Please enjoy this episode from the archive with former Editor-in-Chief, Marisa Polowitz. This episode features a portion of the 2022 Symposium presented by Loyola's Journal of Regulatory Compliance, specifically the panel entitled "Developments in Healthcare Data Regulation," moderated by Marisa Polowitz.

This episode confronts the “Trifecta of Violence” as it relates to escalating violence against transgender people, particularly Black transwomen, and the systemic forces enabling it. From Orwellian laws targeting trans existence to unchecked citizen brutality, the legal system and societal apathy lead to state-sanctioned and judicially-approved violence against Black trans bodies. The violent policy enacted against trans people does not, and will not end with transpeople—exemplified by the story of Kalaya Morton, a butch (Black masculine lesbian) from Arizona, who was assaulted in a public restroom by male law enforcement under the false accusation of being trans, anti-trans policy is meant to police identity deemed ‘deviant’ by white cisgendered heteropatriarchy.

Angela Irvine, You Can’t Run from the Police: Developing a Feminist Criminology that Incorporates Black Transgender Women, 44 SW. L. REV. 553 (2015).

C. Riley Snorton, Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Trans Identity, Uni. Minn. Press (2017)

Jennifer L. Eberhardt, Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do, Vikings 140 (2019).

Elias Cosenza Krell, Is Transmisogyny Killing Trans Women of Color?, 4 TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly, Duke. Uni. Press. 226 (2017).

Emily Lenning, et. al., The Trifecta of Violence: A Socio-Historical Comparison of Lynching and Violence Against Transgender Women, 29 Critical Criminology 151 (Dec. 2020).

https://www.advocate.com/news/lesbian-mistaken-transgender-arizona-walmart

https://transgenderlawcenter.org/resources/transgender-people-and-law-enforcement-interactions-rights-and-realities/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/defending-women-from-gender-ideology-extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal-government/

https://www.edweek.org/leadership/pronouns-for-trans-nonbinary-students-the-states-with-laws-that-restrict-them-in-schools/2023/06

https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/hrcs-2024-epidemic-of-violence-report-fatal-violence-against-transgender-and-gender-non-conforming-people-continues-with-black-trans-women-comprising-nearly-half-of-the-deaths

https://www.them.us/story/trans-day-of-remembrance-recorded-deaths-black-trans-women

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/education/2025/03/28/ohio-bill-requires-parental-permission-student-name-pronoun-change-house-bill-190/82702958007/

https://www.chalkbeat.org/2025/03/28/schools-must-share-child-gender-identity-info-with-parents-trump-education-department-says/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/keeping-men-out-of-womens-sports/

https://www.advocate.com/news/lesbian-mistaken-transgender-arizona-walmart

In this episode, we talk with a former lawyer, Greyson “Grey” Fitzgerald, who made the leap from Big Law to tattooing. They share what pushed them to leave the legal world, the challenges of starting fresh in a creative industry, and how their background in law still plays a role in their new career. Whether you're interested in career transitions or just curious about the path from courtrooms to tattoo studios, this conversation offers a look into making big changes.

Andrea Lyon is a criminal defense lawyer, author, speaker, professor and former law school dean. Dubbed “The Angel of Death Row” by the Chicago Tribune, she was the first woman to serve as lead attorney in a death penalty case, and she holds an unparalleled 19 wins in 19 capital cases. Andrea’s publications include over fifty law review articles, over ten practice manuals and books focused on her career and social justice in America.

Katie sat down with Andrea to talk about her remarkable career, the challenges she faced in her early work, some advice for managing high-profile cases, and her enduring belief in the power of redemption.

