Jane Austen sketch

Jane Austen and the Value of Flaws

Jane Austen is known for self-assured heroines and love stories. But she also wrote a lot about the importance of being wrong.
Jail Cell

A Non-Punitive Response to Juvenile Crime

It wasn’t until recently that federal juvenile justice policy swung sharply toward prosecution and tough sentencing.
John Hinckley Jr mugshot

What Do People Think of the Insanity Defense?

John Hinckley Jr., who tried to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981, has been released from the psychiatric hospital where ...
Photograph of a building on the University of Michigan's law school campus

Do People Regret Going to Law School?

The legal profession is in crisis, with more new lawyers than demand, and law schools are scaling back. Is law school still a safe bet?
A group assembling to welcome asylum seekers

The Ongoing Legal Plight of LGBTQ Refugees

Until governments recognize the right to freely express sexual and gender identity, safe haven for LGBTQ refugees is uncertain at best.
Louis D. Brandeis

The Confirmation of Louis D. Brandeis

Louis D. Brandeis was confirmed as a Supreme Court justice a century ago. The protracted nomination process may sound familiar.
A collage of old black and white mugshots

The Right to Legal Counsel

Adequate legal counsel is not provided to many of the poor accused of crimes.
Sandra Bland via Facebook

Why is Perjury So Rarely Prosecuted?

Perjury is often considered the "forgotten offense." Despite being widespread, it is rarely prosecuted. 
Statue of Lady Justice holding a sword in one hand and scales in the other

How Reforms to Rape Law Changed Our Understanding of the Crime

Reforms to rape law in the 1970s and 1980s transformed the definition of rape and brought the crime out of the shadows.
Man with wind up knob

Did You Hear the Joke about the Lawyer?

Why lawyer jokes typically involve the killing or maiming of lawyers.