In this blog, 3L staffer Hyeongchan Kim examines the current recycling challenges in the United States by comparing recycling policies across several countries, including Germany, Austria, South Korea, and the United States. He highlights that although each country has its own legal system and procedures, the adoption of standardized recycling laws in US is recommended, drawing on examples from countries with higher recycling rates.
In this blog, 3L staffer Chas Lundy discusses the Trump administration’s attempts to eliminate offshore wind farms in America. Lundy explains the background of renewables in America as well as ongoing litigation regarding a stop work order imposed on a wind farm. Lundy also provides the reactions of powerful figures in the traditional energy industries and takes the position that deviating from offshore wind farms is against the national interest.
In this blog, Executive Editor Peyton Mills argues that United States v. Stevens, which held that depictions of extreme animal cruelty are not categorically unprotected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, effectively rubber-stamps animal cruelty by hindering prosecutors and emboldening animal abusers. He asserts that Justice Samuel Alito's dissent should pave the way forward for animal rights.
In this blog, 3L Staffer Samuel Larrabee argues that the H-2A visa program should be the solution to deported immigrant farm laborers but because of the program's shortcomings, it fails to fill the void. The Department of Labor's recent regulations could help prevent worker abuse that occurs under the program but because courts have stepped in and found that those provisions violate separate law, any meaningful reform of the program likely requires congressional action.
In this blog, 3L Staffer Caidan Drenk argues for the increased protection of central Kentucky farmland from urban growth/sprawl. Drenk discusses the existing legal framework surrounding protections and privileges granted to land used for agriculture, the shortcomings of those protections, and the increases needed for appropriate protections in the future. Drenk highlights and acknowledges concerns about population growth, economic growth, and increased housing demands while emphasizing the long-term cultural and economic risks of unchecked development and encroachment. Drenk calls for a balanced approach that safeguards agricultural land while accommodating responsible urban and suburban expansion.
Blog By: Ryan Stuart
The increase of sensors and software on modern farming equipment has allowed manufacturers like John Deere to control the repair process of their farm equipment. In this blog, 3L staffer Ryan Stuart argues that farmers need right-to-repair legislation to ensure that individuals can access the tools needed to repair their own equipment.
Blog By: Abby Noser
The Inflation Reduction Act includes a tax credit for nuclear power production. In this blog, 3L staffer Abby Noser explains the tax credits for nuclear energy under the IRA and argues that Kentucky should adopt Senate Resolution 171 so that the state can take advantage of the current IRA tax credits.
Blog By: Garrison Rosser
Despite political polarization, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments are on the rise. In this blog, Notes Editor Garrison Rosser explains that lawyers should embrace ESG practices to better advise their clients while also leaving the environment in a better condition.
Blog By: Julia Ray
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) regulates pesticide distribution, sale, and use. In this blog, 2L staffer Julia Ray explains that current structure of FIFRA allows unsafe pesticides to be produced in the US. Further, Ray argues that FIFRA should be amended to remove the registration exception for exported pesticides to promote public health and minimize the environmental impact of pesticides.
Blog By: Julia Giordano
In 2017, five animal activists removed two sick piglets from a pork manufacturing facility and a jury found the defendants not guilty on all charges. In this blog, 2L staffer Julia Giordano analyzes this case and explains how its implications could transcend to other animal welfare cases.
Blog By: Dylan Keefe
In August 2022, Congress passed the most significant climate legislation in American history: the Inflation Reduction Act. With historic funding secured, the country should be well on its way toward clean energy production, right? Well, not quite. Another obstacle remains: federal permitting requirements.
Blog By: Mary Jocelyn
In a statement accompanying the denial of certiorari for the most recent Antiquities Act case, Chief Justice Roberts discussed two critical components of the act yet to be determined by Congress or the courts - what is the smallest area compatible for the monument and how it should be operationalized. In this blog, 2L staffer Mary Jocelyn argues that the proclamation of Bears Ears as a national monument under the Antiquities Act is a paradox because it actually impairs the necessary resources required for management.
Blog By: Jordan Kamp
Following the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, the state of Oklahoma has experienced a shift in its jurisdiction over surface coal mining. In this blog, 2L staffer Jordan Kamp argues that Oklahoma and its Tribes should draft intergovernmental agreements pertaining to surface coal mining that would enable the State to maintain some form of regulatory control.
