For lawyers, the profession is not just about upholding the law, but also understanding and challenging its flaws. Attorneys have a unique insight into the often invisible cracks in the legal framework that governs our society. But of all these flaws, which law is the absolute worst?
Several key issues rise to the surface when asking this question. Perhaps it’s qualified immunity — the doctrine that allows police officers to avoid accountability for their actions — or it could be the immunity of the gun industry that exacerbates America’s gun problem.
Other contenders for the worst law can include the inherently unjust felony murder rule, the harsh mandatory minimums, or outdated and ineffective immigration laws. And then there are the bizarre and seemingly arbitrary laws, like rules setting an age limit on trick or treating.
You are invited to partake in a discussion to identify the absolute dumbest laws. Suggestions can be sent to Above the Law, where they will be considered for a future poll to crown the dumbest law in all the land. The “winning” law may be featured in a new book by Elie Mystal, an Above the Law alum, as well as the justice correspondent for The Nation magazine and author of “Allow Me To Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution.”
The ultimate goal is not only to highlight these perplexing laws but to initiate a conversation centered around their potential reform. As Kathryn Rubino, a Senior Editor at Above the Law, notes, this is an opportunity to sound the alarm about “the absolute dumbest laws out there.”
Get involved in the discussion by emailing the team, and be a part of the journey to change the law for the better.Email Us