Author: Beckie Schatschneider

Hope through Action – Reflections on Justice and Becoming a Lawyer

Anthony Romero, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), recently spoke at the annual Honorable Nelson A. Diaz Professor in Law Lectureship at Temple Law. He shared invaluable insights on how advancing advocacy can thrive through litigation and public engagement even in challenging times. While his advice was informative and practical, what resonated most with me was his story about his father’s experience with discrimination and how that shaped Mr. Romero’s perspective. His account prompted me to reflect on my own motivation for pursuing law.    Mr. Romero, having just completed his first year at Princeton, went home for the summer to assist his father at the hotel where he worked. Upon clocking in, Mr. Romero was handed his father’s name tag, which read “Chico” instead of his father’s actual name, Demitrio. Confused, Mr. Romero asked his father about the mislabeled name tag and was shocked to learn that his father’s boss had misnamed him on his first day 30 years ago, leading that to become his name at work. Mr. Romero pushed …

Reflections on the “Ethics in Practice” Course: My Immersive Experience in U.S. Legal Culture

This semester, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in Temple Law’s “Ethics in Practice” course. I gained practical legal skills training during the course, and it was a defining highlight of my one-year study visit to the United States. “Ethics in Practice”, taught by Professor Sara Jacobsen, is a one-credit course available to students in their second semester of the LL.M. for Foreign-Trained Lawyers program. Students of the course are placed short in observational externships with a lawyer or legal advocacy organization. Attorney John McMeekin of Rawle & Henderson LLP served as my mentor during the program. His meticulously designed 12-hour observation program, structured into three comprehensive modules, allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the essence of legal practice in the United States. The modules included Arbitration Observation, Mediation Practice Study, and Post-Judgement Procedure Observation. During an arbitration hearing led by Attorney Jennifer Seme, we witnessed an efficient dispute resolution performed by a team of seasoned lawyers. Attorney Seme stood out for her passionate and professional responses to questions, and she demonstrated …

Emboldened Anti-Abortion Faction Wants Women Who Have Abortions To Face Criminal Charges

Emboldened Anti-Abortion Faction Wants Women Who Have Abortions To Face Criminal Charges A fringe group calling for women who have abortions to be prosecuted is gaining influence. “With the reversal of Roe v. Wade, now states can pass the most severe abortion bans, which has galvanized the anti-abortion movement as a whole, including this part of it,” said Dean Rachel Rebouche. “Certainly the fall of Roe has brought abortion abolitionists one step closer to what they want – banning abortion nationwide.”

Trump is Trying to Cut the Public Out of Federal Rulemaking

Trump is Trying to Cut the Public Out of Federal Rulemaking President Trump issued three executive orders that, if upheld, will restrict public input into government rules and increase executive power to make them unilaterally despite SCOTUS’s decision to the contrary in Loper Bright. Prof. Craig Green warns that “he is trying to use Loper Bright as a mask or as a chess piece to try to push deregulatory policies” and “any judicial safeguards or backstops might not occur for a year, a year and a half- long after the politics have moved on to something else.”

Inside Philly’s hidden foster care system, where parents ‘voluntarily’ give up their children

Inside Philly’s hidden foster care system, where parents ‘voluntarily’ give up their children Philadelphia’s Dept of Human Services often removes children from their families under so-called “voluntary safety plans.” Prof. Sarah Katz warns they are anything but voluntary. “Legally, these voluntary safety plans are a much greater concern, because they can go on indefinitely, the parents are often not made aware of their rights, and the government takes as much control of the child as they would if they had them in their custody. It’s essentially a total denial of parental rights.”

As Trump seeks systemic change, does the US have an obligation to refugees?

As Trump seeks systemic change, does the US have an obligation to refugees? In a move experts say will test the reach of executive power, President Trump has placed the US Refugee Admissions Program, created by Congress with bipartisan support, on indefinite suspension. While what happens next is unclear, Prof. Jaya Ramji-Nogales thinks “the long-term ramifications for both the United States and the rest of the world will be unfortunate, to say the least.”

After historic indictment, doctors will keep mailing abortion pills over state lines

After historic indictment, doctors will keep mailing abortion pills over state lines New York and Louisiana are engaged in an escalating legal battle over “shield laws” intended to protect abortion care providers. Dean Rebouché, who helped draft the first such law, explains their purpose and why the interstate dispute could end up before the Supreme Court.