The Staffing, Operations and Technology: 2025 Survey of State Courts, the third annual report by Thomson Reuters Institute with support from the National Center for State Courts AI Policy Consortium, captures insights from 443 judges and court professionals across State, County, and Municipal courts, gathered via an online questionnaire between March 26…
INTRODUCTION. Émilie du Châtelet (1706–1749) was a pioneering scientist, philosopher, and translator whose intellect shone brightly in the Age of Enlightenment. Best known for her French translation and commentary on Newton’s Principia Mathematica, still the standard version today, she brought clarity and depth to Newtonian physics while offering original insights…
The Social Security Administration (SSA) and legal scholars have offered sharply differing perspectives on the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill. In an official communication, the SSA hails the legislation as a historic victory for seniors, emphasizing tax relief for nearly 90% of Social Security recipients. By contrast, in a…
Report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO): July 9, 2025. The federal budget deficit totaled $1.3 trillion in the first nine months of fiscal year 2025, CBO estimates. That amount is $65 billion more than the deficit recorded during the same period last fiscal year. SUMMARY: The federal budget deficit…
“Normally we interpret the golden rule as telling us how to act. But in practice its greater role may be psychological, alerting us to everyday self-absorption, and the failure to consider our impacts on others. The rule reminds us also that we are peers to others who deserve comparable consideration.”…
The legislative branch of the United States government (embodied in Congress, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate) is the cornerstone of the federal lawmaking process and a central pillar of the constitutional system of checks and balances. Through its exclusive powers to enact laws, oversee the…
In a timely and thought-provoking piece published in the Criminal Justice Magazine (Spring 2025), Richard Alan Ginkowski, a judge, and legal educator who has contributed to American Bar Association publications, urges legal professionals and advocates to take a closer look at an often-overlooked resource: their own state constitutions. His article,…
Introduction The post referenced below is an adapted excerpt from “The ‘Seizure of Power’ 2025: An Historical Reflection,” authored by Professor Matthew W. Finkin, Research Professor of Law at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Originally delivered as a comprehensive lecture at Mander Hall in London on March 18, 2025, this version…
In his June 4, 2025 article for The Washington Post, technology columnist Geoffrey A. Fowler explores the capabilities of leading AI chatbots in comprehending and summarizing complex texts. Titled “5 AI bots took our tough reading test. One was smartest , and it wasn’t ChatGPT,” the piece details a comprehensive…
In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping the legal landscape, understanding its practical applications becomes essential for modern practitioners. Carolyn Elefant, a seasoned attorney and founder of MyShingle.com, offers a compelling firsthand account of this evolution. In her timely article, “My Experience Comparing Lexis and ChatGPT Deep Research,” published…