PSJD Public Interest News Digest – August 12, 2022

Sam Halpert, NALP Director of Public Service Initiatives

Photo: Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress

Hello, interested public!

Hope you’re all hanging in there. It’s another blockbuster of a week, beginning with (in the US) newly-unearthed historical evidence that the basis for law enforcement’s doctrine of “qualified immunity” rests on a copying error from 1874. Florida is still digesting the consequences of Gov. DeSantis’ decision to remove a locally-elected state prosecutor who stated he would refuse to bring abortion-related cases, while journalists in San Francisco reported that newly-appointed DA Brooke Jenkins drew a six-figure salary from a group working to recall her predecessor that claimed she was an unpaid volunteer. Meanwhile, all eyes remain on the Biden Administration’s self-imposed deadline of August 31 as it continues to weigh its options for student loan reform.

In Canada, Crown prosecutors spoke in support of their criminal defender colleagues’ ongoing labor action against the Alberta government as they work to achieve better wages and working conditions and the Department of Justice released a report on the lack of access to legal aid in family law disputes.

Take care of one another,

Sam

Editor’s Choices

Reproductive Justice

Immigration

Rule of Law

Free & Fair Elections

Student Loans & Student Debt

Non-Profit & Gov’t Management & Hiring

Access to Justice – Civil & Economic

Access to Justice – Criminal

Criminal Justice Reform and Counter-Reform