A Territorial Death Penalty Case Carries a Warning for the States
A federal court of appeals case from the U.S. Virgin Islands shows how Congress could take charging decisions away from state prosecutors and impose capital punishment for state crimes.
Cases, Courts, and Constitutions Across the 50 States
Equal Rights Amendments and Age-Based Discrimination
A majority of the New York high court upheld the state’s mandatory retirement rules for judges but avoided grappling with the complexities of the new ERA.
A New Way Some State Courts Limit Abortion Rights
Hostile courts are increasingly using procedural hurdles to limit access to abortion, allowing them to avoid explicitly grappling with questions over reproductive rights.
State Constitutions Must Better Protect Children
State and federal law fails children caught in custody battles, sometimes with tragic results.
Florida Courts and Politicians Ignored the People’s Message
Lawmakers are rigging districts for their own political purposes, and state courts are letting it happen.
Commentary
When Are Retroactive Laws Constitutional?
The South Carolina Supreme Court’s latest word on retroactive legislation is in keeping with a messy tradition.
The Wisconsin Constitution: Initial Adoption Fights and a Veto Power That’s Still Contested
The charter is a guide for safeguarding the state’s aim of self-determination.