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.

Chaos

By Sean J Kealy
November 2nd, 2021 in Legislative Operations, Opinion, State Legislation.

I bought a painting! I am not a major collector by any means, but I could not pass this one up: The painting, entitled "Chaos," is by Austin Texas based artist Laura Atlas Kravitz from Lollies Follies Studio.  A lawyer, Laura works in government relations for an education organization.  She started painting... More

Here Comes the Sun?

By Alina Cathcart
August 30th, 2021 in Analysis, Federal Legislation, State Legislation.

On March 12, 2021, a bipartisan coalition of Senators reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act, a bill that would make daylight saving time permanent across the country. Leading sponsors include Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). This legislation would not only eradicate the disruption created by changing our clocks twice... More

Right to Counsel in Eviction Cases: A California Case Study

By Amanda Baird
August 27th, 2021 in Analysis, Civil Litigation, Housing Law, State Legislation.

Housing courts are overburdened. Tenants do not know their rights and are rarely represented. And as a consequence, many people lose their homes. To address these failings, some advocates call for “Civil Gideon.” The famous Supreme Court case, Gideon v. Wainwright held that the Sixth Amendment right to counsel requires... More

Never Too Early to Save a Child’s Life: Eating Disorders Prevention in Schools Act of 2020

By Jessica Boubker
August 23rd, 2021 in Analysis, Federal Legislation, Health Law.

Eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of any mental illness, second only to opioid overdose. 1 in 5 women (19.7%) and 1 in 7 men (14.3%) will suffer from an eating disorder. Not only are eating disorders potentially life-threatening, eating disorders can carry devastating long-term consequences on both... More

A Visit to the Arizona Legislature

By Sean J Kealy
July 6th, 2021 in Uncategorized.

This summer vacation brought me to Phoenix Arizona.  Not quite our usual family trip to the beach, but we are attending the Irish Step Dancing National Championships.  While my daughters practiced, I had a chance to visit the Arizona Legislature (kind of). Unfortunately, the old Capitol Building, which now houses the... More