Politicology The Devil’s Advocates—Part 1
Apr 23, 2025
Rebecca Roiphe, a distinguished law professor specializing in legal ethics, joins the conversation to unravel the complexities facing the rule of law today. They delve into critical legal studies and its evolution, emphasizing the importance of intersectionality and power dynamics. The discussion critiques the current U.S. legal system's objectivity and the implications of its perceived neutrality. Roiphe highlights the tension between justice and representation, especially in light of high-profile cases that have impacted public trust in legal institutions.
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Core of Critical Legal Studies
- Critical Legal Studies views law as infinitely malleable and always serving the powerful. - It challenges the traditional notion of law as neutral and fair.
Power's Ubiquity Undermines Neutrality
- Power is pervasive and present in all institutions but is often masked as neutrality. - This belief erodes trust in merit, free speech, and neutral dispute resolution crucial for democracy.
Weinstein and Shifting Power
- Harvey Weinstein, once extremely powerful, became powerless facing criminal charges. - Harvard professor Ron Sullivan was heavily criticized for defending Weinstein, showing power's fluidity.