Archive for Public Interest Law News Bulletin

PSJD Public Interest News Digest – July 14, 2023

Sam Halpert, NALP Director of Public Service Initiatives

Photo: Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress

Hello, interested public! Apologies, but the stories today are all news from /last/ week. This week’s digest is in the pipeline and I am hoping to get it to you all first thing Monday. (I’ve been dealing with some illness and am a bit behind.) Major stories include additional fallout from the Supreme Court’s recent decision regarding student loans, the continued growth of local-government-based “right to counsel in eviction programs” (and a critique of this approach to securing housing in the United States, featured as an Editor’s Choice), and news on hiring trends within private firms’ pro bono teams and across the US government sector. It’s a long one, and I’ve got more news coming at you soon. Hang in there.

As always, these stories and more are in the links below.

Take care of each other,

Sam

Editor’s Choice

Supreme Court Ethics Concerns

Student Loans & Student Debt

Eye on AI

Environmental Crisis

Immigration & Refugee Issues

Non-Profit & Government Management & Hiring

Access to Justice – Civil & Economic

Access to Justice – Criminal

Prosecutorial and Public Defense Office Hiring Crises

Criminal Justice Reform and Counter-Reform

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PSJD Public Interest News Digest – July 12, 2023

Sam Halpert, NALP Director of Public Service Initiatives

Photo: Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress

Hello, interested public!

This is going to be a double-header week for the Digest as I play catchup after a family tragedy last week. Thank you all for your patience with me as I’ve worked to bring you a doorstop of a Digest covering last week’s news. Major stories include responses to major decisions released by the US Supreme Court week before last (you can read NALP’s official response to the Court’s affirmative action ruling here). Most notably, additional media outlets are continuing to unravel the implications of the late-breaking revelation (discussed in the last edition of this Digest) that the facts underlying the Court’s recent decision in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis may have been fabricated.

As always, these stories and more are in the links below.

Take care of each other,

Sam

Editor’s Choice

Supreme Court Ethics Concerns

Student Loans & Student Debt

Eye on AI

Environmental Crisis

Immigration & Refugee Issues

Non-Profit & Government Management & Hiring

Access to Justice – Civil & Economic

Access to Justice – Criminal

Prosecutorial and Public Defense Office Hiring Crises

Criminal Justice Reform and Counter-Reform

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PSJD Public Interest News Digest – June 30, 2023

Sam Halpert, NALP Director of Public Service Initiatives

Photo: Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress

Hello, interested public!

Sam has returned from his time well spent with his newest family member, so this is my last week curating the Digest. The Supreme Court decisions we have all been waiting for are now here–some victories and some major losses. We also highlight two reports of deplorable conditions in Guantanamo Bay and a Los Angeles jail. And finally the “Cop City” news continues as a district attorney removed herself from the case.

As always, these stories and more are in the links below. Thanks for being such a wonderful audience!

Happy reading,

Brittany

Editor’s Choice

Supreme Court Ethics Concerns

Student Loans & Student Debt

Eye on AI

First Amendment Issues

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

Reproductive Rights

Environmental Crisis

Immigration & Refugee Issues

Voting Rights

Non-Profit & Government Management & Hiring

Access to Justice – Civil & Economic

Access to Justice – Criminal

Prosecutorial and Public Defense Office Hiring Crises

Criminal Justice Reform and Counter-Reform

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PSJD Public Interest News Digest – June 23, 2023

Sam Halpert, NALP Director of Public Service Initiatives

Photo: Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress

Hello, interested public!

We continue to await some major Supreme Court decisions, but one harrowing opinion was issued on Thursday. Justice Thomas’s majority opinion in Jones v. Hendrix prohibits many inmates from challenging their convictions in court. Balancing this loss with more positive news this week, a pro bono attorney successfully settled a case on behalf of transgender inmates in Minnesota, and Nusrat Chowdhury was confirmed as the first muslim female federal judge.

As always, these stories and more are in the links below.

Happy reading,

Brittany

Supreme Court Ethics Concerns

Student Loans & Student Debt

Eye on AI

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

Reproductive Rights

Environmental Crisis

Immigration & Refugee Issues

Employment Rights

Non-Profit & Government Management & Hiring

Access to Justice – Civil & Economic

Access to Justice – Criminal

Public Safety

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PSJD Public Interest News Digest – June 16, 2023

Sam Halpert, NALP Director of Public Service Initiatives

Photo: Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress

Hello, interested public!

This is our shortest news week in a while, but still some big topics were covered. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Native American families in adoption proceedings. And the US Department of Education announced that student loan repayment will resume in October.

As always, these stories and more are in the links below.

Happy reading,

Brittany

Editor’s Choice

First Amendment Concerns

Student Loans & Student Debt

Voting Rights

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

Reproductive Rights

Environmental Crisis

Immigration & Refugee Issues

Employment Rights

Non-Profit & Government Management & Hiring

Access to Justice – Civil & Economic

Access to Justice – Criminal

Public Defender Office Hiring Crisis

Criminal Justice Reform and Counter-Reform

Public Safety

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PSJD Public Interest News Digest – June 9, 2023

Sam Halpert, NALP Director of Public Service Initiatives

Photo: Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress

Hello, interested public!