Resources:

Andrea Lyon profile at Lyon & Kerr: https://www.lyonkerr.com/andrea-lyon/

Select publications by Andrea Lyon:

Angel of Death Row: My Life as a Death Penalty Defense Lawyer: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6933361-angel-of-death-row

Fixing Legal Injustice in America: The Case for a Defender General of the United States: https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538164662/Fixing-Legal-Injustice-in-America-The-Case-for-a-Defender-General-of-the-United-States

Additional Resources:

John Conroy’s “House of Screams”, the 1990 Chicago Reader coverage of Jon Burge and the Area 2 police: https://chicagoreader.com/news/house-of-screams/

This episode of the Podvocate will explore the often overlooked and underdiscussed pressures of law school, focusing on what shapes students’ mental health and well-being. From the pervasive culture of perfectionism and the relentless grind mentality to the emotional toll of legal education, we dive into how law students can be impacted by unspoken expectations. This episode also discusses the stigma surrounding mental health in law school and how some schools are already taking steps to help their students.

Resources

ABA Launches Pledge Campaign to Improve Mental Health and Well-Being of Lawyers, American Bar Association, September 10, 2018. https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2018/09/aba-launches-pledge-campaign-to-improve-mental-health-and-well-b/

Raashi Sharma, Well-Being Series: Law Student Mental Health: An Open Dialogue, February 9, 2023, https://bostonbar.org/journal/law-student-mental-health-an-open-dialogue/

Priscilla Henson, Addiction and Substance Abuse in Lawyers: Statistics, June 21, 2024, https://americanaddictioncenters.org/workforce-addiction/white-collar/lawyers

David Jaffe, Law Schools Should Take on Students’ Mental Health and Substance Use From Day One, American Bar Association, May 17, 2023, https://www.abajournal.com/voice/article/the-legal-profession-has-a-drinking-problem

Jerome M. Organ et. al, Suffering in Silence: The Survey of Law Student Well-Being and the Reluctance of Law Students to Seek Help for Substance Use and Mental Health Concerns, 66 Journal of Legal Education 1 (2016)

Katherine M. Younge, Understanding the Social and Cognitive Process in Law School that Creates Unhealthy Lawyers, 89 Fordham L. Rev. 11 (2021)

In this episode, I sit down with Samantha Reed, Esq., of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois to discuss the case of Kevin T. Singer, a convicted murderer who used Dungeons and Dragons to escape the gloom inherent to life in prison.

Ms. Reed and I discuss the history of prisoner’s rights, the current landscape of prisoner’s rights, the Satanic Panic surrounding DnD, and the arguments proffered in Singer v. Raemisch. The case was heard before the 7th Circuit, and it was ultimately decided that depriving Mr. Singer of his ability to play DnD was not a violation of his First Amendment rights.

Attached is a link to the decision itself, and the article about Texas Death Row inmates playing DnD that Ms. Reed referenced.

https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCOURTS-ca7-07-03400

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/31/magazine/dungeons-dragons-death-row.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

This episode explores the evolving landscape of U.S. tariffs and their wide-reaching legal effects. It starts with a refresher on tariffs, who imposes them, and how maritime law—particularly the Jones Act—intersects with trade policy. Then we examine recent tariff developments and how these moves are impacting global trade, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical relations. It delves into the legal foundations of tariff authority, related litigation trends, and the business risks that come with shifting tariff policies. Finally, it looks ahead at possible future developments, emphasizing the continuing role of maritime law in shaping trade enforcement and dispute resolution.

Jones Act (Merchant Marine Act of 1920) – 46 U.S. Code § 55102

WhiteHouse.gov, Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Imposes Tariffs on Imports from Canada, Mexico and China, The White House, February 1, 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-imposes-tariffs-on-imports-from-canada-mexico-and-china/?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

​Exec. Order No. 14,257, 90 Fed. Reg. [page number TBD] (Apr. 2, 2025).

Senate Session – Remarks by Sen. Tim Kaine and Sen. Rand Paul regarding the vote to end the national emergency declaration, C-SPAN (Apr. 10, 2025), https://www.c-span.org/video/?Ma1yZjk1.

Benoit et al., Trade Protection – What Impact on Jobs and Wages? Council on Economic Policies, December 23, 2022, .

Grennes, Thomas, An Economic Analysis of the Jones Act, Mercatus Research, Mercatus Center George Mason University, 2017, 48 pages. .

Hahn, Tariffs 101: What are they and how do they work? Oxford Economics, March 19, 2025, .

