Courts
Originalism: What it is, what it isn’t and why it’s the most democratic option for the Supreme Court
A majority of Supreme Court justices follow originalism, the mode of constitutional interpretation championed by late Justice Antonin Scalia. A former Scalia law clerk explains what originalism means.
Philadelphia’s criminal justice fines and fees fall hardest on poorest neighborhoods
New research maps where legal financial obligations are concentrated – and finds they overlap with poverty, violence and racial inequality.
Why Trump’s move to gut the Endangered Species Act likely won’t hold up in court
If Congress didn’t believe habitat destruction and degradation constitute ‘harm’ under the statute, why would it require permits and plans to offset habitat loss?
The Constitution promises an interpreter for fair trials – US courts often can’t deliver
Federal protections promise a fair trial in a language you understand, but for millions who speak lesser-known languages, courts can’t keep that promise.
Can kids go to prison? A legal expert explains how young people can be tried and sentenced as adults
There’s a separate justice system for people under 18 because their brains are still developing. Treating them as adults can turn them into repeat offenders.