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Temple Law Faculty React to the Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of Univ. of California SCOTUS Decision

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On June 18, 2020, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr delivered the 5-4 opinion in Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of Univ. of California,  holding that DHS’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, was arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. Jennifer J. Lee Associate Clinical Professor of Law For the over 600,000 DACA recipients across the country, the Supreme Court’s decision is essential in providing them with a temporary reprieve. While eventful, today’s decision solely ruled that the Trump administration’s rescission of the program was improper based on procedural grounds. The reality, therefore, is that any presidential administration in the future can wipe out the DACA program so long as it does so with proper procedure. For this reason, DACA recipients are continuing to fight for a more permanent pathway to citizenship. As DACA recipients have ample support, the challenge is not in getting such a law enacted. Rather, they want a “clean” law that does not otherwise include harsh enforcement provisions against the immigrants …

Sheller Center Students File Tort Claims for Families Separated at the Border

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The Trump administration has engaged in a policy of family separation, which it ramped up in 2018. Under that policy, families apprehended for crossing the border outside of a port of entry were forcibly separated. Parents were placed in adult detention while their children were sent to shelters for unaccompanied minors. They were frequently subjected to cruel conditions of confinement, including overcrowding and the inability to obtain adequate nutrition, hygiene, medical care or mental health services. Notably, the administration expressly announced its family separation policy as a tactic to deter Central American migrants from seeking safety in the United States. In these facilities, parents and children endured weeks or even months without contact with one another. Parents and their children did not know when or if they would be reunited because immigration officials would not provide any information. The separation of parents from their children has predictably caused significant and long-lasting trauma to these families who had sought refuge in the United States. Through the Sheller Center for Social Justice, we represented eight families in …

Temple Law Faculty React to the Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia SCOTUS Decision

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On June 15, 2020, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch delivered the 6-3 opinion in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, holding that employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is prohibited under Title VII. The landmark decision is widely viewed as an historic moment in the movement for LGBTQ equality. Leonore F. Carpenter Associate Professor of Law Don’t underestimate the enormous power of this decision. Everyone loved the marriage decisions because everyone loves love. But frankly, not everyone has any desire to get married. However, in a nation with a fraying social safety net, job security is absolutely critical to all of us, particularly those on the economic margins. In my mind, this decision is at least as important as Windsor or Obergefell.   Ellie Margolis Professor of Law The Bostock decision is a huge victory for legal equality in this country. It will provide a measure of security to countless LGBTQIA workers who no longer have to fear losing their jobs because of who they are or who they love. The …

A Path to Publication

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Temple Law School: What led you to write your paper, Title VII v. State Legislation: Protecting the Black Crowning Glory, 13 Drexel L. Rev. ___ (forthcoming 2021)? Nadijah Campbell LAW ’20: Like many Black girls, I wear braids, twists, faux locs and fros as everyday hairstyles. When I found out that employers, by law, could and have been preventing Black people like me from having a job because of hairstyles, ones that are completely professional at that, I was hurt, but mostly outraged. I didn’t come to law school to just be hurt and mad though, I came to law school to make changes. So, I took a guided research class with professor Bonny Tavares and I wrote a paper advocating for more states to pass legislation to illegalize this practice of discriminating against Black hairstyles. I’m happy that I was able to customize my legal education to write and learn about this topic that I was so passionate about. TLS: Could you share a short excerpt from your paper? NC: My paper explains how …

We Sustain Each Other

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We are living in the most worrisome, uncertain and swiftly changing time in our lives. Many of us find it hard to take a break from the unfolding pandemic, even for an evening. All of us have been personally affected in some way — if only by shelter-in-place orders and endless hours online. Others are coping with illness, grievous loss and worry about this month’s rent and future economic security. While no one is exempt, some members of our Temple community have been and will be hit much more severely than others. How can our Temple Law community to come together and not only survive, but thrive? Two key values can help us through. First, we can each take responsibility to our collective well-being. Reach out to support each other, if only to listen. Second, we need the courage to be vulnerable. We can let others know that we need their aid. Responsibility and vulnerability further each other. I’ve learned first-hand the power of support from the Temple Law community. In the past few years, …

