Volume XI, Spring 2019 Law Journal for Social Justice

 

Editor Introduction

 

The Law Journal for Social Justice’s Symposium, “What’s Next for the Death Penalty?” explored recent developments in death penalty jurisprudence from the perspective of exonerees, defense attorneys, prosecutors, and victim advocates. The symposium opened with keynote speaker Ha’im Sharif, who was exonerated from death row after serving more than twenty-eight years. Next, Larry Hammond moderated a discussion with prosecutors about the decision to seek death in a homicide case. Panelists included Hon. Mike McVey, Deputy Chief of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, and Hon. Ron Reinstein, retired judge of the Maricopa County Superior Court. Afterwards, Timothy Agan of the Arizona Justice Project moderated a conversation between victim advocates Dan Levey and Leslie James about victims’ rights in capital cases. Finally, Professor Paul Bender moderated a discussion between defense attorneys Susan Corey, Garrett Simpson, and Mikel Steinfeld about emerging challenges to the death penalty, including the recent United States Supreme Court opinion Hidalgo v. Arizona. Special thanks to our Symposium Editor, Shannon Brien, for her hard work planning and organizing this marvelous event.

Our eleventh volume begins with Beyond Impressionistic Analysis: An Empirical Evaluation of 21st Century Non-lawyer Courts. In this article, Alisa Smith explores the history of non-lawyer judges in the United States, analyzes the constitutional and practical problems of non-lawyer judges from publications and empirical data, and offers an answer on whether the practice of non-lawyer judges should be continued. Next, Meghan Vumback examines the effectiveness of the Eighth Amendment in protecting the rights of incarcerated individuals during states of emergency and natural disasters in Evacuating the Incarcerated: The Intricacies of Keeping Prisoner’s Eighth Amendment Rights Intact During Natural Disasters.

Katelyn Ringrose’s article, Eternal Sins: The Case for Extending Statutes of Limitation Regarding Childhood Sexual Abuse Nationwide discusses the emergence of child sexual abuse cases and the Catholic Church, proposes a method to extend statutes of limitation for child victims, and advocates that an extended statute of limitations would benefit all child victims. Finally, this volume concludes with an article by one LJSJ’s own. In Cultural Resources in a Developing World, Alysha Green examines how courts have failed to address the destruction of ancestral lands, explores solutions to protect ancestral lands from extractive industries, and advocates that ancestral lands should be classified as a cultural resource to ensure greater protection.

 

Katherine A. Nelson
2018-2019 Editor-in-Chief