By Andrew E. Taslitz & Stephen E. Henderson | 64 Am. U. L. Rev. 195 (2014)

In late 2014, two grand juries returned controversial no bill decisions in police killings, one in Ferguson, Missouri, and one in New York City. These outcomes have renewed calls for grand jury reform, and whatever one thinks of these particular processes and outcomes, such reform is long overdue. One logical source of reform to better respect privacy in records, which would have incidental benefits beyond this privacy focus, would be the newly enacted American Bar Association Standards for Criminal Justice on Law Enforcement Access to Third Party Records (LEATPR).

By Mariela Olivares | 64 Am. U. L. Rev. 231 (2014)

The Article explores the state of immigrant battered women in the United States, focusing on how their identity as a politically and culturally marginalized community impacts the measure of help that they receive. Specifically, the Article examines the 2012–2013 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization debate as an example of how membership in a marginalized community affects legislative successes and failures.

By Alexandra El-Bayeh | 64 Am. U. L. Rev. 285 (2014)

Beginning in 2013, many musicians became eligible to regain rights they assigned to recording companies thirty-five years ago.  Through a provision of the Copyright Act, artists can “terminate” these rights and regain control of their work as long as the work was not a “work for hire.”  This Comment focuses on session musicians’ ability to claim termination rights in their creative contributions to sound recordings. Session musicians have been the focus of increased attention because many of them signed away their rights for little payment and control and without knowing the future possible uses of their works, particularly in digital sampling.

By Christopher A. Rogers | 64 Am. U. L. Rev. 337 (2014)

The United States Government is currently developing a system that can read minds—a situation that George Orwell envisioned when he wrote Nineteen Eighty-Four. The Future Attribute Screening Technology ("FAST"), currently being tested by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), employs a variety of sensor suites to scan a person's vital signs, and based on those readings, to determine whether the scanned person has "malintent"—the intent to commit a crime.

By Jason M. Wilson | 64 Am. U. L. Rev. 385 (2014)

In the United States, public interest organizations play a vital role in promoting access to justice and private enforcement of the law. Nevertheless, these organizations face considerable financial constraints in litigating for their causes. While the non-profit sector and private bar provide commendable support through grants and pro bono assistance, this Comment suggests that this financing model does not adequately meet the needs of organizations that undertake expensive litigation efforts on behalf of their clients. In an effort to alleviate this burden, this Comment puts forth an alternative model of funding public interest litigation by merging social entrepreneurship with the newly revitalized practice of litigation finance. Specifically, it proposes that a litigation financing firm organize as a benefit corporation to provide funding for public interest litigation in exchange for a share of any monetary relief generated. This arrangement has the potential to pair a growing community of investors interested in making a social impact with plaintiffs of worthwhile causes, and in the process, ensure greater access to justice and private enforcement of the law. Additionally, it may invigorate a growing litigation finance sector to fund cases that it has thus far chosen not to support.

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