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Native American Language Extinction: A Violation of Fundamental Civil & Indigenous Rights

The endangerment and extinction of Native American languages is undoubtedly a threat to the stability of individual tribes and nations within this country. Despite their vast cultural and linguistic diversity, roughly 160 remaining indigenous languages face ubiquitous and systemic endangerment.[1] The United States government’s official policy—outlined primarily in the Native American Languages Acts of 1990 and 1992—purportedly aims to preserve and protect Native American lan

Military Trials: Demanding Institutional Change to Unchecked Hazing of Minorities

Private Danny Chen was only 19 when he committed suicide nine months after joining the Army.[1] From the beginning of his training, Chen experienced hazing as the only Chinese-American in his unit. He was forced to do excessive physical punishment, called “chink,” “dragon lady,” and other racial slurs, physically abused, and ordered to shout commands in Chinese.[2] Days before his death, Sergeant Adam Holcomb dragged Chen out of bed and across the outpost, an instance of mal

Should Facebook be Accessible to Sex Offenders? A First Amendment Analysis

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech.”[1] The Supreme Court has typically interpreted the term “speech” to incorporate a broad range of expressions, including the use of Internet.[2] However, the increasing use of the Internet and social media sites has led to debate as to what constitutes free speech in the digital age and if digital platforms should be made accessible to the entire public. Cur

Justice Thomas on Civil Forfeiture: Challenging the Government’s Overbroad Seizure of Property

At first glance, the names of asset forfeiture cases like United States v. Approximately 64,695 Pounds of Shark Fins and State of Texas vs. One Gold Crucifix may sound like satire. However, decisions resulting from cases like these are highly influential in the field of civil forfeiture law and have increased publicity on the matter, as elaborated in a 2013 New Yorker expose.[1] In much of the country today, civil forfeiture law empowers federal, state and local governments t

The Criminalization of Female Genital Cutting: Protecting Child Welfare or Limiting Religious Freedo

Female genital cutting (FGC) was criminalized in the United States in 1996, but until 2017, no one was prosecuted. The 2017 case involves Dr. Jumana Nagarwala, a Michigan doctor put on trial for the genital cutting of at least six girls. The individuals are members of a small Indian Muslim sect called Dawoodi Bohra. Several Muslim sects practice FGC, believing it falls in line with the teachings of the prophet Muhammad; however, it is not an explicitly codified Islamic rite.

ACLU v. Mattis: Challenging the History of the Next Friend Doctrine

In late September 2017, reports emerged of a U.S. citizen and ISIS fighter being held in Iraq as an enemy combatant. Later coverage, supplemented by government filings, added more details to the story but there were still many questions left unanswered. In particular, the government refused to release basic information like the detainee’s name or the location of the facility where he’s being held. Apart from two meetings with members of the International Committee of the Red

Protecting Transgender Employees in the Workplace: Landmark Legal Precedents

The Trump administration has called for the implementation of many actions targeted against transgender citizens over the past two years. Such actions include a movement to deny transgender people positions in the military, a call for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to renounce the use of the word “transgender”, and, most recently, the advent of the Conscience and Religions Freedom Division under the Department of Health and Human Services, which states that re

The Death Penalty: Analyzing Foreign Law within American Jurisprudence

Within the American judicial system, jurists ground their arguments primarily in American legal doctrine, supported by evidence from within the nation’s borders. Despite this, many believe that foreign law—legislation enacted and judgements rendered against capital punishment by nations comparable to the United States—should be considered a legitimate body of evidence to be utilized within jurists’ arguments and rulings. However, while substantial arguments exist in both supp

The Uncertain Future of Bitcoin Regulation

Many of us have closely followed or participated in the current frenzy surrounding Bitcoin, but how is Bitcoin regulated by the law? Does the regulation of oranges relate to the regulation of Bitcoin? Surprisingly enough, it does. In 1946, the decision in Securities and Exchange Commission v. W. J. Howey Co. et al. redefined the term “security.” The case involved an orange-growing business in Florida that offered citrus grove developments as well as contracts for raising and

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