Faculty in the News

The Baffler May 9, 2023

No Breakthrough in Sight: Washington, D.C. and the long life of housing segregation

Professor Mechele Dickerson speaks on the history of African American homeownership and notes that housing equality has not improved in the past 50 years despite strengthening of housing equality laws.

More of: Mechele Dickerson

MSNBC May 8, 2023

The nefarious practice of judge shopping has to end

Professor Stephen Vladeck pens a piece calling for an end to judge shopping in order to increase judicial neutrality and restore public faith in the judiciary.

More of: Stephen I Vladeck

NPR May 8, 2023

People are trying to claim real videos are deepfakes. The courts are not amused

Dean Bobby Chesney's 2018 paper "Deep Fakes: A Looming Challenge for Privacy, Democracy, and National Security" is referenced in an article discussing the effect that deepfakes could have on court proceedings.

More of: Robert M Chesney

San Antonio Express-News May 5, 2023

End of the line? Legislature takes aim at tax breaks widely used to create affordable housing

Clinical Professor Heather Way comments on the rapidly expanding use of the Public Facilities Corporations (PFC) program in Texas in an article discussing legislative efforts to reform the program.

More of: Heather K Way

The Texas Tribune May 4, 2023

Conservative Christians want more religion in public life. Texas lawmakers are listening

Clinical Professor Steven Collis provides insight into the 2022 Kennedy v. Bremerton School District case and how it could affect recent efforts to decrease church-state separation in Texas.

More of: Steven T Collis

NBC News May 3, 2023

Texas Senate passes bill to allow Secretary of State to overturn Harris County elections

Adjunct Professor Mimi Marziani expresses concern that a bill allowing the Secretary of State to overturn Harris County elections would lead to an undemocratic exploitation of power.

More of: Mimi Marziani

US News May 3, 2023

GOP Contenders Warm to Death Penalty as Crime Surges on the Campaign Trail

Professor Lee Kovarsky weighs in on debates surrounding the death penalty, noting that it has become more of a tool for politics than criminal justice.

More of: Lee Kovarsky

Austin American-Statesman May 3, 2023

Texas bill promoting Ten Commandments in public classrooms poses complex legal questions

Clinical Professor Steven Collis explains religion law precedents and the complexity of legal arguments surrounding the SB 1515 bill, which would require all classrooms in Texas public schools to display the Ten Commandments.

More of: Steven T Collis

Bloomberg Law May 3, 2023

Cities File Exploitative Climate Suits. Courts Need to Stop Them

Adjunct Professor John Hays authors an opinion piece calling for cities and climate activists to stop filing nuisance lawsuits against the energy industry to gain funding for their policy goals.

More of: John R Hays Jr.

The Times-Gazette May 2, 2023

Synthetic media and deep fakes

Dean Bobby Chesney's 2018 article "Deep Fakes: A Looming Challenge for Privacy, Democracy, and National Security" is quoted in an article about the need to prioritize policies that combat harmful deep fakes.

More of: Robert M Chesney

The Washington Post May 2, 2023

How DeSantis accidentally handed Disney a potent weapon against him

Professor Lee Kovarsky weighs in on Disney's lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and predicts that discovery will demonstrate that DeSantis' actions were viewpoint motivated.

More of: Lee Kovarsky

The Dallas Morning News May 1, 2023

Builders of Hope is fighting displacement of longtime residents in West Dallas

Clinical Professor Heather Way discusses the legal tool kit she co-produced, which is designed to protect historic Black places and is being used by nonprofit Builders of Hope to fight displacement in the Gilbert-Emory neighborhood.

More of: Heather K Way