In this keynote excerpt from the American Society of Evidence-Based Policing Conference, Chief Tarrick McGuire draws on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail to argue that “order without justice is not peace”—and that protecting democracy demands moral, not merely operational, leadership from those who wear the badge. Chief McGuire calls on his colleagues to confront the hard truths facing modern policing, from immigration enforcement and officer trauma to disinformation and public trust, and to lead boldly enough to help form the “more perfect Union” the Constitution promises.

Cornell professor Joseph Margulies examines the Trump administration’s proposed $1.776 billion “victims of lawfare” compensation fund, its likely beneficiaries, and the legal and political opposition it has generated. Professor Margulies argues that while the fund is a corrupt sham designed to enrich Trump allies—including January 6th rioters who were justly prosecuted—the underlying concept of compensating people genuinely wronged by federal power is sound, and the true victims deserving redress are those like unlawfully detained immigrants and targets of vindictive prosecutions.

University of Chicago law professor emeritus Albert W. Alschuler discusses the federal government's obstruction of Minnesota state investigations into the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE and CBP officers during Operation Metro Surge. Professor Alschuler examines the legal, jurisdictional, and political dimensions of the conflict and argues that Congress should mandate evidence-sharing and state-federal investigative cooperation—specifically by enacting the Democrats’ demand to “require that evidence is preserved and shared with jurisdictions.” He explains why the Trump administration's refusal to share evidence constitutes a deliberate coverup that, if unchecked, will prevent accountability for what video evidence strongly suggests were unjustified killings.

Cornell professor Joseph Margulies discusses how the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies led to violence in Minneapolis, examining the gap between campaign promises to deport violent criminals and the reality of mass deportation tactics targeting peaceful undocumented immigrants in Democratic cities. Professor Margulies argues that the administration’s use of immigration enforcement as political retaliation, combined with performative authoritarian tactics designed to appeal to Trump's base, made the violent clashes and killings by federal agents inevitable.

This opinion piece by policing experts Seth W. Stoughton, Ian T. Adams, Geoffrey P. Alpert, Gil Kerlikowske, Maureen Q. McGough, and Jeffrey J. Noble addresses federal immigration enforcement tactics under the Trump administration. The authors argue that the conduct of agencies like ICE and CBP has departed from established norms in policing in a way that has undermined public safety, particularly through fatal shootings. They contend that these actions—marked by poor planning, aggressive field tactics, and a disregard for accountability—are not just unprofessional but dangerously authoritarian, threatening public safety and the legitimacy of policing itself.

Cornell professor Joseph Margulies examines the systemic culture of brutality, secrecy, and dehumanization within the Marcy Correctional Facility, as exposed by the murder of Robert Brooks by correctional officers and the indifference of bystanders. Professor Margulies argues that such a culture is sustained by unwritten norms—normalization of violence, secrecy, silence, impunity, and dehumanization—which reflect deep failures of leadership, training, and accountability, calling for systemic reform to prevent future atrocities.

Amherst professor Austin Sarat discusses President-Elect Donald Trump's nomination of Pam Bondi and Kash Patel as potential attorney general and FBI Director, respectively, in his upcoming administration. Professor Sarat argues that these appointments signal Trump’s intention to weaponize the Justice Department and FBI for political revenge, warning that Hunter Biden’s allegedly unfair prosecution could become commonplace for Trump’s opponents if Bondi and Patel are confirmed to these positions.

Criminal defense attorney Jon May critically analyzes the Department of Justice’s Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program, discussing its flaws and potential solutions. Mr. May argues that the program is fundamentally flawed due to its lack of certainty in awarding whistleblowers, prioritization of victim compensation over whistleblower awards, disqualification of whistleblowers eligible for other programs, and demanding cooperation requirements, ultimately deterring potential whistleblowers from coming forward with crucial information about corporate wrongdoing.

Cornell professor Joseph Margulies reflects on the bodycam footage of the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey by Sangamon County Sheriff’s Officer Sean Grayson, detailing the events that led to the tragic incident. Professor Margulies observes that Officer Grayson’s actions were unnecessary and excessive, arguing that the officer had multiple opportunities to peacefully resolve the situation but instead escalated it to a tragic conclusion.

