Public Acknowledgement and Investigations of U.S. “Targeted Killings” and Drone Strikes

The United Nations, local and international human rights organizations, and journalists have investigated and reported numerous cases in which there is credible evidence of harm to Yemeni, Pakistani, and other civilians from U.S. strikes carried out in secret, often using drones. The families of those individuals are still seeking redress and accountability, and the continued refusal of your administration even to officially acknowledge their losses compounds their sufferin

Possible Changes to U.S. Policies on the Use of Force in Counterterrorism Operations

We write today to express our deep concern regarding reports that the administration is considering weakening current policy standards for the use of force in counterterrorism operations

NGO Statement on Reported Changes to U.S. Policy on Use of Armed Drones and Other Lethal Force

The Trump administration’s failure thus far to release and explain the changes it has made to a previously public policy is a dangerous step backwards. Transparency around the use of lethal 2 force is critical to allowing independent scrutiny of the lawfulness of operations and to providing accountability and redress for victims of violations of international law. Transparency also helps governments identify and address civilian harm. It enables the public to be informed about some of the most important policy choices the government makes in its name – ones that involve life and death decisions. While transparency can enhance the legitimacy of government actions, secrecy, by contrast, heightens existing concerns and creates new ones

Support at Home: Interventions to Enhance Life in Dementia (SHIELD) – evidence, development and evaluation of complex interventions

Background Dementia is a national priority and this research addresses the Prime Minister’s commitment to dementia research as demonstrated by his 2020 challenge and the new UK Dementia Research Institute. In the UK > 800,000 older people have dementia. It has a major impact on the lives of people with dementia themselves, on the lives of their family carers and on services, and costs the nation £26B per year. Pharmacological cures for dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease are not expected before 2025. If no cure can be found, the ageing demographic will result in 2 million people living with dementia by 2050. People with dementia lose much more than just their memory and their daily living skills; they can also lose their independence, their dignity and status, their confidence and morale, and their roles both within the family and beyond. They can be seen as a burden by society, by their families and even by themselves, and may feel unable to contribute to society. This programme of research aims to find useful interventions to improve the quality of life of people with dementia and their carers, and to better understand how people with dementia can be supported at home and avoid being admitted to hospital. Objectives (1) To develop and evaluate the maintenance cognitive stimulation therapy (MCST) for people with dementia; (2) to develop the Carer Supporter Programme (CSP), and to evaluate the CSP and Remembering Yesterday, Caring Today (RYCT) for people with dementia both separately and together in comparison with usual care; and (3) to develop a home treatment package (HTP) for dementia, to field test the HTP in practice and to conduct an exploratory trial. Methods (1) The MCST programme was developed for people with dementia based on evidence and qualitative work. A randomised controlled trial (RCT) [with a pilot study of MCST plus acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs)] compared MCST with cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) only. The MCST implementation study conducted a trial of outreach compared with usual care, and assessed implementation in practice. (2) The CSP was developed based on existing evidence and the engagement of carers of people with dementia. The RCT (with internal pilot) compared the CSP and reminiscence (RYCT), both separately and in combination, with usual care. (3) A HTP for dementia, including the most promising interventions and components, was developed by systematically reviewing the literature and qualitative studies including consensus approaches. The HTP for dementia was evaluated in practice by conducting in-depth field testing. Results (1) Continuing MCST improved quality of life and improved cognition for those taking AChEIs. It was also cost-effective. The CST implementation studies indicated that many staff will run CST groups following a 1-day training course, but that outreach support helps staff go on to run maintenance groups and may also improve staff sense of competence in dementia care. The study of CST in practice found no change in cognition or quality of life at 8-month follow-up. (2) The CSP/RYCT study found no benefits for family carers but improved quality of life for people with dementia. RYCT appeared beneficial for the quality of life of people with dementia but at an excessively high cost. (3) Case management for people with dementia reduces admissions to long-term care and reduces behavioural problems. In terms of managing crises, staff suggested more costly interventions, carers liked education and support, and people with dementia wanted family support, home adaptations and technology. The easy-to-use home treatment manual was feasible in practice to help staff working in crisis teams to prevent hospital admissions for people with dementia. Limitations Given constraints on time and funding, we were unable to compete the exploratory trial of the HTP package or to conduct an economic evaluation. Future research To improve the care of people with dementia experiencing crises, a large-scale clinical trial of the home treatment manual is needed. Conclusion There is an urgent need for effective psychosocial interventions for dementia. MCST improved quality of life and was cost-effective, with benefits to cognition for those on AChEIs. MCST was feasible in practice. Both CSP and RYCT improved the quality of life of people with dementia, but the overall costs may be too high. The HTP was useful in practice but requires evaluation in a full trial. Dementia care research may improve the lives of millions of people across the world. Trial registrations Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN26286067 (MCST), ISRCTN28793457 (MCST implementation) and ISRCTN37956201 (CSP/RYCT). Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grants for Applied Research programme and will be published in full in Programme Grants for Applied Research; Vol. 5, No. 5. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information

