the United States has importantly advanced gender equality. This paper explores how mainstream feminism and the U.S. legal system battle to address intersectional discrimination and particularly confront difficulties at the intersections of race and gender. Analyzing landmark cases such as DeGraffenreid v. General Motors and Jeffries v. Harris County Community Action reveals…
Written by: Preston Parker
Edited by: Monette Scipio
Abstract:
This article explores the violation of the privacy of Black-owned businesses and the implicit discrimination of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). By examining the rigorous requirements that the CTA pushes onto small businesses, this article demonstrates a new form of white American subjugation onto the Black population. This piece seeks to inspect the federal government's abuse of power by asking for private credentials that violate privacy and require a lot of spending on legal assistance that small businesses…