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:
11.26.19 – CNN International
FORMER WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL MCGAHN MUST TESTIFY
“The ruling could really be the warm embrace that John Bolton and Mick Mulvaney need to run into the open arms of the house committee that’s investigating impeachment,” says LMU Loyola Law School Jessica Levinson.
11.26.19 – Pew
THE TUMULTUOUS LIFE OF AN INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONER
For states looking to adopt independent redistricting commissions, Arizona is a model to study, said Justin Levitt, associate dean for research at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, and a former U.S. Department of Justice senior voting rights official in the Obama administration.
11.25.19 – WSPA
SC LAW REQUIRING SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER DISCOURAGES VOTER REGISTRATION, LAWSUIT ALLEGES
An analysis by a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles found 31 voter fraud cases out of 1 billion votes cast nationwide between 2000 and 2014. Last year, the federal government brought charges against 19 foreigners who voted in the 2016 election in North Carolina.
11.25.19 – KCRW-FM
WILL FORMER WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL DON MCGAHN BE FORCED TO TESTIFY?
The judge spent about 120 of pages to say, ‘Department of Justice, you are wrong. Don McGahn does in fact have to testify,’” said Jessica Levinson, professor at LMU Loyola Law School.
11.24.19 – The New York Times
"It could be a warm embrace for those who want to testify but need a reason to do," said Jessica Levinson, a law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. "It would give political cover to those who want to come forward."
11.22.19 – CNN News
FINAL PUBLIC WITNESSES FURTHER CORROBORATE QUID PRO QUO
“There’s an old saying that lawyers use. ‘When you have the facts on your side, you argue the facts; When you have the law on your side, you argue the law; When you don’t have either on your side, you just argue,’” says Jessica Levinson, Loyola Law School professor.
11.22.19 – Politico
Even some high profile legal scholars, like Loyola Law School’s Jessica Levinson, termed the move a risky one likely to turn into an expensive and useless drama — and an embarrassing political defeat for state leaders.
11.21.19 – KCBS-FM
STATE SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN LAW TARGETING TRUMP TAX RETURNS
Loyola Law School Professor Laurie Levenson says state lawmakers and the governor likely predicted the court’s ruling. “It does sound like it was an effort that nobody had a lot of confidence in, and in that way it may have been symbolic and it may have been a message for what they want to do in the future.”
11.21.19 – Los Angeles Sentinel
METHODS REVEALED FOR DE-ESCALATION AMONG POLICE AT 2ND ANNUAL COMMUNITY POLICING CONFERENCE
Panelist Laurie L. Levenson, a professor at Loyola Law School stated that it came down to a couple of principles; how either structure was accessible to the community and the level of professionalism. She also sparked the idea of creating a new option other than the traditional appointed or elected selection.
11.20.19 – KABC-AM
TODAY’S TESTIMONY IN THE ONGOING IMPEACHMENT
“The answer is no. It does not change anything for the impeachment,” says LMU Loyola Law School Professor Jessica Levinson.
11.20.19 – KUNM
NM REDISTRICTING VULNERABLE TO PERSONAL, PARTISAN MANIPULATION
Justin Levitt, who’s a national expert on this, he told me the single most important thing you can do if you don’t do a commission is to ban favoring one party or one candidate and to ban dis-favoring, or trying to put a hit on, one party or one candidate, and that takes care a lot of the partisanship and incumbent protection.
11.20.19 – KNX-AM
“What you heard today was direct evidence from one of the principal players connecting the president directly to a demand that Ukraine announces investigation,” says Justin Levitt, law professor at LMU Loyola Law School.
11.19.19 – The National Law Review
Kristin Walker-Probst is an experienced trial lawyer and civil litigator, having tried well over 100 cases in both State and Federal Court. In addition to her litigation and trial practice, Kristin is an adjunct trial advocacy professor at Loyola Law School, where she teaches in the area of trial skills and evidence.
11.19.19 – KCRW-FM
‘UNUSUAL’ AND ‘IMPROPER’: HOW TWO WITNESSES DESCRIBE THE TRUMP-ZELENSKY PHONE CALL
“I think what we can expect is to hear from Ambassador Sondland to try and hear what he thought of the particular phone conversations,” says Jessica Levinson, professor at LMU Loyola Law School.
11.18.19 – Witness LA
“It turns out everyone is a “progressive prosecutor.” Even when they are not,” writes LMU Loyola Law School Professor Eric Miller.
11.17.19 – KCAL 9
WILL IMPEACHMENT DERAIL CAMPAIGNS
“I think that Sondland is stuck with his amended testimony. You can’t keep going up and back when it comes to under oath testimony,” says LMU Loyola Law School Professor Jessica Levinson.
11.17.19 – The Eagle
Aaron H. Caplan, a First Amendment expert and professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said Coates appeared to give the nasty letter more consideration than it deserved.
