June 2021

Loyola Law School faculty members pride themselves on being accessible to the media and part of the public discourse on news of legal significance. Visit Loyola's Summary Judgments faculty blog to read faculty opinions on current legal issues. Highlights of recent media appearances and quotations include:

6/20- Los Angeles

FEW POLICE AGENCIES HAVE GIVEN L.A. PROSECUTORS THE NAMES OF DISHONEST COPS

6/19- MSNBC

THE SUPREME COURT SAYS LGBTQ RIGHTS ARE LESS IMPORTANT THAN 'RELIGIOUS FREEDOM'

The latest chapter in a battle between two freedoms — the freedom for religious rights and the freedom from discrimination — was written by the Supreme Court on Thursday. And it is not favorable to those advocating for stronger anti-discrimination laws. In essence, in America today, governments can be forced to work with religious institutions that discriminate against gay and lesbian couples.

Article by LMU Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson. 

6/18- Politico

BIDEN HAS BIG FEARS ABOUT VOTING RESTRICTIONS AND FINDS FEW TOOLS TO DEAL WITH IT

“Enforcement of the laws that we have, even as we push for more extensive legislative support, is critical,” said Justin Levitt, White House senior policy adviser on democracy and voting rights. Levitt, who worked at the Justice Department in the Obama administration, quickly added that the enforcement decisions “are entirely within” Attorney General Merrick Garland’s hands.

6/17- MSNBC

THE SUPREME COURT SAVED OBAMACARE, BUT IT'S ONLY PART OF THE BATTLE

The Supreme Court’s much-awaited decision regarding the fate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) shows us so much of what plagues politics today: When the ability of tens of millions of Americans to obtain health insurance comes down to a decision by five people, something is broken in our country.

Article by LMU Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson. 

6/14- KCRW

HOUSTON HEALTH CARE WORKERS CHALLENGE THEIR HOSPITAL'S VACCINE MANDATE. JUDGE DISMISSES THE LAWSUIT

This weekend, a federal judge in Texas dismissed a lawsuit filed by workers at Houston Methodist hospital who objected to a mandatory vaccine program. Initially, the hospital required its employees to receive a vaccine. Most complied, but some refused and took the hospital to court. They argued the vaccine was untested and a vaccine mandate wasn’t legal. It’s one of the first cases of its kind as employers try to tightrope through reopening.

Guest: Jessica Levinson, Professor, LMU's Loyola Law School. 

6/12- The Independent

THE BATTLE TO ROOT OUT POLICE GANGS LIKE THE EXECUTIONERS FROM LA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

6/10- Law.com

IN NEW BAR EXAM DATA RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES PERSIST

6/8- NBC News

JUDGE WHO REVERSED CALIFORNIA ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN FACES BARRAGE OF CRITICISM

"I think it's incredibly problematic when a federal judge quotes things that are factually incorrect, because it hurts the integrity of the branch," said Jessica Levinson, a law professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles who is an MSNBC columnist.

6/8- Los Angeles Times

SHERIFF VILLANUEVA DEPLOYS DEPUTIES TO VENICE ENCAMPMENTS, BUT IS HE OVERSTEPPING HIS AUTHORITY?

The effort raised questions about whether Villanueva is overstepping his authority. Laurie Levenson, a professor at Loyola Law School, said the Sheriff’s Department has jurisdiction across L.A. County, but that city officials and the LAPD typically take the lead on handling issues within the city of L.A.

6/7- MSNBC

WHY DON MCGAHN'S RUSSIAGATE TESTIMONY ISN'T A WIN FOR CONGRESS

Given the importance of what Don McGahn, the former White House counsel for former President Donald Trump, knows about whether Trump’s actions could give rise to criminal liability, one could be forgiven for wondering why we have not heard testimony from him until now, more than two years after special counsel Robert Mueller released his infamous report.

Article by LMU Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson. 

