top of page


Money Talks and Justice Walks at Michigan State
As the recent sex abuse trial of former United States Gymnastics physician Larry Nassar unfolded, it became apparent that there existed...
chiefofstaff1
Mar 16, 20184 min read


New Divisions: How Old Rifts are Reborn
It looks like any other government website: Just visually unappealing enough to give the impression of fluorescent lights in a waiting...
chiefofstaff1
Feb 27, 20185 min read


Guns, Prisons and Executions: American Exceptionalism as Flawed Individualism
The exact origins of the concept of American exceptionalism are difficult to pinpoint. Perhaps it is rooted in John Winthrop’s “City upon...
chiefofstaff1
Jan 11, 20186 min read


Raising Ethical Standards in the Nation’s Highest Court
Federal judges’ conduct is governed by precise ethical codes that ensure their recusal from cases in which they may have financial,...
chiefofstaff1
Jan 9, 20185 min read


Trump’s Take on States’ Rights
While both liberals and conservatives have historically drifted from their party’s norms about states rights in order to maneuver their...
chiefofstaff1
Jan 9, 20184 min read


McConnell Can’t Shake the Blues: Safeguarding the Blue Slip Process and Senate Traditions
The United States Senate is an institution steeped in tradition: From the filibuster to the amendment process, senators on both sides of...
chiefofstaff1
Dec 13, 20175 min read


Judgment Day: The Future of Mandatory Arbitration in the Wake of the Equifax Hack
The Equifax hack shocked Americans in both its scope and preventability. The Social Security numbers of over 143 million citizens were...
chiefofstaff1
Dec 13, 20175 min read


You Are Blocked From Following @realDonaldTrump
President Donald Trump’s use of Twitter is generally portrayed in the media as a paradigmatic shift in presidential communication — so...
chiefofstaff1
Nov 13, 20175 min read


Read Between the Lines: Maintaining the Unwritten Rules of the Senate
Since the opening of this year’s Senate session, the body has faced an uncharacteristic amount of drama prompted by the President, the...
chiefofstaff1
Nov 4, 20177 min read


An Imperfect Solution: The Use of Juvenile Hearing Boards in Reforming the Juvenile Justice System
There is a growing consensus across the country — and across the aisle — that the US is in desperate need of criminal justice reform to...
chiefofstaff1
Nov 3, 20176 min read


Trump Administration Eliminates Options for Undocumented Survivors of Abuse
While campaigning, Donald Trump claimed he wanted to target undocumented immigrants to increase safety and support victims of crimes. His...
chiefofstaff1
Oct 27, 20174 min read


The Shaming of Sexuality: America’s Real Sex Scandal
In early September, the Twitter account of Texas Senator and former Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz “liked” a post containing...
chiefofstaff1
Oct 27, 20174 min read


Justice of a Term Limit
Neil Gorsuch was sworn in as a the 113th Supreme Court Justice on April 10th, 2017 at only 49 years old. Cementing a conservative...
chiefofstaff1
May 26, 20175 min read


The House that Madison Built
At one point during the 2016 presidential election, 95 percent of Republicans believed that Washington and the American political system...
chiefofstaff1
Apr 30, 20175 min read


Reclaiming “You’re Fired”
“I did not resign. Moments ago I was fired. Being the US Attorney in SDNY will forever be the greatest honor of my professional life.”...
chiefofstaff1
Apr 24, 20177 min read


Why the Democrats Should Not Block Gorsuch
The vote on the confirmation of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court will be a turning point in the history of American governance....
chiefofstaff1
Apr 20, 20176 min read


No Taxation Without Representation
“No Taxation without Representation” The state license plates of over 600,000 Washington, DC residents display this slogan. Every car...
chiefofstaff1
Apr 19, 20179 min read


Nickels and Dimes: The Criminalization of Rhode Island’s Poor
Court debt and bus fares are nothing more than a mild annoyance for most Rhode Islanders: a transaction accepted without second thought...
chiefofstaff1
Apr 18, 201710 min read


The Private Prison Myth: Why Criminal Justice Should Focus on Sentencing Laws
With a staggering 2,248,100 people incarcerated in American prisons and jails according to 2015 US Bureau of Justice Statistics figures,...
chiefofstaff1
Mar 18, 20177 min read


Social Media and the Stakes of Supreme Court Appointments
“Even if people don’t like me, they have to vote for me. They have no choice. Even if you can’t stand Donald Trump, you think Donald...
chiefofstaff1
Mar 11, 20174 min read
bottom of page