Law 401

For a small state, why does Rhode Island have such a powerful impact on the national legal stage?

A group of pro bono lawyers working under the Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island (LCRI) might have something to do with it.

Resources

Miriam Weizenbaum

https://www.dwbrlaw.com/attorneys/weizenbaum-miriam/

Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island

https://www.lawyerscommitteeri.org/

“How Rhode Island became the center of the legal battle for the nation’s SNAP benefits”

https://www.oceanstatemedia.org/politics/how-rhode-island-became-the-center-of-the-legal-battle-for-the-nations-snap-benefits-1

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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed.

A Dove study found 80% of Black women feel they must change their natural hair to fit in at work. In this episode, we talk with Rhode Island State Senator Tiara Mack, the first queer Black person elected to the RI Senate and lead sponsor of the CROWN Act, “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.”

Sen. Mack explains the historical connection between hair and identity in Black culture, and how the CROWN Act provides legal protection against discrimination in schools and workplaces. We close on a lighter note talking about the viral dance video that made her a social media sensation.

Resources

Senator Tiara T. Mack

https://www.rilegislature.gov/senators/mack/Pages/Biography.aspx

Dove CROWN Research Study

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.law.nova.edu/current-students/orgs/blsa/dove_the_crown_reseach_study.pdf

Locs, Law & Liberation

https://racism.org/articles/law-and-justice/38-law-policies-and-race/12823-locs-law-liberation

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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed.

Who has the power to impose tariffs—the President or Congress?

Greg W. Bowman, Dean of Roger Williams University School of Law, former international trade attorney, and resident trade law subject matter expert, breaks down the Supreme Court’s decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump—the case that raises the simple question of ownership in imposing tariffs. Hosts MDB and Nicole unpack the Court’s ruling and ask the questions you want to know:

Did the President exceed his authority in imposing certain tariffs? What does the SCOTUS decision mean regarding the limits of presidential emergency powers?   What happens to tariffs already being paid (hint: refunds)?  More importantly, why does the ruling matter for Rhode Island businesses and consumers who rely on global trade.

This podcast will keep you informed.

Dean Gregory W. Bowman

https://law.rwu.edu/faculty/gregory-w-bowman

Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1287_4gcj.pdf

World Trade Organization

https://www.wto.org/

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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed.

Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, joins us to discuss her legislation that would allow survivors of childhood abuse to file civil claims for up to 35 years. The measure would hold institutions and individuals accountable for child abuse negligence or cover up. She also shares why it’s deeply personal.

The legislation comes as a recent report by RI Attorney General Peter Neronha identified decades of abuse. The report found that 75 priests were accused of abusing 300 victims in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. This is a sensitive but important issue that affects communities across Rhode Island.

Resources

Carol Hagan McEntee

https://www.rilegislature.gov/representatives/mcentee/Pages/Biography.aspx

H 7200 Legislation

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7200.pdf

Report on Child Abuse

https://riag.ri.gov/diocese-report

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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed. 

Episode 24’s guest, RWU law professor Natalia Friedlander, explores a critical question: Is it possible for Artificial Intelligence to have bias?

AI influences decisions in health care, housing, education, and courts. Exactly how does AI exhibit or apply hidden bias – and how could that legally affect you? We examine who is responsible when AI systems produce biased outcomes. What safeguards are in place for Rhode Islanders? From legal education to public policy, we uncover that AI is not just a tech issue but also a matter of fairness, accountability, and justice.

Resources

Natalia Friedlander

https://law.rwu.edu/faculty/natalia-friedlander

Rhode Island’s AI Task Force Report

https://etss.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur466/files/2026-01/Final-Rhode-Island-AI-Action-Plan-Report-2026-01-26.pdf

Harvard Law’s Principles for AI Governance

https://harvardlawreview.org/print/vol-138/beyond-section-230-principles-for-ai-governance/

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Stream bite-size episodes of Law 401 anytime on WPRI 12+  

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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed. 

