Links of Interest: May 26 – June 1, 2012
Judicial Performance and Elections
- Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens spoke (.pdf) at the University of Arkansas Little Rock this week, referencing his dissent in Citizens United and its impact on campaign finance. Lyle Denniston analyzes the speech at SCotUSBlog.
Politico ran three editorials on campaign finance this week: one against Citizens United, a counterpoint in favor, and a third discussing the possible impact of a guilty verdict for John Edwards on campaign finance.
Community Justice
- Earlier this month, New York’s Chief Judge Jonathon Lippman announced a pro bono requirement for new lawyers. The NYTimes thinks mandatory pro bono is a good idea, but that the plan is flawed. Above the Law was more scathing in its criticism. Access to Justice focused on what the proposed requirement says about the values we promote in the profession, agreeing that “principle of service and access must imbue the bar’s membership, role, activities, and indeed, regulatory structure.” The Washington Times further agreed that it’s a step in the right direction.
- In March, the National Low Income Housing Association issued its annual report, Out of Reach, which is a “side-by-side comparison of wages and rents in every county, Metropolitan Area, combined nonmetropolitan area and state in the United States. ” One particular chart (.pdf), the number of minimum wage work hours needed to afford housing in any given area, caught a lot of attention. It showed up at MoveOn.Org; Bill Moyers’ blog; the Washington Post; and U.S. News Money Report, among other places.
- Lawrence Lessig’s commencement address at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School last weekend touched on themes of institutional corruption he has addressed previously.