SLR Online

Protest Sign Outside the Arrivals Terminal at San Francisco International Airport

Symposium - 2019 - Immigration

The Ban and the Borderlands Within: The Travel Ban as a Domestic War on Terror Tool

by  Khaled A. Beydoun  

The scholarly and popular focus has focused on the Muslim Ban’s impact on Muslim immigrants attempting to come into the U.S., while neglecting how the Ban imperils immigrants, lawful permanent residents, and citizens from the restricted states inside the country, namely, Muslim American communities—the heavily policed borderlands within. This Essay seeks to address this scholarly and discursive void, and, at minimum, commence scholarly investigation into the Travel Ban’s impact beyond the border.

Volume 71 (2018-2019)

Book with title administrative law on a table.

Essay

May Chevron Be Waived?

by  James Durling & E. Garrett West  

Suppose that a private party sues an agency, arguing that the agency’s regulation exceeds its statutory authority. Normally, a court would review the party’s challenge under the well-known Chevron doctrine, which directs judges to defer to reasonable agency interpretations of ambiguous statutory texts. But what happens if either the private party or the agency doesn’t make an argument under Chevron? Perhaps the agency doesn’t defend its action by invoking deference, or perhaps the private party doesn’t challenge that Chevron should apply.

Volume 71 (2018-2019)

Business graph with arrows tending downwards

Essay

The Last SIFI: The Unwise and Illegal Deregulation of Prudential Financial

by  Jeremy C. Kress*  

On October 16, federal regulators released Prudential Financial from enhanced government oversight. This Essay contends that in removing Prudential’s “systemically important” label, regulators (1) violated their established procedural rules, (2) relied on misleading quantitative analyses, and (3) failed to consider a mandatory statutory factor. This Essay thus urges litigation and Congressional oversight challenging the rescission of Prudential’s “systemically important” status.

Volume 71 (2018-2019)

People waiting in queue at arrival immigration of Changi airport

Essay

The Labor Economics Case for the Diversity Visa Lottery

by  Patrick Kennedy  

Authors writing in many political publications have spilled ink describing the diplomatic benefits and positive self-selection spurred by immigration programs like the diversity lottery (DV). This essay argues that there is a more fundamental economic case for keeping the DV lottery: Immigrants move to where other immigrants live, so establishing a mechanism to encourage immigration from countries with few immigrants is critical. Without the DV program, America will lose an important advantage in the global war for talent over the long run.

Volume 71 (2018-2019)

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) written on a page.

Essay

Deference Conservation—FOIA’s Lessons for a Chevron-less World

by  John C. Brinkerhoff Jr. & Daniel B. Listwa  

Introduction In SAS Institute Inc. v. Iancu, the Supreme Court entered the next chapter in the long-winding debate over Chevron deference, which instructs courts to defer to an agency’s reasonable interpretation of its substantive statutes. Writing for a five-member majority, Justice Gorsuch refused to affirm the doctrine, noting portentously that “whether Chevron should remain is a…

Volume 71 (2018-2019)

Official Photograph of Justice Anthony Kennedy

Tribute

Civility, Dignity, Respect, and Virtue

by  Gary Feinerman  

Just over a decade ago, in his characteristically eloquent remarks at a clerk reunion in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court, Justice Kennedy reflected on the phrase “pursuit of Happiness” in the Declaration of Independence. The Justice observed that Thomas Jefferson did not have in mind the phrase’s modern, colloquial meaning—the ephemeral happiness that…

Volume 71 (2018-2019)

retirement benefits

Essay

Postmortem Austerity and Entitlement Reform

by  Reid Kress Weisbord  

Abstract. This Essay proposes a novel policy of "postmortem austerity" to address the unsustainable, rapidly escalating cost of federal entitlement programs following the 2017 tax reforms. If Social Security and Medicare continue on their current path to insolvency, then they will eventually require austerity reforms absent a politically unpopular tax increase. This Essay argues that,…

Volume 71 (2018-2019)

School kids running in elementary school hallway, back view

Essay

The Compromised Right to Education?

by  Joshua E. Weishart  

Introduction Indiana Jones's quest to discover the holy grail in The Last Crusade leads him to a hidden grotto lined with chalices, a Nazi, and a medieval knight. The Nazi sips from an ornate, gold chalice accented with jewels, convinced he has chosen the true grail. He is mistaken and pays for it with his…

Volume 71 (2018-2019)

Sexual Harassment Complaint Form

Symposium - 2018 - #MeToo

Ending Harassment by Starting with Retaliation

by  Nicole Buonocore Porter*  

Introduction The #MeToo movement has had a transformative effect on the discussion surrounding harassment in the workplace. As more women came forward to tell their stories of harassment, often against high-profile entertainment moguls or politicians, the public story that emerged was one of surprise and anger. But perhaps more importantly, the stories inspired hope that…

Volume 71 (2018-2019)

Female boss shows presentation on screen at business meeting

Symposium - 2018 - #MeToo

Beyond the Rhetoric: What It Means to Lead in a Diverse and Unequal World

by  Rebecca K. Lee*  

Introduction As the #MeToo movement has gained momentum, industry and company leaders have been placed in the hot seat regarding how they are addressing (or not) the incidents of sex harassment in their organizations. Despite their stance and pronouncements against harassment and discrimination, leaders may not notice problems early on, or they may discount concerns…

