Dome:
Law, Legislation & Policy

Housed at Boston University School of Law, Dome is a valuable resource for news, analysis, and opinion on legislation and public policy. Dome is staffed by students of BU Law’s various legislation clinics. Dome features work contributed by staff members, scholars, practitioners, and law students interested in legislation and public policy.

Inter Partes Review: non-Article III Adjudication of Private Property Rights

By Eric Dunbar
March 6th, 2018 in Analysis, Federal Legislation, Legislation in Court, Uncategorized.

In November 2017, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments for Oil States Energy Services, LLC v. Greene’s Energy Group. Oil States poses a question that forces the Supreme Court to consider whether it will turn patent strategy on its head: whether inter partes reviews (IPRs) violate the Constitution by extinguishing... More

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Why Big Pharma Lawsuits Probably Won’t Fix Things

By Sean J Kealy
February 28th, 2018 in Federal Legislation, Lobbying, Opinion.

By: Lindsey Pasieka Pharmaceutical companies are sued every single day. There are literally thousands of drug and medical device-related lawsuits going on right now. And they run the gamut, from things like Pradaxa lawsuits, brought on by victims of side effects, to statewide and regional opioid lawsuits, brought on by mayors and... More

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Legislator of the Year– Senator John McCain

By Sean J Kealy
December 30th, 2017 in Legislative Operations, Opinion.

John McCain has served in the United States Senate for nearly 31 years, and is probably due a lifetime achievement award.  This award, however, is not for his distinguished service in the US Navy, nor for his many accomplishments over three decades in Congress, nor for the honorable manner in... More

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Personalized Handgun Law Backfires, by Merissa Pico

By picom
July 31st, 2017 in Analysis, Legislative Oversight, State Legislation.

Like a gun might, this New Jersey legislature’s bill backfired. In 2002, New Jersey’s democratically controlled legislature passed the Childproof Handgun Law, which aimed to promote the use of personalized handguns. Personalized guns, or “smart guns,” as they are also known, use technology so the guns can only be used by an authorized... More

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Finding Equity in Mental Health Reform

By Jessica Scarbrough
July 31st, 2017 in Analysis, Budget & Appropriations, Federal Legislation.

Mental health has been a very serious topic in recent years, and one of growing concern in American society. Mental illness among teenagers continues to rise, and so do the costs of mental health treatment. Health care in general is a major and complicated issue in the United States, as... More

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