The South Asian Law Students Association | Student Organization Voices Series

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  Your Name: Reena Naik Graduation Year: May 2021 Name of Organization: The South Asian Law Students Association Position in Organization: President Temple Law School: When did you join this organization? Reena Naik: I joined the South Asian Law Students Association as a 1L. I first heard about SALSA at the student organization fair during 1L orientation. The members of SALSA were incredibly welcoming and approachable. I later became a 1L Representative as I wanted to have a more active role in the organization. TLS: Why did you decide to join this group? RN: I decided to become a SALSA member because it truly felt like a family and my “home away from home.” As a native of Birmingham, Alabama, I was completely new to Philadelphia. Luckily, I found some of my closest friends and mentors through SALSA which helped ease the transition to a new city and starting law school. I also joined SALSA because I am a first-generation law student. I knew very few lawyers prior to law school and wanted to expand …

The Education Law Practicum | A Student’s Perspective

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Participating in a practicum at the Education Law Center was one of the most enriching experiences I’ve had at Temple.  I first learned about this practicum from the Temple Law School practicum website. I had come to law school really interested in Education Law. I had heard amazing things about the Education Law Center and I knew it was a leader in fighting for civil and educational rights of students and families. So, when I saw this practicum, I knew I had to apply.  The Education Law Center practicum is 3 credits and 10 hours per week. I went to their office twice a week for 5 hours at a time. They just got a new office and it’s beautiful! It’s right in Center City, down the street from City Hall. The first few days of the practicum, you get a really in-depth orientation where you learn about the organization, special education law, and the realities of education in the Philadelphia area. You are then trained in making intake calls for the organization. After orientation …

North Philly | My Philly Neighborhood

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I found my accommodation through Craigslist. I reached out to the owner and drove down for a tour of the home. As soon as I saw it I fell in love with the space. I live in a North Philadelphia Row Home, near the Temple University Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry by 13th and Allegeny. These homes were first constructed to meet the needs of industrial workers who wanted to live close to their factories. My house in particular was constructed in 1916—and has beautiful period features. The home has high ceilings, intricate tile-work, tiled over fireplaces, a skylight in the dining room, and floor to ceiling butler pantry. It is an old home and slightly rough, but with much character. My landlord connected me with another Temple Law student from Washington State interested in the property. We spoke about the house and decided living together would be a fit! I paid about $500 in rent per month for my room-utilities included. I chose the neighborhood in large …

Intellectual Property Law Society | Student Organization Voices Series

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Your Name: Catherine Cuff Graduation Year: May 2020 Name of Organization: Intellectual Property Law Society (IPLS) Position in Organization: President Temple Law School: When did you join this organization? Catherine Cuff: I joined IPLS as a 1L my first year at Temple. I worked in IT prior to law school and knew I was interested in the subject. I made sure to sign up at the student activities fair. TLS: Why did you decide to join this group? CC: With our society relying more and more on technology I wanted to better understand how law and science interact. I also wanted to demonstrate to employers that this was an area of interest for me. Embarrassingly, I’ve always had a bunch of crazy ideas for inventions. I wanted to learn how to make them reality! TLS: What is your organization’s mission? CC: The purpose of IPLS is to promote the discussion of legal challenge presented by technological advances through speakers and events. We want to connect students with this wonderful field of law! TLS: Can you …

The Family Law Society | Student Organization Voices Series

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Your Name: Erin Ambrose Graduation Year: May 2021 Name of Organization: The Family Law Society Position in Organization: President Temple Law School: When did you join this organization? Erin Ambrose: I joined the Family Law Society as a 1L at the student organization fair! TLS: Why did you decide to join this group? EA: I decided to join this organization because it is an area of law that I am interested in practicing. I knew that the organization worked with the Family Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association so there would be great opportunities to network as well as learn more about this subject area. TLS: What is your organization’s mission? EA: Our goal as the Family Law Society at Temple is to increase family law awareness and allow students to explore family law opportunities. We want students at the law school to gain a deeper understanding of the various aspects of family law by hearing guest speakers, panel discussions, and attending networking events. We will also aim to raise awareness of the expansive …