Volume 71 (2018-2019)

Lady justice and empty bench with judge chairs in courtroom

Symposium - 2018 - #MeToo

Sexual Harassment and the Bench

by  Nancy Gertner*  

Introduction A story to start: I applied for a federal court of appeals clerkship after my graduation from Yale Law School in 1971. I was a feminist and a women’s rights activist; I was a participant in one of the first courses on women and the law, organized and run by women law students. There…

Volume 71 (2018-2019)

Restricted Information, Confidential Data

Symposium - 2018 - #MeToo

Targeting Repeat Offender NDAs

by  Ian Ayres*  

Abstract. While nondisclosure/non-disparagement agreements (NDAs) can beneficially protect privacy and facilitate settlement of sexual misconduct claims, these agreements have come under attack—especially since the rise of the #MeToo movement—because NDAs can also facilitate repeat offending. While some academics and policy makers have proposed making NDAs unenforceable, this Essay searches for intermediate legal interventions which preserve…

Volume 71 (2018-2019)

Speaker at Business Conference and Presentation.

Symposium - 2018 - #MeToo

Sex Harassment Training Must Change: The Case for Legal Incentives for Transformative Education and Prevention

by  Susan Bisom-Rapp*  

Introduction Professors who study harassment are in demand by the media. As allegations unsettle Hollywood, Silicon Valley, Washington, D.C., and various state capitals, reporters covering the #MeToo movement seek academic perspectives on the problem. Those who call me often mention two articles I published over fifteen years ago, which questioned the embrace of sex harassment…

Volume 71 (2018-2019)

man showing a note with the text me too

Symposium - 2018 - #MeToo

The Masculinity Motivation

by  Ann C. McGinley*  

The first reports emerged in October 2017 in the New York Times and the New Yorker that dozens of women had accused movie producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual violence. Since then, hundreds of women and men have come forward to accuse famous men in entertainment, politics, and other industries. #MeToo emerged as an online movement…

Volume 71 (2018-2019)

me too written with chalk on blackboard.

Symposium - 2018 - #MeToo

Open Statement on Sexual Harassment from Employment Discrimination Law Scholars

by  Vicki Schultz*  

For Law Professors Rachel Arnow-Richman, Ian Ayres, Susan Bisom-Rapp, Tristin Green, Rebecca Lee, Ann McGinley, Angela Onwuachi-Willig, Nicole Porter, Vicki Schultz, and Brian Soucek Introduction We, the undersigned legal scholars and educators with expertise in employment discrimination law, seek to offer a new vision and agenda for eliminating sexual harassment and advancing workplace equality. We…

Volume 71 (2018-2019)

Global communication network around planet Earth in space, worldwide exchange

Essay

Microsoft Ireland, the CLOUD Act, and International Lawmaking 2.0

by  Jennifer Daskal  

Introduction On March 23, President Trump signed the CLOUD Act, thereby mooting one of the most closely watched Supreme Court cases this term: the Microsoft Ireland case. This essay examines these extraordinary and fast-moving developments, explaining how the Act resolves the Supreme Court case and addresses the complicated questions of jurisdiction over data in the…

Volume 71 (2018-2019)

Gun and Constitution

Essay

Defending an Under-21 Firearm Ban Under the Second Amendment Two Step

by  Amit Vora  

Introduction In the wake of the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, more lawmakers may be willing to concede that 18-to-20-year-olds are ill suited to keep and bear firearms. Under current federal law, an 18-to-20-year-old may purchase a long gun from a federally licensed or unlicensed dealer, may purchase a handgun from an unlicensed dealer, and…

Volume 71 (2018-2019)

Vintage toned Wall Street at sunset, NYC.

Essay

The ‘Hidden’ Tax Cost of Executive Compensation

by  Kobi Kastiel & Noam Noked  

Introduction The sweeping tax reform enacted in December 2017 will significantly increase the tax cost of executive compensation in publicly held corporations where the compensation for each of the top five executives exceeds $1 million. Nonetheless, it is unlikely that these corporations will reduce the executive compensation to offset the increased tax cost, which will…

Volume 70 (2017-2018)

Gavel with handcuffs and money on the wooden table. Crime and law concept.

Essay

Punishing Poverty

California’s Unconstitutional Bail System
by  Christine S. Scott-Hayward & Sarah Ottone  

Last year, an article in The Guardian highlighted the disparities inherent in California’s pretrial detention system. Reporter Sam Levin compared the cases of Tiffany Li, accused of murder for hire, who was released under house arrest after satisfying the $35 million bail set in her case, and Joseph Warren, who at the time was in custody…

Volume 70 (2017-2018)

Man making online purchase with credit card

Essay

Kill Quill, Keep the Dormant Commerce Clause

History's Lessons on Congressional Control of State Taxation
by  Brian Galle  

Introduction The world of internet commerce was shaken to its foundations in January this year, when the Supreme Court granted certiorari in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., in effect agreeing to reconsider its landmark holding in Quill Corp. v. North Dakota. For more than twenty-five years, Quill has barred states from imposing tax-collection obligations on retailers that…

Volume 70 (2017-2018)