By: Anabelle Nietupski, Web Editor Divorce is seen as an endless slew of conflict and court fees. The doctrine of collaborative divorce seeks to end this cycle, bringing power to the couple to resolve their dispute without third-party intervention. [1] With an emphasis on mediation and negotiation, collaborative divorce encourages […]
Juris Blog
Social Media’s Impact on Criminal Justice
By Chloe Chappell, Staff Writer In mid-September, the popular social media platform TikTok was flooded with content referencing Gabrielle Petito (Gabby Petito), a young influencer who went missing following a highly documented cross-country camping trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie.[1] It was difficult to scroll through TikTok and other social media […]
PA Students Given Option to Repeat Grade by “Act 66”
By Jacob Schramm, Staff Writer. In December 2020, Valerie Strauss of The Washington Post asked whether it was “fair to give kids regular A-F grades when nothing has been regular about the way they are living and learning since March [2020] and won’t be for some time?”[1] Earlier that year, the Pennsylvania (PA) […]
Justice Department Seeks to Improve Public Trust
By Rebecca Chieffallo, Staff Writer On September 14, 2021, the Department of Justice added additional requirements for obtaining no-knock search warrants and limiting the use of neck restraint techniques like chokeholds and carotid restraints.[1] Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco released an announcement detailing the newly added, department-wide changes and restraints.[2] Attorney […]
Pittsburgh Approves E-Scooter Ordinance
By Nathan Polacek, Staff Writer On July 9th, 2021, the City of Pittsburgh launched an electric scooter partnership with Spin, a unit of Ford Motor Company, to provide easily accessible, app-based e-scooters throughout the city.[1] Since the launch, these e-scooters have been popping up all over the city; on streets, sidewalks, […]
The 4th Amendment is Not For Sale
By Amber Pavuscko, Staff Writer In January 2020, a 14-year-old girl went missing and few leads were available. [1] From hundreds of miles away, a prosecutor volunteered widely available commercial data from cellphones to use in the investigation. [2] This data includes users’ locations which can be bought and used […]
Ohio’s New “Stand Your Ground” Law
Photo provided courtesy of Pixabay.com. By Alexa Glista, Staff Writer On January 4, 2021, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed a “stand your ground” bill into law, making Ohio the 36th state to pass this type of legislation. [1] The bill, SB175, removed the “duty to retreat” requirement, “in determining […]
Anti-Affirmative Action Organization Files Petition for Certiorari in Case Challenging Harvard University’s Admissions Policies
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com. By Margaret Potter, Feature Editor On February 25, 2020, the anti-affirmative action organization Students for Fair Admissions (“SFFA”) filed a petition for a writ of certiorari, asking the Supreme Court to hear its appeal of a United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit’s […]
Report Prompts Possible Reform to PA’s Second-Degree Murder Sentencing
Picture provided courtesy of Pixabay.com. By Alexa Glista, Staff Writer On February 12th, 2021 the Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity released a report titled, “Life Without Parole for Second-Degree Murder In Pennsylvania: An Objective Assessment of Sentencing”. [1] The report is the result of an audit requested by Pennsylvania’s Lt. […]
Understanding Pronoun Usage in the Legal Field and Beyond
Photo provided courtesy of Unsplash.com. By Anabelle Nietupski, Staff Writer “Hi, I’m Anabelle. I use she/her/hers pronouns. What are your pronouns?” This simple introductory anecdote appears to carry political, social, and moral weight. Let’s explore why this type of vocal acknowledgement of personal pronouns is not only respectful, […]