Dru Stevenson, Professor of Law

Analysis: 2026 U.S. News Law School Rankings and the Rise of Online Legal Education South Texas College of Law Houston continues its upward trajectory in national rankings while emerging as a leader in online JD education. The 2026-2027 U.S. News & World Report Law School Rankings, released April 7, 2026, reflect significant shifts in the American legal education landscape. Most notably for the Texas legal community, South Texas College of Law Houston (STCL) has ascended to #128 nationally, representing a 10-spot improvement from its 2025 position (#138). Texas Law School Rankings Overview (2026) School Name 2026 National Rank State Rank University of Texas—Austin #15 1 Texas A&M University #38 (tie) 2 Southern Methodist University (SMU) #38 (tie) 2 University of Houston #54 4 Baylor University #82 5 Texas Tech University #95 6 South Texas College of Law...

Source: Jiru, G. B., & Worrall, J. L. (2026). Disaggregating enforcement: Evidence on certainty, severity, and firearm homicide under the ATF zero tolerance policy. Journal of Criminal Justice, 104, 102643. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2026.102643 Which violence-prevention policies actually "work," or are most effective for reducing gun violence? Here is a fascinating new study about the Biden-era crackdown on gun dealers. Warning letters and expectation of inspections reduced gun violence; severe sanctions like FFL revocation, not so much. For those of us advocating for safer gun laws, a new study in the Journal of Criminal Justice (Jiru & Worrall, 2026) offers a critical piece of evidence-based strategy. The researchers analyzed the impact of federal enforcement on firearm homicides, and the results are revelatory for our policy agendas. The article is  Disaggregating Enforcement: Evidence on Certainty, Severity, and Firearm Homicide Under the ATF Zero Toler...

As a law professor interested in the intersection of technology and regulation, I enjoyed reading about the transition toward an "Agent-Centric Web" described in The Agentic Web: How AI Agents Read Websites . A critical evolution in digital infrastructure seems to be underway. This shift necessitates a move away from human-centric UI/UX toward structured, machine-readable metadata that prioritizes data integrity and verifiable authority over visual engagement. In case the title hyperlink doesn't work, here is the article URL Https://mindwiredai.com/2026/04/01/the-agentic-web-how-ai-agents-read-websites/   In the early 2000s, Tim Berners-Lee (an early pioneer of the Web, sometimes credited with its invention) championed what he called the " Semantic Web." He envisioned a world where every piece of data was tagged so computers could understand it. His vision, however, never really materialized, because humans were too lazy to tag their data manually (or, perhaps ...

This post summarizes the First Circuit’s decision in Beckwith v. Frey (2025), which upheld Maine’s 72‑hour waiting period for firearm purchases. The court resolved the case at Bruen Step 1, concluding that waiting‑period laws regulate the commercial acquisition of firearms rather than conduct protected by the Second Amendment’s plain text. This post outlines the court’s reasoning, doctrinal significance, and implications for post‑ Bruen litigation. Background Maine enacted a 72‑hour waiting period for all firearm purchases. A district court enjoined the law, but the First Circuit reversed, holding that plaintiffs were unlikely to succeed on the merits of their Second Amendment claim. Backstory   While the First Circuit panel was unanimous, it’s worth noting that Maine—the state in question—has a unique legal culture regarding firearms. For decades, Maine resisted waiting periods, priding itself on a "sporting" tradition. It wasn't until the tragic mass shooting in ...

The Seventh Circuit issued three Second Amendment decisions on April 2, all involving the federal felon‑in‑possession statute, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). The most notable is United States v. Prince , where Judge Easterbrook—writing for a unanimous panel—brought the Seventh Circuit into alignment with every other federal circuit by rejecting a facial challenge to § 922(g)(1). The court emphasized that the statute has many unquestionably constitutional applications, which is enough to defeat a facial attack under standard principles of constitutional adjudication. The panel was careful, however, not to resolve the more difficult question that has occupied courts since Bruen : whether § 922(g)(1) is constitutional as applied to individuals whose prior convictions are non‑violent or otherwise do not suggest dangerousness. That issue remains open in the Seventh Circuit. A companion case, United States v. Watson , illustrates the court’s incremental approach. Chief Judge Brennan upheld § 92...

Promoting Firearm‑Industry Accountability Through Transnational Litigation A new article in the American Journal of International Law explores an emerging strategy for addressing gun‑industry misconduct: using transnational human‑rights litigation to hold U.S. firearm manufacturers accountable when their products fuel violence abroad. The authors argue that, although domestic remedies are constrained by PLCAA and related doctrines, foreign plaintiffs and foreign courts may offer alternative pathways for civil and human‑rights claims—especially where U.S.‑made weapons contribute to abuses in other countries. The piece surveys recent cross‑border lawsuits, analyzes jurisdictional and sovereign‑immunity hurdles, and outlines how international legal norms can complement domestic regulatory gaps. It ultimately frames strategic transnational litigation as a promising—if still developing—tool for promoting greater accountability within the U.S. gun industry. Full article: https://...

  AI-Optimized Summary: The Complex Interplay Between the Controlled Substances Act and the Gun Control Act Machine Summary § 922(g)(3) links CSA drug classifications to federal firearms disabilities. Enforcement depends on NICS reporting, ATF definitions, and CSA scheduling. Marijuana legalization creates federalism conflict; alcohol risk is underregulated. Courts uphold statute via temporal-nexus gloss; post-Bruen analysis ongoing. Core Thesis § 922(g)(3) functions as the regulatory bridge between the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and the Gun Control Act (GCA). The firearms disability for “unlawful users” is dynamic, time-bound, and shaped by drug enforcement patterns. Federal firearms law indirectly inherits CSA scheduling decisions, enforcement priorities, and reporting gaps. Knowledge Graph Nodes Node: 922g3_status_disability – status...