As predicted, President Biden has vetoed Congress’s attempt to undermine the student debt forgiveness plan. Dissension around the CUNY commencement speech has led to multiple calls for action against the speaker and CUNY Law School. Despite the recent negative coverage of Atlanta’s “Cop City,” the training facility’s funding has been reapproved.

As always, these stories and more are in the links below.

Happy reading,

Brittany

Editor’s Choice

Supreme Court Ethics Concerns

First Amendment Concerns

Student Loans & Student Debt

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

Reproductive Rights

Environmental Crisis

Immigration & Refugee Issues

Disability Rights

Employment Rights

Non-Profit & Government Management & Hiring

Access to Justice – Civil & Economic

Access to Justice – Criminal

Public Defender Office Hiring Crisis

Criminal Justice Reform and Counter-Reform

Public Safety

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PSJD Public Interest News Digest – June 2, 2023

Sam Halpert, NALP Director of Public Service Initiatives

Photo: Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress

Hello, interested public!

Happy Pride Month! Unfortunately, there’s not much in the way of positive news for the LGBTQ+ community, but the fight for equal rights will continue. Regarding the federal government’s debt ceiling talks and student debt crisis, the Senate has chosen to back the House’s bill undermining Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan, but Biden may yet exercise his veto power (fingers crossed!). Also, lots of news surrounding First Amendment issues, particularly involving the CUNY commencement speech that has garnered national and international attention.

As always, these stories and more are in the links below.

Happy reading,

Brittany

Editor’s Choice

First Amendment Concerns

Eye on AI & Other Legal Technology

Student Loans & Student Debt

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

Reproductive Rights

Environmental Crisis

Immigration & Refugee Issues

Employment Rights

Non-Profit & Government Management & Hiring

Access to Justice – Civil & Economic

Access to Justice – Criminal

Prosecutor & Public Defender Office Hiring Crises

Criminal Justice Reform and Counter-Reform

Public Safety

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PSJD Public Interest News Digest – May 26, 2023

Sam Halpert, NALP Director of Public Service Initiatives

Photo: Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress

Hello, interested public!

As the federal government continues to duke it out over the debt ceiling, a default on U.S. debt looms imminently. The House also made a drastic move to overturn Biden’s student loan cancellation plan, while we continue to await the Supreme Court’s ruling on the same issue. Also in the news this week: more state laws regarding transgender rights and the impending immigration crisis now that Title 42 has expired.

As always, these stories and more are in the links below.

Happy reading,

Brittany

Editor’s Choice

Supreme Court Ethics Concerns

First Amendment Concerns

Eye on AI & Other Legal Technology

Student Loans & Student Debt

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

Reproductive Rights

Environmental Crisis

Immigration & Refugee Issues

Disability Rights

Non-Profit & Government Management & Hiring

Access to Justice – Civil & Economic

Access to Justice – Criminal

Prosecutor & Public Defender Office Hiring Crises

Criminal Justice Reform and Counter-Reform

Public Safety

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PSJD Public Interest News Digest – May 19, 2023

Sam Halpert, NALP Director of Public Service Initiatives

Photo: Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress

Hello, interested public!

Lots of moves have been made to either promote or hinder criminal justice reform. And we’ve added a new section for First Amendment Concerns as new issues continue to pop up, mostly related to free speech on the internet. We’ve also expanded our section on AI to include other emerging technologies.

As always, these stories and more are in the links below.

Happy reading,

Brittany

Editor’s Choice

Supreme Court Ethics Concerns

First Amendment Concerns

Eye on AI & Other Legal Technology

Student Loans & Student Debt

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

Reproductive Rights

Environmental Crisis

Immigration & Refugee Issues

Disability Rights

Employment Rights

Non-Profit & Government Management & Hiring

Access to Justice – Civil & Economic

Access to Justice – Criminal

Prosecutor & Public Defender Office Hiring Crises

Criminal Justice Reform and Counter-Reform

Public Safety

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PSJD Public Interest News Digest – May 12, 2023

Sam Halpert, NALP Director of Public Service Initiatives

Photo: Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress

Hello, interested public!

A little less news this week, but big concerns still plague us. First off, discussions about the debt ceiling between the President and Congress are having big impacts on employment rights and student debt (but PSLF has been approved for hundreds of thousands of people!!). Second, more ethics concerns about Justice Thomas have come to light. And finally, as a win for public servants, more and more jurisdictions are increasing budgets to allow for the additional hire of public defenders and prosecutors.

As always, these stories and more are in the links below.

Happy reading,

Brittany

Editor’s Choice

Supreme Court Ethics Concerns

Student Loans & Student Debt

Eye on AI

Reproductive Rights

Marriage Rights Issues

Disability Rights

Environmental Crisis

Immigration & Refugee Issues

Employment Rights

Non-Profit & Government Management & Hiring

Access to Justice – Civil & Economic

Access to Justice – Criminal

Prosecutor & Public Defender Office Hiring Crises

Criminal Justice Reform and Counter-Reform

Public Safety

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