Legal options available to states for protecting autonomy of National Guard
Under agreements reached between the Trump administration and the National Guards of Texas and Florida, Guard personnel would be responsible for conducting law enforcement activities in support of efforts by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest and detain undocumented immigrants. In commentary for a Center for a New […]
Dispensing with mandatory law of war training in U.S. Army is ‘dangerous’
Under new U.S. Army regulation, once-mandatory training focused on teaching soldiers about the legal frameworks governing war will be optional and at the discretion of commanders. In an opinion for Military Times, CERL Advisory Council member Geoffrey Corn warns of the dangers of cutting these trainings, noting that respect for and compliance with the law […]
Trump’s campaign to revoke student visas is ‘merely performative,’ doing little to combat antisemitism on college campuses
The Trump administration has stripped hundreds of foreign university students of their visas, many of whom were targeted for their participation in pro-Palestinian activities. In an opinion for The Hill, Frank Figliuzzi and CERL’s Professor Claire Finkelstein explain why President Trump’s actions not only run counter to his stated goal of combatting antisemitism but also […]
Comey investigation raises questions about First Amendment protections
Former FBI Director James Comey is being investigated by the Trump administration for posting a “threat” to the president on social media. Mark Zaid is quoted in a Washington Post article by Mark Berman, Patrick Marley, and Perry Stein discussing the incident and the apparent targeting of individuals who have criticized the Trump administration. Mark […]
President’s plan to accept Qatari luxury jet could pose challenge to national security
CERL Advisory Council member Geoffrey Corn spoke with KCBS Radio about President Trump’s plan to accept a Boeing 747-8 jet from Qatar, priced at $400 million, as the new Air Force One, raising concerns about the safety of the jet, security risks, including espionage, and the lack of Congressional overview. Geoffrey S. Corn is the […]
Traditional legal processes bypassed to expand troop presence along the U.S.-Mexico border
In an episode of News 4 (WOAI) San Antonio’s Immigration Crisis: The Fight for the Southern Border, Lt. Colonel Geoffrey Corn, member of CERL’s Advisory Council, discusses how President Trump navigated legal hurdles and public opinion to deploy federal troops to the southern border. He explains Trump bypassed the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts the […]
Ethics experts raise concern about a DOGE employee’s personal ties to Musk
CERL’s Professor Claire Finkelstein is quoted in an article by Jake Pearson for ProPublica discussing whether Christopher Young, an advisor to Elon Musk who also works for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is in violation of conflict-of-interest rules governing federal employees. If Young’s loyalty is to Musk on a personal level, he should not […]
Fallon reflects on three-decade career in counterintelligence
In an interview with award-winning author Pamela Hamilton, CERL Advisory Council member Mark Fallon discusses his three-decade career in government, including his undercover assignments as an NCIS Special Agent, science-backed strategies for eliciting accurate and reliable information during interrogations, and the challenges he confronted as Deputy Commander of the Criminal Investigation Task Force charged with […]
Soldiers are trained to fight wars, not participate in civilian law enforcement
Professor Geoffrey Corn, member of CERL’s Advisory Council, is quoted in reporting by Uriel J. García for The Texas Tribune on the military zone established by the Pentagon as part of El Paso’s Fort Bliss Army base that permits active-duty troops to arrest migrants at the border. He notes that federal law limits the use […]
Legal experts weigh in on Trump’s intensifying criticism of the courts
CERL’s Faculty Director Claire Finkelstein is quoted in an ABC News article discussing Trump’s latest criticism of federal judges amid increasing tension between his administration and the courts. Claire Finkelstein is the Algernon Biddle Professor of Law and Professor of Philosophy and Faculty Director of the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law. Read […]
As norms and rules falter, the global legal community can play a critical role in “promoting authentic international law”
At a time when normative and rule of law guardrails are eroding, international lawyers can play a crucial role in “promoting authentic international law” as opposed to flexible interpretations of the law that give leaders greater leeway to use force, Professor Mary Ellen O’Connell, member of CERL’s Advisory Council, argues in an opinion for EJIL: […]
International initiatives to reconstruct cultural heritage must be responsive to local preferences
It has been a decade since the Islamic State released footage showing their destruction of cultural artifacts in the Mosul Museum. In analysis for the Australian Institute of International Affairs, Professors Benjamin Isakhan and Lynn Meskell, member of CERL’s Affiliated Faculty, detail results from a survey they conducted, together with the Arab Barometer, of over […]
UN Cybercrime Convention inadequately addresses distinct risks to women and girls
The United Nations General Assembly adopted last December a treaty, known as the Cybercrime Convention, to protect against crimes involving information and communication technologies. Professor Rangita de Silva de Alwis, member of CERL’s Affiliated Faculty, argues the Convention inadequately addresses the gendered components of cybercrime and the specific dangers posed to women and girls. Rangita […]
Pressure waves from standing near mortars severely harm the nervous system
According to data from a recent live-fire mortar exercise, mortars are causing “overpressure,” dangerous pressure waves and leading to decreased Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) functioning. The ANS manages bodily responses such as “fight or flight,” temperature, and gastrointestinal processes, which in turn impact a person’s blood pressure, heart rate, and more. In an article for […]
ABA educational video series focuses on civics for military members
Harvey Rishikof, member of CERL’s Executive Board, recruited participants and framed topics for “Strengthening Democracy: A Civics Education Series for Military Members,” a series of educational videos for members of the U.S. armed forces by the American Bar Association’s Division for Public Education in collaboration with ABA’s Standing Committee on Law and National Security and […]
Federal judges respond to Trump’s executive orders
Trump’s sweeping executive actions in his first two weeks back in office were met with swift legal challenges to his directives. Mark Zaid, member of CERL’s Executive Board, is quoted in an article for The Hill about the myriad lawsuits against the President’s executive orders. Mark S. Zaid, Esq., is a Washington, D.C. based attorney […]
Trump’s firing of inspectors general is leading to ‘a new standard of loyalty, not legality’
In an op/ed for The New York Times, CERL Executive Board member Mark Zaid comments on the potential effects on government whistleblowers of Trump’s firing of nonpartisan inspectors general—many of whom he appointed during his first term—without giving Congress 30-days’ notice nor providing the requisite substantive rationale for their firing, in an effort to install […]
President signs anti-weaponization of government order while enabling actions against his own political targets
In a piece for Just Security’s “Coverage of the Trump Administration’s Executive Actions” series, CERL Executive Board member Stuart Gerson explains how the President is weaponizing federal law enforcement, the Department of Justice, and the judiciary for his own personal gains, and how his broad immunity will continue to shield him from prosecution. Stuart Gerson […]
Is presidential overreach leading to a constitutional crisis?
