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Daily Archives: May 3, 2022

Here is a great resource for what you can do in the fight for abortion rights in all 50 states

Lit Hub: “A Supreme Court draft opinion was leaked last night in which Justice Samuel Alito lays out the court’s pending decision to overturn Roe v. Wade; should this ruling come to pass it would represent one of the largest roll-backs of personal freedom in the history of this country. If you care about an individual’s right to autonomy over their body (and, relatedly, the material circumstances of their own life), there is much you can do (on top of voting, because, you know, we already did that). Twitter user “Helmsinki,” aka the “abortion donation link fairy,” has created an incredible public document that provides clear and thorough information about how you might help in the fight for abortion access and reproductive choice in all 50 states. The document—put together as a series of templates to amplify on social media—contains information for people seeking an abortion and who might need to travel to obtain one, and suggests organizations where you can give financial support to people fighting for reproductive rights. Perhaps most importantly, the document contains state-by-state links to organizations working on the ground to preserve some small amount of bodily autonomy for people in this country. Millions of lives have just been put at risk. So if you’re able, please donate your money or volunteer your time to help the people in your community, both locally and across this country…”

Matthew Hale – 17th century English jurist approvingly cited by Alito

Via Moira Donegan – @MoiraDonegan [Columnist covering gender and politics @guardianUS] – “Matthew Hale, the 17th century English jurist approvingly cited by Alito in the draft Dobbs opinion, is the creator of “Hale instructions,” text that was read to juries in rape trials for centuries cautioning them not to believe women. The practice was ended… Continue Reading

Alito’s Plan to Repeal the 20th Century

The Atlantic: “…Alito claims to be sweeping away one of the great unjust Supreme Court precedents, such as Dred Scott v. Sanford, which held that Black people had no rights white men were bound to respect, or Plessy v. Ferguson, which upheld racial segregation. But in truth, Alito is employing the logic of Plessy, allowing… Continue Reading

Precedent and the Rule of Law

Lewis, Sebastian, Precedent and the Rule of Law (27 10, 2021). 41 Oxford Journal of Legal Studies 873 (2021), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4077240 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4077240 “Courts may reason using precedents in various ways, but not all of them satisfy the rule of law. This article provides two ways that are compatible with this ideal, and… Continue Reading

Federal Retirement Plans: Frequently Asked Questions

CRS Report – R47084|Federal Retirement Plans: Frequently Asked Questions, May 22, 2022: “This report answers common questions related to federal retirement plans. The vast majority of the civilian federal workforce is covered by either the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS), depending on date of entrance into federal service.… Continue Reading

The Resurgence of the Abortion Underground

The Experiment / Podcast Produced by The Atlantic and WNYC Studios/ A transcript of this episode is available.  “There’s a common story about abortion in this country, that people have only two options to intentionally end a pregnancy: the clinic or the coat hanger. They can choose the safe route that’s protected by Roe v. Wade—a… Continue Reading

The Power of Parks to Address Climate Change

“As a warming planet leads to worsening risks and impacts, American cities are taking matters into their own hands. Cities are not only pledging to slash carbon emissions in the coming decades. They are also figuring out how to be more resilient. Because one thing is clear: disadvantaged communities that have been historically neglected will… Continue Reading

ACS Reaction to Draft SCOTUS Opinion on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health

American Constitution Society, May 3, 2022, Washington, D.C. – “Today, Roe remains the law of the land and until a final decision is handed down by the Supreme Court, those seeking abortion care should not be deterred from accessing the healthcare they need. If the draft opinion published last night by Politico is ultimately issued… Continue Reading