Cornell Law professor Michael C. Dorf examines recent calls by President Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson, and their allies in Congress to remove or sideline federal judges who have blocked Trump administration policies, either through impeachment or by eliminating the courts themselves. Professor Dorf argues that such tactics are constitutionally dubious and dangerously undermine judicial independence, warning that the real threat to the republic comes not from the judges, but from efforts to evade legal checks on presidential power.
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Amherst professor Austin Sarat examines California Governor Gavin Newsom’s shifting political positions, particularly focusing on the uncertainty surrounding his stance on the death penalty as he eyes a potential 2028 presidential run. Professor Sarat argues that Newsom’s credibility and legacy—especially given his prior vocal opposition to capital punishment—hinge on whether he will act decisively to commute the state's death row sentences before leaving office, a move that could significantly influence the national debate on the death penalty.