The Opioid Epidemic in U.S. Courts

The opioid epidemic in the United States has given rise to much litigation. The manufacturer of the drug OxyContin, Purdue Pharma, declared bankruptcy recently because of lawsuits involving its civil liability. There is now a movement seeking to indict company executives on criminal charges. NPR's All Things Considered has a report here. 5 min. transcript available.

Two U.S. States Sue Another Over Marijuana

On the site called Verdict, Professor Michael Dorf reads his presentation of an unusual case before the U.S. Supreme Court in which the states of Nebraska and Oklahoma have filed a complaint against the state of Colorado after it legalized the use of marijuana. Dorf explains original jurisdiction before the Supreme Court and the questions of federalism involved. 11 min, transcript available.

More news about U.S. elections

In the recent elections, the states of Washington and Colorado held referendums about legalizing some use of marijuana (or "pot"). In Colorado, marijuana even got more votes than Obama. The success of marijuana in state elections presents a challenge to the Obama administration which must now decide whether to enforce federal legislation which makes the drug illegal. NPR's Morning Edition of Nov. 20 has a story about this example of legal problems caused in the U.S. by its federal system. 4 min 6 sec, transcript available