11.17.19 – KCAL 9
BRETT KAVANAUGH ACCUSER DR. CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD HONORED BY SOCAL ACLU
Loyola Law School Professor Jessica Levinson says Ford’s testimony was and still is criticized by conservatives: “Some people thought she was lying. Some people thought embellishing. Some people thought there was a there there, but she was making too much of it. Basically, it was a long time ago and she needed to get over it.”
11.17.18 – Wired
THE MESSY LEGAL SCRAP TO BRING CELEBRITIES BACK FROM THE DEAD
“Once you successfully represent one dead celebrity, other estates will look to that company that did well with someone else,” says Jennifer Rothman, professor of law at Loyola Marymount University’s Loyola Law School and author of The Right of Publicity: Privacy Reimagined for a Public World. “It’s also true that CMG has been very active in promoting these laws.”
11.16.19 – Mother Jones
DONALD TRUMP HAS HAD A LOT OF TERRIBLE LAWYERS. RUDY GIULIANI MIGHT BE THE WORST.
“He can’t be the star witness and the lawyer in the same case,” says Laurie Levenson, a criminal law expert at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. “Most people don’t have a lawyer representing them in a case when their lawyer also has counsel in the same case.”
11.15.19 – Los Angeles Times
FOR MYLES GARRETT AND MASON RUDOLPH, WHERE DOES FOOTBALL END AND THE LAW BEGIN?
“We always have this big carve-out for sports,” said Stan Goldman, a Loyola Law School professor. “People are horribly injured in boxing and football but we kind of allow it because, the theory is, it’s socially acceptable.”
11.14.19 – New Mexico In Depth
STRUGGLE, CHAOS, LITIGATION GREAT COST: NM REDISTRICTING
Compared to other states, New Mexico has relatively few constraints that would counter the conflict of interest inherent in having elected officials draw their own districts. “New Mexico has slightly more rules than Nevada, which is the state with the fewest,” says Justin Levitt, a professor at Loyola Law School who has done extensive research on redistricting.
11.13.19 – Jewish Journal
WHAT’S HAPPENING: ‘STAND UP FOR HER,’ ISRAEL GAP YEAR FAIR
Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson, also a political commentator on KCRW’s “Press Play,” brings her insights on the status of a number of urgent cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Delving into a wide range of cases, she discusses the effects their verdicts will have on us. 7:30 p.m. Free. Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Irmas Campus on the Westside, 11661 W. Olympic Blvd. (213) 388-2401.
11.13.19 – CBC News
EX-AMBASSADOR TO UKRAINE TESTIFIES
“We should remember two things. We are not in a court of law, so we wouldn’t have to prove the elements for instance of witness intimidation,” says Jessica Levinson, a professor at LMU Loyola Law School.
11.12.19 – OC Register
HOW SOME COPS ACCUSED OF VIOLENT ASSAULTS GET OFF WITH DISTURBING THE PEACE
Laurie Levenson, a criminal law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said prosecutors often are reluctant to try police officers in court, and juries often are reluctant to convict them.
11.12.19 – Local 12
UNPROVEN FRAUD CLAIMS SEEN IN STATE RACES COULD CLOUD 2020
These fraud allegations are nearly impossible to verify because they do not provide any details, said Loyola Law School Professor Justin Levitt. He has tracked voter ID fraud cases since 2000, verifying 45 cases over nearly two decades. Levitt said he's noticed an increase in claims of voter crimes that provide few specifics or simply express dissatisfaction with the results.
11.12.19 – NBC News Think
WILL THE SUPREME COURT PROTECT DACA FROM TRUMP? ALL EYES ARE JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS.
“Given the questions in court Tuesday, the justices appear once again to be divided along ideological lines. It will be up to the chief justice to rein in the Trump administration (or not),” writes LMU Loyola Law School Professor Jessica Levinson.
11.12.19 – Washington Posts
REDISTRICTING ACTIVISTS BRACE FOR WALL OF INACTION AS BATTLE MOVES TO STATES
“I think we’re probably done with litigation that attempts to change the 2020 map,” said Justin Levitt, a professor of constitutional law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.
11.11.19 – KCRW-FM
THE LEGAL ARGUMENTS IN THE DACA CASES BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT
“The first thing that the Trump Administration is arguing is that federal judges have no place here. This is an administrative decision made by the Department of Homeland Security,” says Jessica Levinson, professor at LMU Loyola Law School.
11.11.19 – KQED-FM
HOPES TO REFORM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
“Half of the voters have clearly spoken that they wanted to savor serious criminal justice reforms,” says Loyola Law School Professor Jessica Levinson.
11.9.19 – Fox News
THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY IS IN FULL SWING
“Impeachment is in the constitution and if we still live in a government structured by the constitution, then that word has to mean something,” says LMU Loyola Law School Professor Jessica Levinson.
11.8.19 – CBC News
PUBLIC HEARINGS BEGIN NEXT WEEK
“We know there is a big difference between having parts of transcripts being leaked from closed-door sessions. We know there is a big difference between having reporters describing parts of what happened in the meetings,” says LMU Loyola Law School Professor Jessica Levinson.
