Habeas and Happy the Elephant
A Bronx Zoo elephant that died last week was made famous in litigation over whether habeas corpus can be used to challenge the confinement of nonhuman animals.
Cases, Courts, and Constitutions Across the 50 States
Florida Judge Refuses to Temporarily Block New State Congressional Map
Voting rights groups claim the new map, expected to result in four additional Republican seats, violates the Florida Constitution’s ban on partisan gerrymandering.
The Supervisory Power of State Supreme Courts, Explained
High courts’ authority to make rules on topics both mundane and profound can have substantial implications for civil rights and liberties.
Perhaps Unexpectedly, State Constitutions Sometimes Offer Narrower Rights than the U.S. Constitution
The Ohio Supreme Court recently held that the state right to counsel is not as robust as its federal counterpart.
Why Territorial Courts Matter to American Law
The courts of five inhabited U.S. territories regularly confront constitutional questions in ways that are uniquely territorial while deeply connected to broader American constitutional debates.
Commentary
State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in June
Issues on the dockets include crossover voting, a gun ban for young adults, transgender prisoners, and court reporter shortages.
The South Dakota Constitution: “Under God the People Rule” — But All the People?
A long history of Indigenous exclusion has undermined the state’s democratic ideals.