We Need More Public Defenders on the Bench 

A series of decisions from the Colorado Supreme Court suggests that justices who used to be prosecutors are more likely to issue law-enforcement friendly decisions. 

Cases, Courts, and Constitutions Across the 50 States

Commentary

Can the Right to Bear Arms Be Waived? 

A solution to the constitutional uncertainty around many state-issued protection orders may come from an overlooked detail in a recent Second Amendment decision from the U.S. Supreme Court.

New York’s Abortion Shield Law Survives First Challenge by Texas

A New York trial court ruled against Texas in an ongoing fight over whether New York must recognize Texas’s legal judgments against New York abortion providers. 

Case Trends: State Courts Shape the Right to Vote

State high courts continue to settle disputes over voting and election processes, including obstacles to by-mail voting — and to define the right to vote under their own constitutions.

Resistance to Public Policies Assisting the Poor

Property owners have challenged programs meant to assist vulnerable populations, alleging they are unconstitutional takings of private property for public use. 

Sole footer logo

A project of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law