Category Archives: JOL Online

• Desmond’s Law: Imprecise Language Makes for Inadequate Advocacy

  Posted on August 22, 2018 by Winston Shi in JOL Online, JOL Online Article.

  Desmond’s Law: Imprecise Language Makes for Inadequate Advocacy Nila Bala[*]   In 2016, Connecticut was lauded for becoming the first state to pass legislation allowing for an animal advocate to be appointed in animal cruelty cases.[1] The legislation, called “Desmond’s Law,” was named for a boxer-pit bull mix that was abused and strangled to death […]

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• It is All About the Money: Presidential Conflicts of Interest

  Posted on March 25, 2018 by Justin Kenney in JOL Online, JOL Online Notes.

  It is All About the Money: Presidential Conflicts of Interest By Samantha Block[*] The 2016 presidential election marked an increased distrust in the government, bringing a new era of presidential and vice presidential candidates. Current conflict of interest laws do not extend to the President and Vice President due to an outdated fear of interfering […]

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• Don’t Hold Your Breath: Furthering the Fight Against Drunken Driving Until Autonomous Vehicles Arrive

  Posted on November 11, 2017 by Winston Shi in JOL Online, JOL Online Notes.

  Don’t Hold Your Breath: Furthering the Fight Against Drunken Driving Until Autonomous Vehicles Arrive By Russell Spivak, JD ’17[*] Interlocking Ignition Devices (IIDs) restrict a driver from turning on a car unless he or she passes a Breathalyzer examination. There is significant reason to think that promoting—if not mandating—the installation of such technologies in all […]

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• Participation in Name Only: How Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act Can Present a Meaningful Challenge to Big Money in Politics

  Posted on September 28, 2017 by Justin Kenney in JOL Online, JOL Online Notes.

  Participation in Name Only: How Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act Can Present a Meaningful Challenge to Big Money in Politics By Jonathan Topaz, JD ’18[*] “No, Jim Crow is not dead. It’s not quite dead. It now focuses its energy in different areas. Instead of literacy tests or poll taxes, the new way […]

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• The Coming Collapse of the Paris Climate Agreement

  Posted on August 16, 2017 by Justin Kenney in JOL Online, JOL Online Article.

  The Coming Collapse of the Paris Climate Agreement By Bryan H. Druzin [*] I. Introduction Now that the Trump administration has abandoned the Paris Climate Agreement, the question is whether the agreement will collapse. A strong case can be made that it will indeed unravel—perhaps not immediately, but eventually. Although the world’s leaders have been […]

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• The Mathematics of Constitutional Failure

  Posted on June 23, 2017 by Justin Kenney in JOL Online, JOL Online Article.

  The Mathematics of Constitutional Failure By Carrie Leonetti [*] The federal courts were intended as anti-democratic structures.[1] Their interpretations of the federal constitution were supposed to be a counterweight to the excesses of the other two “democratic” branches.[2] The problem with this system is that the other two branches of government are not democratic. No one […]

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• What is “Disabled?”: Ménière’s Disease and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

  Posted on February 22, 2017 by P K in JOL Commentary, JOL Online.

  What is “Disabled?”: Ménière’s Disease & the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) By Thomas Tobin, JD ’16, Harvard Kennedy School MPP ’16[*] The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits American employers from discriminating against individuals due to disability.[1] As a threshold matter, individuals bringing suit under the ADA’s anti-discrimination provisions must demonstrate that they are […]

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• Churches are not Places of Public Accommodation

  Posted on November 28, 2016 by P K in JOL Online, JOL Online Notes.

  Churches are not Places of Public Accommodation [*] By Caleb C. Wolanek, JD ’17 [**] On September 1, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination stated that churches would be subject to the Commonwealth’s “public accommodation” statute.[1] Although Attorney General Maura Healey some time ago slipped “houses of worship” onto her website’s list of places of public […]

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• Making Cities Work

  Posted on November 2, 2016 by P K in JOL Commentary, JOL Online.

  Making Cities Work By Nino Monea JD ‘17 National elections dominate the news. But precious little policy is actually coming out of Washington these days. And officials there are often disconnected from our daily lives. At the local level, the challenges of how to run an effective city may appear more mundane on the surface, […]

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• A Beginner’s Guide to Legislative Drafting

  Posted on October 24, 2016 by P K in JOL Commentary, JOL Online.

  A Beginner’s Guide to Legislative Drafting By Deborah Beth Medows, Senior Attorney, Division of Legal Affairs, New York State Department of Health[*] The ability to impact society through well-written legislation is unparalleled. As President Barack Obama stated, “A good compromise, a good piece of legislation, is like a good sentence. Or a good piece of […]

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