Ilana Friedman

Ilana also presented her article in development, called "Institutionalized Challenges for Investigating Police Criminality," at the SEALS conference. And she started new research on federal judicial consent decrees in the police reform and police accountability process. #UKLawProfResearch

UK Law faculty were busy with research this summer!

@ifriedman01.bsky.social worked on edits to her article, "The Paradox of Federal Oversight in Police Misconduct Investigations," forthcoming in the Denver Law Review. #UKLawProfResearch

Prosecutors Fail to Secure Indictment Against Man Who Threw Sandwich at Federal Agent

There’s a pun waiting to happen with this case vis a vis prosecutors’ [typical] ability to indict a ham sandwich. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/u...

When an on-duty cop kills a civilian, how are they investigated for their use of force, especially when that force is alleged to be a crime? My new article answers this question! We’re in the cycle and up on SSRN - would love to hear your feedback & comments papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

Petitioner's merits brief filed in Case v. Montana, the Supreme Court's first real Fourth Amendment case in several years, on the standard for warrantless entry to a home for purposes of rendering emergency aid. supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...

Presenting bright & early tomorrow AM but we can meet later on the beach with a daiquiri 😎

Experts: Felony rioting charges for journalists covering protests are rare, troubling CityBeat reporter Madeline Fening and photography intern Lucas Griffith are scheduled to appear July 23 for a preliminary hearing in Kenton County.

UK Law Prof @ifriedman01.bsky.social was quoted in the Cincinnati Enquirer about two reporters who were arrested while covering a protest. Her quote brings needed expert views to the issue. Way to go, Ilana! #UKLawProfResearch

www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2...

‘A brilliant scholar’: Longtime UK College of Law professor dies The UK College of Law announced the death of Professor Mark Kightlinger, who taught at the university for more than two decades.

The UK College of Law announced the death of Professor Mark Kightlinger, who taught at the university for more than two decades.

Experts: Felony rioting charges for journalists covering protests are rare, troubling CityBeat reporter Madeline Fening and photography intern Lucas Griffith are scheduled to appear July 23 for a preliminary hearing in Kenton County.

Quoted here regarding this emerging situation in Cincinnati www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2...

The majority’s contention that I reject “ ‘pure textualism’ [a]s insuf ficiently pliable to secure the result [I] seek,” ante, at 10, stems from an unfortunate misunderstanding of the judicial role. Our interpretative task is not to seek our own desired results (whatever they may be). And, indeed, it is precisely because of this solemn duty that, in my view, it is imperative that we interpret statutes consistent with all relevant indicia of what Congress wanted, as best we can ascertain its intent. A method ology that includes consideration of Congress’s aims does exactly that— and no more. By contrast, pure textualism’s refusal to try to understand the text of a statute in the larger context of what Congress sought to achieve turns the interpretive task into a potent weapon for advancing judicial policy preferences. By “finding” answers in ambiguous text, and not bothering to consider whether those answers align with other sources of statutory meaning, pure textualists can easily disguise their own pref erences as “textual” inevitabilities. So, really, far from being “insuffi ciently pliable,” I think pure textualism is incessantly malleable—that’s its primary problem—and, indeed, it is certainly somehow always flexi ble enough to secure the majority’s desired outcome.

Whoa. Spicy footnote from Justice Jackson, dissenting in the ADA case. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...

How can you not be romantic about sports? 🥹

a young boy in a red shirt is making a funny face while looking at the camera . ALT: a young boy in a red shirt is making a funny face while looking at the camera .

*Opens bsky to see what’s going on*

DOJ Abandons Effort to Address Phoenix’s Treatment of Homeless People The Justice Department retracted findings of constitutional violations in Phoenix and five other jurisdictions. Advocates say the move could further embolden cities and police departments to…

An investigation in Phoenix marked the first time the DOJ had found the rights of homeless people were routinely violated.

Now the department is closing its investigation and retracting findings of constitutional violations.

By @nicolesantacruz.bsky.social‬

Let’s go!

Resources & networking at the federal undoubtedly helps. But local insight, legal expertise, and political momentum may remain undisturbed even amid an environment on the federal level hostile to police accountability.

In some cases, federal oversight may not be necessary for police accountability. For example, I find that the feds @ Main Justice can be prohibitive for successful adjudication of police criminality. Leaving the local experts to their craft may still result in guilty pleas and verdicts.

Justice Dept. to End Oversight of Local Police Accused of Abuses

This will make us all less safe. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/u...

The paper (albeit an earlier version) is available here papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

In a forthcoming article in Oregon Law Review, I argue that the skewed racial composition of juries (and particularly grand juries) does a very good job explaining the outcomes in these cases (and even the lack of indictment in others).

Tyre Nichols’s Death: 3 Former Officers Acquitted of All State Charges The former Memphis officers were acquitted of all charges, including second-degree murder, in the beating death of Mr. Nichols.

www.nytimes.com/2025/05/07/u...

The last paragraph states, in part, “It was among the arguments that appeared to resonate with jurors, most of whom were white.”

Trump’s DOJ Has Frozen Police Reform Work. Advocates Fear More Abuse in Departments Across the Country. Federal investigators had identified at least eight police departments with patterns of unlawful behavior. But Trump’s freeze on oversight activities leaves many reform efforts in the hands of local…

Officials investigating the 8 agencies found unjustified killings, excessive force, debtors’ prisons, retaliation against police critics, racial discrimination, unlawful strip searches and undercover officers having sexual contact with sex workers.

By @tophersanders.bsky.social

Min Woo with a chefs hat on his wheels. Love to see it 👨‍🍳⛳️ #TheMasters #lethimcook

I still think White Lotus: Wisconsin Dells would slap so hard.

If anyone wants to talk about how White Lotus season 3 was a total miss I’m here.

Horns up! Congrats!

You’re going to crush! You know this stuff inside and out. Dissertation defense is a celebration of your knowledge. Congratulations! Hook em 🤘🏼

Congrats!

Mayor names COPA veteran as interim chief administrator Mayor Brandon Johnson on Thursday named a new interim chief administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

Mayor Brandon Johnson on Thursday named a new interim chief administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, the city agency tasked with investigating police shootings and allegations of misconduct.

ON WISCONSIN! ❤️

Flier provides info about upcoming Developing Ideas Conference in May at the University of Kentucky Law School

For anyone in the region who is interested: