This past Monday the United States honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King and some in the LexBlog community took the opportunity to write blog posts to reflect that. Others spent this week covering the steady flow of legal battles over vaccine mandates, the importance of wildfire insurance and much more. Take a look back at some of the LexBlog publishing team’s favorite posts from the last week.


Alec’s Picks

How about passing the EQUAL Act so we can be “free at last” from the crack/powder sentencing disparity?

Criminal law and sentencing professor Douglas Berman took time to craft this post which he published on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In it, he advocates for the passage of the EQUAL Act which seeks to address the current sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine which has resulted in disproportionately harsh sentences for Black Americans. Despite having bipartisan support, this bill has gotten relatively little press coverage and the senate has yet to vote on it. I very much appreciated Berman shedding some light on this legislation as well as all the great links he provided to conclude his post. Available at Sentencing Law and Policy.

Celebrating World Data Privacy Day in 2022 (and How You Can Make It a Data Privacy Year)

Is 2022 the year of data privacy? That’s what Jodi Daniels proposes in this blog post and makes quite the compelling case for. She lays out why companies should make data privacy a priority in the new year and the steps they can take to make it happen. Daniels combines a friendly writing style with great formatting and it results in a scannable, informative and entertaining blog post. As a consumer, I have increasingly become concerned about my personal data. However, if companies heed Daniels’ words they stand to place themselves in a much better position with consumers like myself. Available at Red Clover Advisors Blog.

Louisiana Supreme Court Upholds Private Employer Vaccine Mandate

Stephen McConnell does a great job covering important legal decisions from across the country in clear and simple language. This post is no exception. While many have been focused on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions regarding vaccine mandates, a separate but related legal battle at the state level also saw a major decision in the past week. Louisiana’s Supreme Court upheld the right of private employers to impose vaccine mandates. McConnell masterfully explains the ruling, how it arrived at the state supreme court and its implications in less than 450 words. Having the ability to pack that much information in so few words is a hallmark of a great legal blogger. Available at Reed Smith’s Drug & Device Law.


Michelle’s Picks

An International Drama Over the Maradona Heir’s Right to Use Their Dad’s Name

This is an interesting case, explained well by Squire Patton Bogg’s Rafael Langer-Osuna. Just a glance at the headline, it seems to me—someone with no great knowledge in trademarks—that it would be silly that the heirs of Maradona couldn’t use their dad’s name. But, after reading Langer-Osuna’s insightful post, it revealed the complexity of these kind of lawsuits and how you can and cannot use names that are trademarked. A really interesting case and like I said, it was written really well and in an understandable manner. Available at Squire Patton Bogg’s Global IP & Technology Law Blog.

The Wildfire Underinsurance Gap

Join in the conversation, blogging is all about listening. It’s easier said than done at times, but Chip Merlin showcases how to do just that in this piece. In regards to the abundance of Colorado wildfires and insurance claims, Merlin cites other bloggers and adds his own insights alongside theirs. If you don’t know how to cite someone else in a blog post, look no further than this post. He pulls in a couple of reputable voices and his points stand strongly next to theirs. This is a great example of how to grow relationships and network through blogging—but most importantly, craft an understandable, consumable blog post. Available at Merlin Law Group’s Property Insurance Coverage Law Blog.

At-Home COVID-19 Testing Options and Alternatives

In light of the Biden administration making at-home testing more accessible, Brian Johnston has crafted a really helpful post around the topic. The two big changes—households being able to request four free at-home tests, and at-home testing available at no cost without a prescription under an employer’s group health plan—come with their own set of implications. Johnston bullets out the most important points to take away and how they apply to employers and employees alike. It’s a very digestible, relevant and extremely timely piece. Available at Jackson Lewis’s COVID-19 Workplace Law Advisor.

Photo of Michelle Newblom Michelle Newblom

Michelle works on LexBlog’s Publishing team and assists in managing and creating the company’s editorial and social content, as well as working with clients to ensure the overall success of their blogs. She has experience working in all different realms of publishing—including newspapers,

Michelle works on LexBlog’s Publishing team and assists in managing and creating the company’s editorial and social content, as well as working with clients to ensure the overall success of their blogs. She has experience working in all different realms of publishing—including newspapers, magazines and research journals. Michelle has published a poetry book and been featured in an anthology.

Photo of Alec Downing Alec Downing

Alec is an intern on LexBlog’s publishing team where he creates content for the company’s various digital platforms. A former radio news anchor, Alec brings both a background in journalism and a passion for law. His writing has been published in The Seattle…

Alec is an intern on LexBlog’s publishing team where he creates content for the company’s various digital platforms. A former radio news anchor, Alec brings both a background in journalism and a passion for law. His writing has been published in The Seattle Times and Crosscut.