6/7- KCRW

FEDERAL JUDGE OVERTURNS CALIFORNIA'S 30-YEAR ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN, SAYING IT INFRINGES ON SECOND AMENDMENT

“He says that California’s law just goes too far, that it infringes on gun owners’ Second Amendment rights in a way that's overbroad and too heavy-handed. … He's saying this AR-15, that because it's such an ordinary gun used by ordinary people in ordinary circumstances, that you can't infringe on Second Amendment rights and prohibit it,” explains Jessica Levinson, professor at Loyola Law School.

Guest: Jessica Levinson, Professor, LMU's Loyola Law School. 

6/6- Los Angeles Times

GASCÓN PROMISED TO REVIEW CONTROVERSIAL POLICE KILLINGS. AFTER 6 MONTHS, IS HE TOO LATE FOR SOME?

Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor who teaches at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said the fracas over Middleton’s hire is indicative of the broader struggle Gascón has faced in trying to make seismic changes within the district attorney’s office. 

6/5- CBS Los Angeles

FEDERAL JUDGE OVERTURNS CALIFORNIA’S ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN

“This is happening now because there was a challenge to California’s 30-year-old assault weapons ban, and we have tinkered with this, but when a judge faces a challenge then you have to rule on that challenge,” Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School, said. “And this is a judge, who very recently, has ruled to overturn California’s ban on large-capacity magazines.” 

6/5- Los Angeles Times

COLUMN: WHY KATIE HILL HAS TO PAY LEGAL FEES FOR A NEWSPAPER THAT PUBLISHED NUDE PHOTOS OF HER

“This ‘public interest exception’ is part of the 1st Amendment,” said Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson. “It’s constitutionally mandated. Once you enter the public forum, you give up a lot of your privacy rights.”

6/4- Mercury News

NEW CALIFORNIA COVID RULES: WHAT IS AND ISN'T ALLOWED IN THE WORKPLACE?

But even though the governor likely is not happy with the discrepancy between the CDC guidelines and the new Cal/OSHA rules, he may be hesitant to wade into the middle of the controversy before his recall election, said Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson, who specializes in elections law and politics.

6/3- MSNBC

BIDEN'S TRYING TO RESCUE AMERICA FROM TRUMP'S GAFFES WITH HIS NEW ANTI-CORRUPTION MEMO

Article by LMU Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson. 

6/2- Law.com

AFTER SCOTUS TURNS DOWN APPEAL IN TALC CASES, IS THERE A NEXT STEP FOR J&J? PLUS: BAYER LOOKS TO WRAP UP ROUNDUP LITIGATION

6/1- KCRW

SUPREME COURT HAS A MONTH LEFT TO DECIDE ON KEY ISSUES LIKE OBAMACARE AND SAME-SEX RIGHTS

This is the last month of the current Supreme Court session. The next one begins in October. Press Play gets a lightning round of what’s left on the court’s docket. 

California v. Texas: This is another case involving Obamacare, which became law more than a decade ago. Conservatives are once again asking the high court to strike down the Affordable Care Act. Questions before the court this time: Do the individual and state plaintiffs have standing to challenge the individual mandate? Did making the penalty of not buying health insurance under the individual mandate make the individual mandate unconstitutional? 

Guest: Jessica Levinson, Professor, LMU's Loyola Law School.

6/1- CBS News

SUPREME COURT BEGINS FINAL MONTH OF ANNUAL TERM AND EXPECTED TO RULE ON MAJOR CASES

June is the last month before the U.S. Supreme Court breaks for summer recess, which means we could see decisions on major cases. Some of those cases include voting rights, gay rights and an effort to strike down the Affordable Care Act. Jessica Levinson, CBS News legal contributor and professor at Loyola Law School, joins CBSN's Tanya Rivero to discuss what we can expect in the coming weeks.

6/1- CNN 

THE ONE BIG PROBLEM WITH THE GOP'S 'ELECTION SECURITY' PUSH

6/1- Wall Street Journal

AMAZON FACED 75,000 ARBITRATION DEMANDS. NOW IT SAYS: FINE, SUE US