Law 401

Continuing Law 401's season-long exploration of civics, hosts MDB and Nicole sit down with David Cicilline, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation. They discuss what it means to be an engaged citizen. Drawing on Cicilline’s experience as a state rep, Mayor of Providence, member of Congress, and civic leader, he reflects on public service, civic participation and trust in institutions. Jo...

Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse joins us for a conversation on Citizens United v. FEC, dark money, Super PACs, and money’s influence on elections. Senator Whitehouse explains how the Supreme Court’s decision transformed campaign finance, the role of outside groups in molding the courts, and what reforms like transparency laws and the DISCLOSE Act could change going forward. Resources Senat...

Are Flock Cameras Protecting Rhode Island or Invading Privacy? Flock cameras are at the center of this episode of Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded. MDB and Nicole explore how license plate reader surveillance technology is being used across Rhode Island. Joined by Professor David Lambert of Roger Williams University, they discuss who has access to the data, how it’s used in investigations, and whethe...

MDB and Nicole welcome back Senator Tiara Mack to discuss what the Rhode Island Voting Rights Act means for minority voters, and why the debate is happening now. Senator Mack breaks down the legal, political, and historical issues behind the State House bill aimed at protecting voters from discrimination. You’ll also learn about the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a landmark federal law that reduced ra...

Rhode Island marriage law, prenups, postnuptial agreements and divorce are all up for discussion in this episode. Jolee E. Vacchi, Esq., known as “The Compassionate Divorce Attorney,” explains the legal side of relationships. Inspired by rumors about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s possible Rhode Island wedding, Jolee explores how marriage laws affect everyone, from celebrities to Rhode Islanders....

Joining the podcast is Rhode Island Congressman Gabe Amo to discuss the growing fight to protect consumers from online scams. Congressman Amo walks us through how scammers are using AI to become more sophisticated, how the law is trying to keep pace, and what legal reforms are required to protect consumers. The conversation also covers the BETS OFF Act, focused on preventing those with inside know...

In this episode, we discuss what abortion and contraception laws mean for families across Rhode Island. Joined by Senator Dawn Euer, we look at her efforts to ensure no-cost contraceptives continue to be covered by insurers in Rhode Island, despite what happens on the federal level. From crisis pregnancy centers to insurance gaps and new contraception legislation, this conversation uncovers how po...

Rhode Island voting rights are the focus of this week’s episode, as we unpack how elections really work — from voter registration and ID requirements to the officials and systems that run the process behind the scenes. Hosts Michael and Nicole sit down with Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore to discuss the structure of election administration, the balance of state and federal power, and w...

Law school admissions: This conversation will change how you think about getting in. Join us for step-by-step guidance through the entire admissions journey. Our guest is Tracy L. Simmons, MDB’s personal friend, author of Law School For Dummies (2nd Edition), and Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs at Howard University School of Law. With nearly 30 years of experience in law school ad...

In this episode, we examine grand juries in Rhode Island, institutions that play a powerful role in Rhode Island’s criminal justice system. When cases “go to the grand jury,” what really happens behind closed doors, and how does that influence public trust? Joined by Professor Shannon Heery of RWU School of Law, we discuss how grand juries work, why they matter, and whether the system is living up...

Did you know that one in three Rhode Island families face food insecurity? Did you know that large grocery chains increase prices and drive out competition through a restrictive covenant? RI Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos joins us to discuss her support for the Fair Price Grocery Agenda. This legislation focuses on reducing food deserts--communities lacking access to grocery stores with fresh, a...

Why start civic education early? Understanding the importance of young people’s participation in democracy is the focus of this week’s conversation. Part of an ongoing series on civics, our guest is Hillary Lima from Generation Citizen. Hillary shares why inspiring youth and giving them direct civic experience, in the classroom or at the State House, is so important. We cover Rhode Island’s civic...

For a small state, why does Rhode Island have such a powerful impact on the national legal stage? A group of pro bono lawyers working under the Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island (LCRI) might have something to do with it. LCRI was formed to file lawsuits challenging a range of Trump administration policies. From taking legal action against federal decisions affecting immigration, nonprofits, and...