11.8.19 – L.A. Times
GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE ORDERED TO REMOVE CITY LOGO FROM CAMPAIGN MATERIAL
Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School, said it seemed like a clear “no-no” under state law.
“Is it money laundering? Absolutely not. Is it someone fleecing the government? No. But it is a campaign misstep? Absolutely,” said Levinson, whose focus is the law of the political process, including election law.
11.8.19 – KCAL LA
TRUMP’S ACTING CHIEF OF STAFF AT THE CENTER OF UKRAINE SCANDAL
LMU Loyola Law School Law School Professor Jessica Levinson, an expert in election law, says that the testimony released so far has been compelling. “It shows a consistent portrait of a president who wanted something from the Ukraine, that was personal and/or political,” said Levinson.
11.8.19 – KABC-FM
“Open hearings essentially means that instead of this quote-on-quote closed door session, it will be more like what the public is used to. It will be much more transparent,” says LMU Loyola Law School Professor Jessica Levinson.
11.8.19 – KCBS-AM
GROWING CONCERN ON THE HILL OVER RUDY GIULIANI CONDUCT
“There are so many laws that could’ve been violated that it is certainly worth investigating,” said Laurie Levenson, professor at LMU Loyola Law School.
KTSA-AM – 11.7.19
TRUMP IN ANOTHER WAR OF WORDS OVER WILDFIRES WITH CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR
Loyola Law School Professor Jessica Levinson told CBS L.A., “It seems that President Trump as shown a misunderstanding of what has caused our fires. Certainly, these are not by and large forest fires and Governor Newsom correctly explained that actually, you need to look at climate change to understand why we have this uptick in fires.
11.6.19 - CNN Newsroom
BIG WINS FOR DEMOCRATS IN BELLWETHER ELECTIONS
“The truth is we have to look at the specifics. The devil, of course, is always in the details,” says LMU Loyola Law School Professor Jessica Levinson.
11.6.19 – KQED-FM
KAMALA HARRIS CAMPAIGN BREACH HIGHLIGHTS FRAGILITY OF TECHNOLOGY
Loyola Law School Professor Jessica Levinson who specializes in ethics and campaign finance says the political fallout is minimal because Steyer isn’t that competitive. However, the breach does highlight the fragility of the technology.
11.6.19 – Shareblue
NUNES DEMANDS PARODY ‘DEVINCOW’ TWITTER ACCOUNT STOP MAKING FUN OF HIM
"I'm not sure what the legal theory is, and in all seriousness, you can be aware of a fake Twitter account, but if you don't control it, you have no legal authority over it," Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, told McClatchy.
11.6.19 - Voice of San Diego
THE ONE BIG UNFORCED ERROR IN TODD GLORIA'S MAYORAL CAMPAIGN SO FAR
Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School, said the expenditures appear to be legal, even if it’s awkward for Gloria to explain why he’s paying political consultants for a campaign he says he isn’t running.
Politico – 11.5.19
SCHIFF DROPS UKRAINE TRANSCRIPTS
Loyola Law School Professor Jessica Levinson says it’s no accident that Kamala Harris’ political career was launched in this role — and that the current race is getting national attention. “Prosecutors have enormous authority to do justice” and to “affect voters’ everyday lives,’’ she says. “These are very powerful positions.”
KABC-LA – 11.4.19
DISCUSSION ON SOCIAL JUSTICE AT LMU LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL
A legendary civil rights advocate and an academy award winner join forces to talk about the importance of social justice. Loyola Law School hosted a discussion with attorney Ben Crump and actor Jamie Foxx.
KCRW-FM 11.4.19
TESTIMONY TRANSCRIPTS SHOW TRUMP WAS TRYING TO USE FOREIGN POLICY FOR HIS OWN POLITICAL GAIN
“Even if this doesn’t change the overall narrative of the impeachment inquiry, that we remember these are people who are trying to tell a story about how our government is functioning and they feel under serious threat,” said LMU Loyola Law School Professor Jessica Levinson.
KNX-AM – 11.4.19
TRUMP’S TAX RETURNS CAN BE TURNED OVER TO STATE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS
“I do not expect the tax returns to be turned over today, tomorrow or even next month. This is still the middle of the legal battle,” says Jessica Levinson, professor at LMU Loyola Law School.
Daily Journal – 11.4.19
LOYOLA LAW’S CIVIL JUSTICE PROGRAM HONORS 2 ATTORNEYS
Loyola Law School’s Civil Justice Program hosted its 15th Annual Tribute to the Champions of Justice dinner and award ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 24 in Beverly Hills.
KCRW-FM – 11.3.19
“It seems that President Trump has shown a misunderstanding of what has caused our fires,” said Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Law School professor. “Certainly, these are not by and large forest fires and Governor Newsom correctly explained that actually, you need to look at climate change to understand why we have this uptick in fires.”