The Roundtable
Welcome to the Roundtable, a forum for incisive commentary and analysis
on cases and developments in law and the legal system.
on cases and developments in law and the legal system.
 By Emma Davies Emma Davies is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania studying Philosophy. Immigration reform was a main platform position of President Donald Trump during his 2016 campaign and his presidential term. Over the past two years, significant policy changes in the executive branch’s agenda include a ban against individuals from predominantly Muslim countries, lowering refugee admissions, increasing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests, and terminating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, among others. A change in the “public charge” ruling, a provision that details who is inadmissible or not as a potential immigrant, has become a part of Trump’s docket of anti-immigrant policy initiatives [1].
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 By Jessica "Lulu" Lipman Jessica "Lulu" Lipman is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania studying English. The ride-sharing apps Uber and Lyft have made waves in the transportation industry by allowing riders to connect to drivers nearby and catch rides for a reasonable price. These apps are part of the broader “gig economy” in the United States, which includes freelance workers and independent contractors, such as delivery people at DoorDash. More than one-third of the Americans in the workforce are part of the gig economy. [1]
 By Rachel Gu
Rachel Gu is a sophomore in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania studying Bioengineering. On October 27, 1970, the Controlled Substances Act was passed, establishing four levels of drug severity. Marijuana was classified as one of the most dangerous substances and carried the highest penalties in the U.S. [1]. Today, 33 states have legalized medical marijuana, with 10 states and Washington D.C. having also legalized recreational marijuana use. As a result, the cannabis industry is rapidly expanding, with companies fighting to establish a dominant foot in the nascent field. When attempting to pioneer a new industry, companies must effectively protect their branding, marketing methods, and new products. However, due to marijuana’s illegal status on the federal level, intellectual property law and trademarking has become slightly more complicated.  By Shiven Sharma Shiven Sharma is a fourth year student at the University of Pennsylvania studying Biology with a minor in French studies. Due to the prevalence of opioid-caused morbidity and mortality, questions have arisen regarding the source of such outcomes and lenient policies that enable its prevalence.
 By Margaret Lu
Margaret (Maggie) Lu is a sophomore at the University of Chicago studying English and Spanish. On September 6th, Senator Dick Durbin called for the resignation of the FDA lead. On September 11th, President Donald Trump promised to ban the sale of flavored vaping products. While the dangers of cigarettes are widely known and warned against in American media, e-cigarettes & vaping are often touted as a “safe alternative” to cigarettes [i]. Juul usage has quietly taken a deadly turn, most recently causing the 12th death of a person related to vaping [ii]. Apart from banning the sale of flavored vaping products outright, another avenue being explored is to raise the sales age of vaping to 21. Both solutions have pros and cons, but neither touch on the key issue: discovering the actual cause of vaping deaths.  By Rachel Gu
Rachel Gu is a sophomore in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania studying Bioengineering. As of 2019, about four out of every five people in the U.S. have a registered social media account [1]. Each user’s actions online, such as a “like” or “share” of posts on their feed, are collected as data points. This network of data is then used to create a comprehensive user profile that provides Facebook and other partnered companies useful information. This then allows them to tailor posts and ads to each individual user. In fact, more companies use this “data mining” technique than one might expect. Their intention, to optimize user engagement, has provoked debates regarding privacy agreements between companies and their users.  By Suprateek Neogi Suprateek Neogi is a fourth year student at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab studying Law and specializing in Business Laws. Hybrid Courts, also known as ‘internationalized national criminal courts’, are a unique type of ad-hoc court which has components of both, domestic and international legal systems. Hybrid courts usually deal with international crimes occurring within the domestic boundaries of a State. [1]
 By Kaitlyn Rentala Kaitlyn Rentala is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. At 86, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the oldest member of the bench, but still one of the most impactful. Throughout her long lasting career, Ginsburg has distinguished herself as a leader in the women’s rights movement all while overcoming personal struggles and misogyny. This year celebrates her 26th year anniversary on the bench. Here is a look back at Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s influence over US law and culture.
 Kaitlyn Rentala Kaitlyn Rentala is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). Every person has been told the common maxim to never talk politics or religion at the dinner table. While maybe best avoided at a dinner party, the intersection of politics and religion is in fact a critical topic in American history that requires thoughtful discourse. From the establishment of “separation of church and state” in the First Amendment, religious liberty has long been a highly debated issue in the legal realm. To fully examine the history of religious liberty in the United States, one must look at the landmark Supreme Court cases that established the parameters in which religion interacts with government today.
 By Saxon Bryant Saxon Bryant is a Sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania studying Public Policy in Wharton and Political Science in the College of Arts and Sciences. On September 28th 2018, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb released a public statement regarding modernizing standards of identity and the use of dairy names for plant-based substitutes. [1] This announcement was accompanied by a request for public comment which closed on November 27th. In other words, the FDA asked the American people, “If milk comes from a plant, should you still be able to call it milk?”
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