A Dove study found 80% of Black women feel they must change their natural hair to fit in at work. In this episode, we talk with Rhode Island State Senator Tiara Mack, the first queer Black person elected to the RI Senate and lead sponsor of the CROWN Act, “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.” Sen. Mack explains the historical connection between hair and identity in Black culture...

Who has the power to impose tariffs—the President or Congress? Greg W. Bowman, Dean of Roger Williams University School of Law, former international trade attorney, and resident trade law subject matter expert, breaks down the Supreme Court’s decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump—the case that raises the simple question of ownership in imposing tariffs. Hosts MDB and Nicole unpack the Cour...

Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, joins us to discuss her legislation that would allow survivors of childhood abuse to file civil claims for up to 35 years. The measure would hold institutions and individuals accountable for child abuse negligence or cover up. She also shares why it’s deeply personal. The legislation comes as a recent report by RI Attorney General P...

Episode 24’s guest, RWU law professor Natalia Friedlander, explores a critical question: Is it possible for Artificial Intelligence to have bias? AI influences decisions in health care, housing, education, and courts. Exactly how does AI exhibit or apply hidden bias – and how could that legally affect you? We examine who is responsible when AI systems produce biased outcomes. What safeguards are i...

Are talks of the US acquiring Greenland just political theatre? RWU Law professor Gregory Noone joins us to explain the legal realities behind headlines. This topic involves serious issues of sovereignty, mineral rights, national security, and international law. Learn about Greenland’s status as a sovereign territory within Denmark and the probability of the US legally acquiring it. The conversati...

In the Season 2 premiere of Law 401, hosts MDB and Nicole sit down with Representative June Speakman to discuss the state of civic education in Rhode Island. Drawing on her experience as a legislator and professor at Roger Williams University, Rep. Speakman explores how civics should work vs how it really plays out in classrooms and at the State House. The conversation looks at Rhode Island’s 2021...

In this festive two-part season finale of Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded, hosts MDB and Nicole welcome lawyer and improv performer James Bagley L’12, for a fun dive into the quirks of holiday law—from Santa’s chimney “break-ins,” elf labor laws to glowing yard displays—legal angles you’ve probably never considered! Capping this episode is a special year-one best-moments review, with the hosts looki...

Intimate partner violence affects thousands of Rhode Islanders, and the systems meant to protect survivors can be overwhelming to navigate. In this episode, Sojourner House Staff Attorney Yulyana Torres L’23, breaks down the data, the terminology, and the lived experiences behind Sojourner’s launch of legal services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.   We ex...

This Law 401 episode examines the difference between expectations of body-worn cameras and their real outcomes.  Rhode Island Public Defender and RWU Law Adjunct Professor Collin Geiselman joins hosts Nicole and Michael to break down how Rhode Island’s camera program works in real life, including what gets recorded, what doesn’t, who can access footage, and why the “truth” on video is often more c...

AI tools are quickly entering Rhode Island classrooms, from monitoring software to learning platforms, but the laws protecting students haven’t kept up. Attorney and RWU Law adjunct professor Linn Foster Freedman breaks down what FERPA, COPPA, and state-level policies cover. And what Rhode Island can learn from states like Texas and California as they roll out their own AI governance rules. We exp...

In this episode of Law 401, we welcome immigration attorney Zachary Lyons L’17 to explain Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo, a recent California Supreme Court case that reopened the door to immigration stops based on “reasonable suspicion.”  We discussed how perceived ethnicity or speaking a foreign language can factor into an immigration stop and what the decision means for Fourth Amendment rights for all...

Rhode Island Senator Meghan Kallman joins us to break down the much-talked-about proposal known as the “Taylor Swift Tax” and the ABCs of tax policy. She’s calling for wealthy non-residents with second homes valued over $1 million to pay their fair share and explains the data showing “millionaire flight” as a myth. This episode shines a light on Rhode Island’s upside-down tax code where working pe...