Author Archives: Alexis Hammond

Intellectual Property in Modern Digital Spaces

By: Nalani Wilson Intellectual property law has historically “invested in whiteness and racial inequality in ways that necessitate both examination and undoing.”[1] This can be traced back to slavery, when black people were treated as property and thus could not own their own property, including intellectual property. With regard to patents specifically, for example, “a […]

Shinn v. Ramirez: Recent SCOTUS decision ignores precedent, further marginalizes people that cannot afford an attorney

By: Emily Hill On May 23, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States released its decision in Shinn v. Ramirez, a landmark case concerning evidentiary hearings in federal habeas hearings.[1]This controversial 6-3 opinion is similar to the other cases decided this past summer as it represents a marked distinction from precedent.[2] Additionally, the case […]

Jury of Your Peers?: How Death Disqualification Kills Diversity Among Jurors

By: Marina Rubio The Bill of Rights guarantees criminal defendants the right to an impartial jury of one’s peers.[1] And the essential role of that jury is to determine the guilt or innocence of an individual charged with a crime based on the facts.[2] Death disqualification in capital punishment cases permits the exclusion of potential […]

Unraveling the Unruh Act: California Supreme Court Compromises Civil Rights in Public Schools 

By: Kiyra Ellis The California Supreme Court announced its decision in Brennon B. v. Superior Court, holding victims of discrimination at public schools cannot recover remedies provided under the Unruh Act[1], one of California’s foundational anti-discrimination statutes. The Unruh Act entitles victims of discrimination to recover monetary damages for an amount up to three times […]