CERL Faculty Director Professor Claire Finkelstein sits down with WHYY’s Studio 2 to discuss how much power a president really has and whether the plethora of executive orders signed during President Trump’s first two weeks back in office is a sign of presidential overreach and a potential constitutional crisis. Claire Finkelstein is the Algernon Biddle […]
Governor Abbott authorizes immigration arrests by Texas National Guard
In a new agreement between Texas and the Trump administration, Texas National Guard soldiers can now arrest, detain, and deport undocumented immigrants, provided they are supervised—remotely or in person—by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official. This is a departure from the Texas National Guard’s previous support role at the border and could be subject […]
Efforts to identify FBI personnel involved with Jan. 6 investigations raise concern
At Reuters, CERL Executive Board member Mark Zaid, Esq., is quoted in reporting covering the questionnaire FBI personnel were directed to answer about their connection to Jan. 6 investigations. Mark S. Zaid, Esq., is a Washington, D.C. based attorney who specializes in crisis management and innovatively handling simple and complex administrative and litigation matters primarily […]
Journalists face a ‘dangerous time period’ as norms erode
The Washingtonian featured an interview with CERL Executive Board member Mark Zaid, Esq., about Trump’s ousting of inspectors general, concern among federal employees about being targeted by the new administration, and the steps journalists can take to protect themselves from retaliatory action. Mark S. Zaid, Esq., is a Washington, D.C. based attorney who specializes in […]
President issues flurry of executive orders in first two weeks of presidency
After issuing more than 65 memoranda and executive orders in his first two weeks back in office, critics and supporters debate whether President Trump’s policies are stretching the legal bounds of executive power. In an article by William Roberts for the International Bar Association, Professor Mary Ellen O’Connell, a member of CERL’s Advisory Council, discusses […]
Corn refutes claims that Israel’s rules of engagement became more permissive of civilian casualties
In a co-authored opinion posted on The Cipher Brief, General Charles “Chuck” Wald and Geoffrey Corn, member of the CERL Advisory Council, respond to an article in The New York Times claiming that Israel’s rules of engagement became more permissive and less protective of civilians after Oct. 7. They argue the Times analysis misses the […]
Preventing the revival of the Islamic State should be a priority of the Trump administration
In a co-authored opinion for War on the Rocks with Elizabeth Dent, General (ret.) Joseph Votel, member of the CERL Executive Board, urges the Trump administration to prioritize U.S. involvement in Syria to avert the resurgence of the Islamic State. It will be critical to reiterate the United States’ commitment to its military objectives in […]
To deter Houthi attacks in Red Sea, broad-ranging actions are needed
General (ret.) Joseph Votel is quoted in an Al Arabiya English article discussing the U.S. posture toward the Houthis, noting that a broad strategy spanning economic, military, and diplomatic responses will be necessary to deter Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, a major conduit for global shipping. General Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Army […]
Zaid comments on early days of Trump presidency
Mark Zaid, member of CERL’s Executive Board, spoke with several news outlets about President Trump’s first days in office, commenting on the revocation of security clearances held by the 51 signatories on the Hunter Biden laptop letter and President Biden’s 11th-hour efforts to prevent retaliation against perceived enemies of the Trump administration. Read on […]
Zaid reacts to contradictory White House and intelligence community statements on Havana Syndrome
An updated report issued by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence asserts that the series of health incidents afflicting diplomats known as “Havana Syndrome” is not the doing of a foreign government. But the Biden administration insists that further investigations are needed to reach a conclusion. Mark Zaid, Esq., member of the CERL […]
As inauguration nears, some within the DoD and military voice concern
Mark Zaid, Esq., member of the CERL Executive Board, is quoted in a POLITICO article addressing the possible use of U.S. troops for domestic law enforcement. Zaid is fielding questions from individuals, including members of the DoD and military, who are concerned about the boundaries that might be overstepped under a second Trump administration. Mark […]