Are talks of the US acquiring Greenland just political theatre? RWU Law professor Gregory Noone joins us to explain the legal realities behind headlines. This topic involves serious issues of sovereignty, mineral rights, national security, and international law.

Learn about Greenland’s status as a sovereign territory within Denmark and the probability of the US legally acquiring it. The conversation also brings international policy closer to home, explaining how national security reasoning abroad can shape decisions here in RI.

Resources

Dr. Gregory P. Noone

https://law.rwu.edu/faculty/gregory-p-noone

https://www.publicinternationallawandpolicygroup.org/dr-gregory-p-noone-bio

Article 5 NATO

https://www.nato.int/en/what-we-do/introduction-to-nato/collective-defence-and-article-5

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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed.

In the Season 2 premiere of Law 401, hosts MDB and Nicole sit down with Representative June Speakman to discuss the state of civic education in Rhode Island. Drawing on her experience as a legislator and professor at Roger Williams University, Rep. Speakman explores how civics should work vs how it really plays out in classrooms and at the State House.

The conversation looks at Rhode Island’s 2021 Civic Literacy Act, which requires proficiency for all public high school grads. It also examines whether K–12 educators have the time and funding to teach meaningful civics. And what protesting and voicing your opinion looks like when done respectfully.

Resources:

Representative June Speakman

https://www.rilegislature.gov/representatives/speakman/Pages/Biography.aspx

https://www.rwu.edu/academics/schools/fssns/faculty/june-s-speakman

Civic Literacy Act

https://governor.ri.gov/press-releases/governor-mckee-signs-legislation-civics-education-schools

Cook v. McKee

https://clearinghouse.net/case/43400/

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Disclaimer

The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed.

In this festive two-part season finale of Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded, hosts MDB and Nicole welcome lawyer and improv performer James Bagley L’12, for a fun dive into the quirks of holiday law—from Santa’s chimney “break-ins,” elf labor laws to glowing yard displays—legal angles you’ve probably never considered! Capping this episode is a special year-one best-moments review, with the hosts looking back on their favorite conversations, wildest legal hypotheticals, and a forward look as they gear up for an even more relevant season two.

Resources

James Bagley

James J. Bagley, (he/they), is Defense Counsel for the Mental Health Treatment Court and a Staff Attorney with the Office of the Mental Health Advocate’s Office.  James studied theatre at the University of Rhode Island, comedy at the Magnet Theatre (NYC) and later the Providence Improv Guild, where he was a house team performer for eight years.

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The information provided is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to individual situations; listeners are encouraged to consult their own legal counsel before acting on any information discussed.

Intimate partner violence affects thousands of Rhode Islanders, and the systems meant to protect survivors can be overwhelming to navigate. In this episode, Sojourner House Staff Attorney Yulyana Torres L’23, breaks down the data, the terminology, and the lived experiences behind Sojourner’s launch of legal services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.  

We explore respectful language, client-led advocacy, trauma-informed representation, disparities in access to representation, and the systemic barriers survivors face in Rhode Island. A powerful listen for both lawyers and community members, offering a sharper view of how we can better support survivors. 

Resources 

Yulyana Torres 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yulyana-torres-381381156/ 

Sojourner House

https://sojournerri.org/press-release-sojourner-house-to-launch-legal-services-program-for-victims-of-abuse/ 

This Law 401 episode examines the difference between expectations of body-worn cameras and their real outcomes.  Rhode Island Public Defender and RWU Law Adjunct Professor Collin Geiselman joins hosts Nicole and Michael to break down how Rhode Island’s camera program works in real life, including what gets recorded, what doesn’t, who can access footage, and why the “truth” on video is often more complicated than it looks. We explore policy limits, privacy concerns, courtroom use, transparency, and what reforms Rhode Island still needs as body cameras become central to modern policing.

Resources

Collin Mathew Geiselman, Rhode Island Office of Public Defender

http://www.ripd.org/officedivisions.html

https://law.rwu.edu/faculty/collin-mathew-geiselman

Body-Worn Cameras

https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/110-RICR-10-00-2_Clean_Proposed-1.pdf

APRA

https://dhs.ri.gov/public-records