New Law
Law is constantly evolving to reflect changing needs and values. Creating new laws is an important part of Congress’ role in shaping public policy and responding to social movements and events. The process of creating a new law can take many forms, including committee review, floor debate, and a vote by the entire chamber. The success of a new law often depends on its ability to address the issue at hand, capture the public’s interest and support, and inspire bipartisan cooperation. This series explores the creation of new laws, from their inception through their ultimate adoption.
The legal profession’s mental health crisis has gained significant attention in recent years, but the need for sustained focus and a revamped culture remain elusive. A growing number of impediments are obscuring the goal line, from inertia and maladaptive attitudes to engrained business models and extrinsic motivations.
The judicial branch of the federal government plays an essential role in the rule of law and in advancing democratic ideals. However, the partisanship and polarization of contemporary Congress have contributed to a decline in the quality of judicial decisions, especially on constitutional issues. The lack of collegiality has also impeded the ability of courts to fulfill their constitutional role as guardians of the public good.
As legal scholars, we have a responsibility to advance the study of law and society through research and teaching. Yet, we cannot do so without a commitment to the highest standards of professionalism. This is why we are proud to publish the latest edition of our award-winning journal, Law and Society, with this special issue on the profession’s moral obligation to protect the mental wellbeing of its practitioners.
Legal sleuthing can be daunting: the law is not built on verifiable facts but on a collection of judges’ opinions over time, and finding the authoritative source you need may require some detective work. A helpful tool for this task is a citator, which will show you subsequent cases that have cited the case or statute you are interested in and whether it has negative history—whether it has been overruled, reversed, or questioned. A citator such as KeyCite, available on Westlaw, will show you a red flag at the top of the case entry if it has been overruled or reversed, or a yellow flag if it has some negative history but not expressly overruled.
Local Law 53 of 2024 would amend City data breach laws by adding a requirement that NYC agencies must promptly disclose a security breach involving persons’ private identifying information to affected individuals, the NYPD, and the Office of Cyber Command. Read the Law.