Guns, Bruen, & Constitutional Insanity

Monday, March 25, 2024 | 12:30 PM | Eck Hall of Law, Room 1130 Eric J. Segall, the Kathy and Lawrence Ashe Professor of Law at Georgia State University College of Law, joins NDLS to discuss gun regulation in light of the Supreme Court\u27s decision in Bruen. Prof. Segal argues that the Court\u27s wildly inappropriate judicial aggression towards legislative solutions to gun violence is almost certainly responsible for making the crisis worse. Given the Second Amendment\u27s specific textual reference to militias, as well as the presence of 400,00,000 guns in America, along with all the other contributing factors leading to death and destruction by guns, this judicial interference is constitutional insanity and a form of national suicide. The justices need to return the issue of gun control to the states, to the elected branches of the federal government, and to We the People. Co-sponsors: American Constitution Society National Lawyers Guild Notre Dame Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Governmenthttps://scholarship.law.nd.edu/ndls_posters/1830/thumbnail.jp

The Shadow Docket

Monday, April 15, 2024 | 12:30 PM | Eck Hall of Law, Room 1130 Stephen Vladeck (Georgetown Law) joins NDLS to discuss his New York Times bestselling book, The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic. Professor Vladeck is a nationally recognized expert on the federal courts, constitutional law, national security law, and military justice. He has argued over a dozen cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court, and various lower federal civilian and military courts. Co-sponsors: Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Government National Lawyers Guild American Constitution Societyhttps://scholarship.law.nd.edu/ndls_posters/1860/thumbnail.jp

Dollars and Sense: Campaign Finance Reform for the 21st Century

Notre Dame Law School Journal of Legislation Symposium Dollars and Sense: Campaign Finance Reform for the 21st Century Friday, February 8 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks Provided Speakers: Nicholas Stephanopoulos-University of Chicago Law School Justin Lewitt-Loyola Law School Ciara C Torres-Spelliscy- Stetson University College of Law John Nagle- Notre Dame Law School Lloyd Mayer- Notre Dame Law School ACLU American Constitution Society Program on Constitutional Structurehttps://scholarship.law.nd.edu/ndls_posters/1344/thumbnail.jp

Dollars and Sense: Campaign Finance Reform for the 21st Century

Notre Dame Law School Journal of Legislation Symposium Dollars and Sense: Campaign Finance Reform for the 21st Century Friday, February 8 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks Provided Speakers: Nicholas Stephanopoulos-University of Chicago Law School Justin Lewitt-Loyola Law School Ciara C Torres-Spelliscy- Stetson University College of Law John Nagle- Notre Dame Law School Lloyd Mayer- Notre Dame Law School ACLU American Constitution Society Program on Constitutional Structurehttps://scholarship.law.nd.edu/ndls_posters/1344/thumbnail.jp

Fighting Corporate Concentration & Monopoly Power

American Economic Liberties Project Non-profit and non-partisan, part of a growing, cross-ideological movement to combat monopolistic corporations and the systems that entrench their power.https://scholarship.law.nd.edu/ndls_posters/1739/thumbnail.jp

Fighting Corporate Concentration & Monopoly Power

American Economic Liberties Project Non-profit and non-partisan, part of a growing, cross-ideological movement to combat monopolistic corporations and the systems that entrench their power.https://scholarship.law.nd.edu/ndls_posters/1739/thumbnail.jp