Hamm, A., Trump’s steel tariffs, UNC affirmative action, and Maine’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, SCOTUSblog, December 3, 2021, 3:06p.m., .

Siripurapu, A. et al., What are Tariffs? Council on Foreign Relations, last updated April 1, 2025, 5:36 p.m. EST, .

Smith, M, The Impact of Trump’s Tariffs: A Comprehensive Analysis, CLA, March 11, 2025, https://www.claconnect.com/en/resources/articles/25/the-impact-of-trumps-tariffs-a-comprehensive-analysis/

Smith, A. et al., Immediate Impacts, Risks, and Uncertain Future of President Trump’s Unprecedented Worldwide Tariffs, Gibson Dunn Client Alert, April 8, 2025,

Thomas, M. et al., USTR Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Action in Section 301 Investigation of China’s Targeting of the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors, Safe Passage – News and Views from Blank Rome Maritime and Mainbrace, Blank Rome LLP, March 7, 2025, 4 pages, .

York, E., The Impact of Trade and Tariffs on the United States, Tax Foundation, June 27, 2018, .

York, E., Trump Tariffs: The Economic Impact of the Trump Trade War, Tax Foundation, April 4, 2025, .

In the fourth and likely final episode of the series on NIL, associate editors Davey and Chris discuss new issues within the NIL space since their last episode. We break down the major points and discuss the issues of the House v NCAA proposed settlement, which is set to be ruled on, on April 7th, 2025. Additionally, we give updates on two smaller legal disputes. One is Diego Pavia’s lawsuit against the NCAA on eligibility and the other is Dartmouth Men’s Basketball team seeking to unionize. Thank you all for listening to the series and be sure to check out the previous episodes!

Research & Sources:

Proposed House Settlement

NCAA appealing Pavia injunction

The Dartmouth men’s basketball team ends its attempt to unionize

Resources:

Check out the prior NIL episodes in the series and by previous editors

Schooled: The Price of College Sports

In this episode, Associate Editor Isabella Lund explores the differences between the legal systems in Germany and the United States. Our guest Matthias Baehre works as a judge in Stade, Germany. He walks us through his career, starting with law school in Germany and finishing with the trial process in Germany. Our discussion focuses on the use of lay judges versus a jury to deliver a verdict, as well as the pros and cons of being a judge in the United States versus Germany. Ask yourself, would you rather be a defendant in Germany or the United States? Would you rather become a lawyer in the United States or Germany?

Research & Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany/Justice

https://howtogermany.com/bureaucracy/german-law-and-the-german-legal-system/

https://www.ejn-crimjust.europa.eu/ejn2021/ContentDetail/EN/5/1

For a diagram of the German court system: https://www.germancivilprocedure.com/know-your-way-around-german-civil-courts/

Being a defense attorney in Germany: Crime and Guilt by Ferdinsnd Von Schirach

I think I’ve seen this film before, and I didn’t like the ending. In the first three months of his second term President Trump has embarked on an unprecedented campaign against the American justice system. Working through the history of the legal profession and its roots in the United States, Associate Editor Alyssa Pacheco draws parallels between the political climate of today and that of Germany during the fall of the Weimar Republic and the rise of Adolf Hitler hoping to implore listeners to act. All in the name of democracy of course.

Research & Sources:    

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/addressing-risks-from-perkins-coie-llp/

Charles I. Lugosi, Reflections From Embassy Lakes, Florida: The Effective Teaching Of Criminal Law, 48 St. Louis U. L.J. 1350 (2000).

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/109967829299924979

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/01/liz-cheney-blasts-trump-for-war-hawk-comment/75984766007/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-meaning-and-value-of-american-citizenship/

https://www.migrationpolicy.org/content/immigrants-and-crime

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2024-10-31/we-fact-checked-some-of-trumps-most-common-claims-on-immigration

https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2025/02/aba-statement-re-remarks-questioning-judicial-review/

https://www.actl.com/news/actl-condemns-elon-musks-call-for-an-immediate-wave-of-judicial-impeachments/

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/11/politics/chilling-effect-trump-legal-establishment/index.html

https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2025/02/aba-statement-re-remarks-questioning-judicial-review/