New on the UC Law Review Blog, Brookelynn Stone discusses how the “American Dream” of homeownership is increasingly out of reach for many Americans as housing costs surge nationwide. She examines how Idaho’s recent legislation seeks to restore affordability and whether state intervention is necessary when local zoning boards fail to act.
In this article, Nathan Steineker analyzes how the Supreme Court’s forthcoming decision in Anderson v. Intel Corp. and the Department of Labor’s Proposed Rule may jointly reshape ERISA fiduciary standards and expand the use of alternative investments in defined contribution plans.
Kennedy Aikey examines the legal implications of ABC’s abrupt cancellation of a fully filmed season of The Bachelorette following the resurfacing of a domestic violence incident involving its lead, Taylor Frankie Paul. The piece analyzes whether ABC and Disney acted within their contractual rights, focusing on the likely presence and scope of a morality clause and how reputational harm provisions function in an era where social media can rapidly amplify public outrage
Andrew Pyles discusses the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Olivier v. City of Brandon and argues that the decision will have a disparate effect on municipal governments, their ability to enact local laws, and the number of lawsuits brought against them under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
In this Article, Mofe Koya examines how systemic medical neglect of pregnant women in state jails raises serious Eighth Amendment concerns. She further explains how inadequate medical care and the absence of federal standards that require a minimum level of prenatal care during incarceration have transformed pregnancy in custody into cruel and unusual and therefore unconstitutional punishment.
Jack Frischen examines how climate change escalation could strain existing U.S. environmental law and emergency powers, raising the risk of expanded federal control if meaningful reform is delayed. He argues that strengthening environmental regulation is essential to safeguard democratic governance and prevent crisis-driven overreach.
Katie Bunch examines the legal regulation of short-term rental platforms under municipal zoning law, analyzing how traditional land use classifications, varying ordinance language, and differing judicial interpretations influence the treatment of Airbnb and Vrbo properties. She evaluates how clearer statutory definitions and balancing approaches could reduce ambiguity and improve consistency in zoning enforcement.
Stella Brocker analyzes a recent class-action lawsuit against Elon Musk, where a jury found that he committed securities fraud during his 2022 Twitter acquisition. She analyzes whether Musk’s actions legally constituted securities fraud and the broader policy implications of this verdict. Ultimately, she argues that the current securities fraud regulations should be modified to allow for actions brought under a lower standard of culpability to hold rich and powerful actors accountable for negligent behavior on social media.
Josh Smith explores a recent trademark infringement lawsuit filed by the well-known gas station brand, Buc ee’s, against Mickey’s, a regional gas station in northeast Ohio. This article examines the application of the Lanham Act to the facts of the case while also considering whether Buc ee’s is asserting a trademark overreach rather than protecting a legally distinctive and enforceable mark.
Maggie Traubert explores how San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez reshaped the constitutional landscape of public education by declining to recognize education as a fundamental right and permitting funding disparities based on local property wealth. The article traces the historical commitment to educational equality from early American ideals through Brown v. Board of Education, and argues that Rodriguez marked a retreat from those principles. The result is a system in which educational opportunity remains closely tied to wealth, with enduring consequences for equity and access.
