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 Anna Schwartz
Anna Schwartz is a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania studying Political Science, French, and Economic Policy. The purpose of the WTO is to promote fair, efficient, and free global trade. At the heart of the WTO is its Appellate Body (AB), which resolves conflict between member states through processes of appeals and dispute settlement. Seven members serve on the AB with four year terms that are renewable once. The judges are balanced to reflect a range of nationalities, but do not act on behalf of their countries. Rather, they are experts in international trade who are chosen to temporarily speak for the WTO [1]. Through the reduction of the AB and threats of noncompliance with WTO decisions, President Donald Trump is executing a multi-pronged attack on the global trade system.
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 By Anna Schwartz
Anna Schwartz is a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania studying Political Science, French, and Economic Policy. Countries surrounding the South China Sea have been competing for ownership of the ocean area for decades. Yet as of late, the tensions are beginning to peak. China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei have all recently staked claims. The disagreements have far-reaching political implications, including increasing naval hostility from China in order to establish dominance in the region. As states place increasingly greater economic and military value on the region, deciding proprietary rights becomes more pressing. Disputes center around rights to the Paracel and Spratly islands, along with nearby rock and reef formations. Many states hope to take advantage of the region’s abundant natural resources. The body of water contains valuable fisheries and over 30% of the world’s coral reefs [1]. In 2013, for example, the South China Sea hosted around 11 billion barrels of untapped oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas [2]. Finally, newer data adds that approximately 40% of global natural gas trade and 30% of maritime oil trade passes through the South China Sea due to routes between Africa, the Persian Gulf, and Asia [3, 4]. Motivated by the potential benefits from resource deposits and sea lanes, neighboring countries are presenting their custody cases to the United Nations.  By Anna Schwartz
Anna Schwartz is a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania studying Political Science, French, and Economic Policy. The Supreme Court plans to deliberate a loaded question this year: does a California law requiring anti-abortion pregnancy clinics to advertise their unlicensed status and the availability of state family planning and abortion services violate the first amendment? National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra questions the constitutionality of California’s Reproductive Freedom, Accountability, Comprehensive Care, and Transparency Act (Reproductive FACT). In 2015, this law was passed as a response to non-medical crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) which advertise themselves as reproductive health clinics. CPCs often spread misinformation and dissuade women from getting abortions.  By Anna Schwartz
Anna Schwartz is a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania studying Political Science, French, and Economic Policy. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida experienced the loss of 17 lives and the hospitalization of 14 more during a school shooting in February[1]. The massacre marks the 17th school shooting in 2018. Everytown for Gun Safety adds to the count "any time a firearm discharges a live round inside a school building or on a school campus or grounds" because “it can shatter a child's sense that they are safe in their school and in their community”[2]. While each instance of gun violence may not directly result in the death, the situations impact the lives of both students and the others in the neighborhood.  By Anna Schwartz
Anna Schwartz is a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania. On January 10th, Governor Tom Wolf declared the opioid crisis a statewide emergency. He spoke about the loss of too many lives. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Pennsylvania has the fourth highest rate of death due to drug overdose in the country: 37.9 out of every 100,000 people. [1] Yet Wolf reminded citizens in his speech that “those who we have lost are not just numbers.” [2] The average person hospitalized for abusing prescription drugs is 54 years old. Admissions for these opioid overdoses have increased four times over between 2010 and 2017 and cost about $27 million in 2016 to Pennsylvania taxpayers. [3] Even further, most overdose patients are treated in emergency rooms and released without admission; ER data is not included in the analysis of overdose statistics. |
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