Cornell professor Joseph Margulies explores the journey of Rob Hildum, a former Assistant District Attorney in New Orleans and now a judge in Washington, D.C., who reflects on his past complicity in a system that disproportionately targets and harms Black individuals. Professor Margulies connects Hildum’s narrative with broader issues of systemic racism and police brutality, using recent cases like the killing of Ta’Kiya Young in Ohio to demonstrate that the unwillingness to challenge deeply ingrained beliefs and practices—like the appropriateness of “street justice”—perpetuates injustice.

Amherst professor Austin Sarat criticizes Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Congressman Jim Jordan for decrying the “weaponization” of justice while themselves exerting political pressure to remove duly elected Democratic district attorneys. Professor Sarat warns that such actions undermine the independence of prosecutors and pose a threat to the rule of law, and he cautions voters to be vigilant against this danger in upcoming elections.

Cornell professor Joseph Margulies delves into the paradoxical attitudes society holds towards surveillance: while people criticize the invasion of privacy by the surveillance state, they also endorse and benefit from its capabilities, particularly when it serves a purpose they support. This conundrum is further complicated by the blurred lines between state and private surveillance, the use of publicly available data by companies, and the desire to hold the state accountable through the very means of surveillance.

Cornell professor Joseph Margulies comments on the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation into the City of Memphis and its police department following the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, which exposed a culture of violence and indifference within the department. While Professor Margulies welcomes this investigation as a step in the right direction, he argues that the Department of Justice lacks the tools and authority to address systemic issues related to policing and public safety in Memphis; ultimately, the solution must come from local initiatives and collaboration within the community.

Amherst professor Austin Sarat comments on the number of bills recently introduced in many red states to curb prosecutorial discretion when it is exercised in ways that do not conform to their tough-on-crime agenda. Professor Sarat argues that prosecutorial discretion is an indispensable component of a society governed by laws, and that these bills violate the separation of powers, threaten to politicize prosecution, and, in so doing, undermine the rule of law.

Cornell Law professor Joseph Margulies points out that the murder of Tyre Nichols challenges the oversimplified conception of authority and race that prevails in this country. Drawing upon the language of historian Robin Kelley, Professor Margulies argues that police violence is the end result of a racialized processnot merely an expression of anti-Black racism by white police officers.

Cornell Law professor Joseph Margulies points out that the Memphis police officers who beat Tyre Nichols to death were doing exactly what the SCORPION unit of the department was supposed to do. Professor Margulies argues that until we collectively quash the belief that “we” are threatened until “they” are brought to heel, society will futilely pursue public safety while disregarding public suffering.

Cornell Law professor Joseph Margulies observes that the Memphis Police Department’s Policies and Procedures document is missing an entire section called “Response to Resistance,” which sets the rules governing the use of force by a Memphis officer, including deadly force. Professor Margulies points out that adopting or amending rules is not enough to solve the problem that led to the murder of Tyre Nichols by Memphis police officers; rather we police culture must change. Indeed, Margulies argues, the SCORPION unit was doing exactly what Memphis leaders inside and outside the Department wanted it to do.

Cornell Law professor Joseph Margulies comments on the videos released by the City of Memphis documenting the murder of Tyre Nichols by Memphis police officers. Professor Margulies points out that the atrocious conduct captured on video reflects a police culture that encourages brutality and indifference, arguing that if the Memphis Police Department can’t change the culture they’ve created, their officers don’t deserve the badge.

Former federal prosecutor Dennis Aftergut comments on the House Judiciary Committee minority members’ staff report in which Republican members of the committee are seeking to undermine the FBI by portraying it as partisan and dishonest. Mr. Aftergut points out that the report disregards facts in an attempt—consistent with other Republican efforts—to confuse the public about who is telling the truth so that ordinary people busy with their lives disengage and give up trying to figure out the facts. He argues that if Republicans achieve a majority in Tuesday’s midterm election, they will turn America’s premier law enforcement agency into a McCarthy-esque inquisitorial tool in their anticipated Republican presidential administration.

Cornell Law professor Joseph Margulies comments on two seemingly unrelated concerns expressed by readers: the policy of a local sheriff in Florida to publish mugshots of juveniles who have been charged with a felony, and the oppressively hot conditions of prison cells in Texas. Professor Margulies explains that both of these problems are products of an unforgiving society that insists on differentiating people into “us” versus “them.”