by John Dickinson, Staff Editor The 2020 regular session of the General Assembly dramatically expanded the role of absentee voting in Virginia. Absentee voting transitioned from a back-up for those who were unable to make it to their in-person polling place on Election Day to a general expansion of the voting period, enabling any registered voter to vote between the time the ballots are printed … Continue reading Virginia Absentee Voting Reform
Authored by: Andrew Mullen; Staff Editor As the United States struggles to get control over the COVID-19 outbreak and a consequential presidential election in three weeks, local government is a vital, often overlooked function of American society. While many people may be tempted to focus on national politics and national policy, most of the decisions relating to the pandemic have been made by mayors, school boards, county … Continue reading A Global Pandemic Highlights the Need for Robust Local Government
Authored by: Kelley Flint; Staff Editor As America faces a racial reckoning, renewed interest in tackling systemic inequality is pressuring courts and legislatures alike. Environmental Justice is one such movement gaining popularity both with lawmakers and challengers in court.[1] The concept sits at the intersection of civil rights and environmentalism. It is a bridge between the technical aspects of regulating pollution and the human element … Continue reading From the Streets to the Court: Virginia’s Fight for Environmental Justice Has Just Begun
Reprint from the International Enforcement Law Reporter (24 Sep. 2020). Authored by Mitchell Beebe; Staff Editor In an unusual rebuke by one of America’s closest allies, the Canadian Federal Court decided that the Safe Third Country Agreement (“STCA”) between the United States and Canada was unconstitutional. The Court determined that in light of recent U.S. immigration policies, it was a deprivation of human rights for … Continue reading Opinion in Canadian Council for Refugees v. Canada Spotlights U.S. Immigration Policies
