Civil Rights

Berkeley Law dean thinks school is on ‘strong legal ground’ after student groups ban Zionist speakers

Erwin Chemerinsky, the dean of the University of California at Berkeley School of Law, said he will cooperate in an investigation spurred by a ban on Zionist speakers by several student groups.

Jan 3, 2023 3:42 PM CST

Listen to our 10 favorite podcast episodes of 2022

Looking for a new listen? We've picked our favorite 2022 episodes from each of the ABA Journal's three podcasts. And if this whets your appetite, find more than 10 years of past episodes on our podcast page. You can also check out more legal podcasts from our partners at Legal Talk Network.

Dec 23, 2022 8:42 AM CST

Girl Scouts mom is ousted from Rockettes show after facial recognition IDs her as lawyer in banned law firm

A New Jersey mom taking her daughter to see a show featuring the Rockettes as part of a Girl Scouts field trip was recently ousted from the Radio City Music Hall because facial recognition technology identified her as a lawyer at a law firm that sued a related venue.

Dec 21, 2022 2:16 PM CST

Chief justice temporarily continues Title 42 policy that expelled asylum-seekers based on COVID-19 dangers

Chief Justice John Roberts on Monday temporarily kept in place a policy that quickly turned back asylum-seekers on the ground that they could contribute to the spread of COVID-19.

Dec 20, 2022 10:08 AM CST

Athletes who challenged transgender-inclusive sports policy are still champions and lack standing, 2nd Circuit rules

Standing issues and a lack of notice have doomed a challenge to a transgender-inclusive sports policy. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New York ruled Friday against four cisgender athletes in Connecticut who alleged that the policy deprived them of a fair shot at statewide track titles in high school.

Dec 19, 2022 10:50 AM CST

Texas AG seeks records from immigration nonprofits, seeks funding sources for ‘border invasion’ aid

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is seeking information from three immigration and legal nonprofits to determine whether they are receiving funds from the Texas Bar Foundation and using the money to “support the border invasion.”

Dec 15, 2022 2:45 PM CST

Law school is investigated for Judge Judy’s female-only scholarship program

New York Law School is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights for a scholarship program for women funded by Judge Judy Sheindlin, according to a report.

Dec 15, 2022 9:00 AM CST

Meet 12 ABA members who inspired us in 2022

In this year’s Members Who Inspire series, the ABA Journal featured 12 extraordinary ABA members who go to great lengths to embolden their clients, colleagues and members of the communities around them. Their work includes helping immigrants with tax issues, advocating for individuals living with HIV/AIDS and addressing racial injustice and inequality.

Dec 14, 2022 8:38 AM CST

UChicago Medicine partners with legal aid lawyers to offer legal help to victims of violence

The University of Chicago Medicine is working with Legal Aid Chicago to embed lawyers at the system’s trauma center in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood to help victims of violence.

Dec 13, 2022 2:35 PM CST

Justice Jackson uses originalism to undercut ‘conservative juristocracy’

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is the de facto leader of a group embracing “a third wave of progressive originalism,” according to Lawrence Solum, a professor at the University of Virginia School of Law.

Dec 13, 2022 8:59 AM CST

Supreme Court will consider ban on encouraging illegal immigration in case of ‘adult adoption’ promoter

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Friday to consider the constitutionality of a law making it a crime to encourage or induce illegal immigration for commercial advantage or private financial gain.

Dec 12, 2022 2:18 PM CST

Law students and professor who oppose same-sex marriage settle speech case with school

A First Amendment action brought against the University of Idaho by Christian Legal Society members who believe the Bible rejects same-sex marriage has settled for $90,000.

Dec 12, 2022 1:24 PM CST

Poll: Which ABA Journal magazine cover from 2022 was your favorite?

We covered a wide array of diverse, in-depth and hard-hitting legal topics at the ABA Journal in 2022.

Dec 12, 2022 8:47 AM CST

Weekly Briefs: Same-sex marriage bill sent to Biden; lawyer pleads guilty after swinging belt caught on video

Bill protecting gay marriage is sent to Biden The U.S. House of Representatives approved a marriage equality bill Thursday that requires states and the federal government to recognize same-sex and interracial marriages that were legal in the states where they were performed. The Respect for Marriage Act, as the bill…

Dec 9, 2022 2:42 PM CST

Supreme Court majority seems ready to rule for web designer who won’t make websites for same-sex weddings

A conservative majority of the U.S. Supreme Court appeared Monday to support a web designer who refuses to create custom websites for same-sex weddings because of religious objections.

Dec 5, 2022 4:12 PM CST