"Briefly" by The University of Chicago Law Review

When Are Vaccine Mandates Constitutional?

As states and the federal government impose vaccine mandates to curb the spread of COVID-19, the constitutionality of those mandates has come into question, particularly with regard to religious freedom. Constitutional challenges to state and federal vaccine mandates have found varying success before the Supreme Court. Host Reagan Kapp and Professor Nathan Chapman (U. of Georgia School of Law) discuss the interplay between the First Amendment, freedom of religion, and vaccine mandates.

Protests, a Pandemic, and the Right to Assemble

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the "right of the people peaceably to assemble." The recent prevalence of protest movements, alongside a global pandemic, has influenced the interpretation of this right. Host Kyra Cooper speaks with Professor John Inazu (WashU School of Law) about the right to assemble and its interaction with modern events. Twitter @uchilrev | lawreviewblog.uchicago.edu | Music from bensound.com

The Abandonment of Adoptees

In 2020, YouTube influencer Myka Stauffer received widespread criticism when she revealed her family had given away her adopted son to another family. Host Kyra Cooper speaks with Professor Cynthia Hawkins (Stetson U. College of Law) about the unregulated custody transfer of adoptees and the legal regime surrounding the adoption process. Twitter @uchilrev | lawreviewblog.uchicago.edu | Music from bensound.com

Teaching Constitutional Law

In a new University of Chicago Law School seminar, Professor Emily Buss (U. Chicago Law) and ten law students co-taught incarcerated high school students about the constitutional rights of minors. Host Andrew Zeller, Professor Buss, and Heidi Mueller, director of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, discuss the rewarding and challenging aspects of the course. Twitter @uchilrev | lawreviewblog.uchicago.edu | Music from bensound.com

The Role of the Public Defender

Appointed as Cook County public defender in March 2021, Sharone Mitchell, Jr. took office with a vision to serve as "an engine for progressive systems change." Host Dylan Platt speaks with Cook County Public Defender Sharone Mitchell, Jr. and Professor Judith Miller (U. Chicago Law) on the evolving role of public defenders at the state and federal level. Twitter @uchilrev | lawreviewblog.uchicago.edu | Music from bensound.com