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:
8/25- MSNBC
CALIFORNIA'S RECALL VOTE IS DRAWING REPUBLICANS OUT FROM THE SHADOWS
We can thank the lunacy of California’s system of direct democracy for the fact that deep blue California is on the verge of electing a deeply conservative governor. How could this happen in a state where Republicans make up less than one-fourth of the electorate and there are about as many Republicans as there are people who register as “decline to state” voters (California’s version of registering as an independent)?
Article by LMU Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson.
8/24- CBS 2
HOW THE FDA PFIZER VACCINE APPROVAL COULD IMPACT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
8/23- KCRW
VOTERS FILE LAWSUIT CLAIMING CA RECALL ELECTION IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. HOW LIKELY WILL PLAINTIFFS WIN?
As more Californians receive their recall ballots, what if Governor Gavin Newsom finishes just shy of the 50% threshold he needs to stay in office? But no candidate even comes close to that vote total on the ballot’s second question of who should replace him.
Guest: Jessica Levinson, Professor, LMU's Loyola Law School.
8/23- CBS Los Angeles
LAFD INVESTIGATING CAPTAIN FOR BLASTING CITY’S VACCINE REQUIREMENT IN UNIFORM
“Vaccine mandates are nothing new and they are not illegal,” said Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School. “Vaccine mandates have been a part of our state and our country’s history for a century now.”
8/20- Washington Post
Laurie Levenson, a professor of law at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, said she believed presenting the woman’s allegations in a request for a restraining order was a “strategic error” that could have serious consequences going forward, including setting back any potential prosecution.
“It’s very good for Bauer in regards to this accuser,” Levenson said of the judge’s decision. “Right now his biggest problem is if more accusers come forward because a judge may have found her not to be credible, but there is strength in numbers.”
8/20- Sacramento Bee
RECALL CANDIDATE LARRY ELDER UNDER FIRE FOR COMMENTS ON WOMEN, ALLEGATIONS FROM FORMER FIANCÉE
8/18 -Los Angeles Times
L.A. CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO REQUIRE COVID-19 VACCINE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES
8/16- KCRW
DID THE CDC EXCEED ITS AUTHORITY IN MANDATING AN EVICTION MORATORIUM?
Earlier this month, the CDC extended its eviction moratorium until October 3. The original order and this one were both challenged in court. But on Friday, a federal judge in Washington let it stay for now, even as she expressed doubt over whether the moratorium would survive further legal challenges.
“We’re now at the point where I think a lot of legal scholars would say we’re kind of stretching the CDC’s authority here,” says Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson.
8/14- MSNBC
DOMINION'S DEFAMATION SUIT IS MOVING FORWARD. THAT'S GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY
A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that a major defamation case against key boosters of former President Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud can continue forward. This is a win not just for the plaintiff, Dominion, a corporation that sells voting machines and software, but also for the American public. It’s looking increasingly like defamation suits could be our best bet for holding election conspiracy theorists accountable and for deterring future false claims of election fraud.
Article by LMU Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson.
8/13- CBS News
SUPREME COURT ALLOWS INDIANA UNIVERSITY'S COVID VACCINE MANDATE, BLOCKS PART OF NY EVICTION FREEZE
8/12- Mercury News
DEMOCRATS SHOULD IGNORE NEWSOM’S REQUEST TO SKIP THE SECOND RECALL QUESTION
“It may be good politics, but I don’t think it’s good public policy,” says Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Law School professor who teaches election law, referring to Newsom’s requested boycott of the replacement question.
8/12- NBC News
TEXAS IS THE FIRST STATE TO MAKE BUYING SEX A FELONY. WILL THIS HELP TRAFFICKING VICTIMS?
Kathleen Kim, a professor at Loyola Marymount University Law School who focuses on human trafficking, said while the law may be well-intentioned, it will end up entangling victims in the legal system and take valuable funding away from the resources they actually need.
8/11- Los Angeles TImes
LARRY ELDER’S OUTSPOKEN CONSERVATIVE RADIO RHETORIC IS UNDER SCRUTINY IN RECALL ELECTION
“I mean, he has created his own opposition research for decades,” said Jessica Levinson, an election law professor at Loyola Law School. “On the other hand, he does have a shortened timeline here. I think what a lot of people just know is that he’s the Republican leading in the polls, and a talk-show host. There’s not a lot of details that are filled in; it’s basically a sketch.
8/11- USA Today
WHAT TO EXPECT IN TREVOR BAUER CASE AS HEARING OVER TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER APPROACHES
8/10- MSNBC
WHAT MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE'S COVID TWEET GETS VERY, VERY WRONG
Twitter on Tuesday suspended Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from the platform for one week after the congresswoman tweeted that the Covid-19 vaccines are “failing,” a violation of the company's "Covid-19 misleading information policy."
Article by LMU Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson.
8/9- CBS News
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DEFENDS TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF FEDERAL EVICTION MORATORIUM
8/6- Washington Post
JAN. 6 COMMITTEE FACES UNPRECEDENTED CHOICE OF WHETHER TO CALL REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS TO TESTIFY
Jessica Levinson, director of Loyola Law School’s public service institute, said the fact that there is even a discussion about whether a member’s role or relevance to an assault on Congress can be used to force that person to testify reflects the breakdown in political norms since Trump was elected and the divisiveness that now accompanies even something as seemingly unifying as investigating a violent attack on the Capitol.
“We’ve never been here before — but if we had been here before, really, we’re in deep trouble,” she said.
8/5- CNN
"There is a still a slight chance of raising the sympathy of someone on the jury," said Loyola Law School Professor Stan Goldman.
8/4- PolitiFact
THE CDC’S NEW EVICTION MORATORIUM: IS IT LEGAL?
While Kavanaugh’s statement did not carry the same weight as a ruling signed by a majority of justices, legal experts said it was a clear sign of where the court stood.
"Most federal agencies would be reluctant to ignore or proceed in the face of such an indication," Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School, told us.
8/3- Press-Enterprise
DETECTIVE: CORONA MURDER DEFENDANT’S FRIENDS BELIEVED HE HAD GUN IN MOVIE THEATER
The inaction by the three friends did not amount to a crime, said Laurie Levenson, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and a former federal prosecutor.
“They didn’t act like good citizens, but there is no duty to report suspicious behavior or when you think somebody is about to commit a crime,” said Levenson, who added that there are exceptions for some professions, including law enforcement.
8/3- Los Angeles Times
VIDEO OF DEPUTIES KILLING SUICIDAL MAN SHOWS MULTIPLE FAILURES, EXPERTS CONCLUDE
6/1- KCRW
SORTING OUT HIPAA CONFUSION: WHAT IF YOUR EMPLOYER DEMANDS TO KNOW YOUR COVID VACCINATION STATUS
During a recent push from some House Republicans to encourage their supporters to get vaccinated, a reporter asked a pair of questions to one of the party’s rising stars, Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene: “Have you yourself gotten vaccinated? And do you disagree with the Republican whip?”
Guest: Jessica Levinson, Professor, LMU's Loyola Law School.
8/1- MyNewsLA.com
VIOLA DAVIS SPEAKS AT LMU COMMENCEMENT
Academy Award-winning actress Viola Davis urged graduates of Loyola Marymount University and LMU Loyola Law School to live bravely at a ceremony Saturday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
Davis delivered the keynote address for the university’s 109th Commencement Exercises — an event honoring LMU undergraduate, graduate and LMU Loyola Law School classes of 2020 and 2021.