Featured Post from Tulane University

Is the judicial selection process broken? Could it imperil our democracy?

Sep 29, 2020

2 min

On September 26, with a little under one month before the presidential election, President Donald Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States to fill the vacancy left by the recent death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.


While other justices have been approved in presidential election years, none has been voted on after July. Trump stated his motivation to rush the process is centered around his desire to have a fifth justice on his side should there be any disputes with the upcoming presidential election results.


Four years ago, Senate Republicans refused to consider former President Barack Obama’s nomination to replace Justice Antonin Scalia with Judge Merrick B. Garland on the grounds that it should be left to whoever was chosen as the next president. The new justice would have been announced 237 days prior to Election Day. The Senate Judiciary Committee will begin confirmation hearings on Barrett's nomination on October 12.



Tulane University political science expert Sally Kenney, the executive director of the Newcomb College Institute, is available to speak about whether a double standard exists between both current and past presidential administrations, as well as that of the Senate confirmation process.


For interviews, contact pr@tulane.edu or Roger Dunaway at 504-452-2906.


According to Kenney:

“The hypocrisy of senators who refused to act on President Obama’s nominee of Judge Merrick Garland eight months before a presidential election proceeding with haste a few weeks before a presidential election undermines confidence in the integrity of the process. President Obama appointed a 63-year-old moderate in an attempt to find consensus; President Trump has chosen a far-right 48-year-old.”


“Judge Amy Coney Barrett is as different from Justice Ruth Ginsburg as Justice Clarence Thomas was from Justice Thurgood Marshall. It is not surprising that President Trump is seeking to make good on his promise to appoint justices who will overturn the Affordable Care Act and Roe v. Wade, but it is more troubling that he explicitly states he wants to install his person so that the Court will be at full strength should it have to decide the outcome of the election. Our judicial selection process is profoundly broken, and I worry for the rule of law and our democracy more generally.”


You might also like...

Check out some other posts from Tulane University

1 min

Expert: Historic password breach creates public urgency for better password protection

Cybercriminals recently executed a significant breach, stealing the world’s most extensive collection of passwords. These stolen credentials, a staggering 10 billion unique passwords, have been uploaded to the notorious RockYou2024 database, a hub for cybercriminal activity. Tulane University cybersecurity expert Demetrice Rogers says the stolen passwords are a significant vulnerability for most users and underscore the need for strong password management. With malicious actors now armed with an extensive database of nearly 10 billion unique passwords, the risk of successful hacks on unsuspecting users is significantly higher. "The massive growth of the RockYou2024 password list shows just how tough it’s getting to keep our accounts safe. Hackers will love this list, making it a go-to tool for breaking into accounts. We need strong, unique passwords and multi-factor authentication to stay one step ahead. Think of it like locking your doors and setting the alarm—essential steps to keep the cybercriminals out." Rogers can cover: • How users can check to see if their information and passwords are included in the leak. • The importance of creating strong, unique passwords for each account and using reputable password managers to generate and store them securely. (Many users use the same password across multiple websites, making an attacker’s job much easier.) • Why adopting multi-factor authentication is increasingly important to ensure account security.

2 min

Are soaring home insurance rates in Gulf Coast states coming for the rest of the country?

The Gulf Coast faces an expected active 'above-normal' hurricane season, with many insurance carriers withdrawing from the market. Homeowners are left with skyrocketing rates and dwindling coverage options. Louisiana bore the brunt with four major hurricanes in 2020 and 2021, causing $75 billion in combined damage. The state passed a series of insurance reforms to attract more insurance companies, following in the footsteps of Florida. Insurance woes for homeowners aren’t just a coastal issue. Homeowners in the Midwest are struggling with insurance carriers because of damage from the record amount of tornadoes. Wildfires in the US are also a growing threat to insurance carriers, accounting for an annual total cost between $394 billion and $893 billion. Christopher Otten, an insurance and legal expert at Tulane University’s A. B. Freeman School of Business, is available to speak about the impact of new hurricane insurance regulations in several states, the challenges of holding insurance carriers accountable from state to state and the difficulties property owners face in finding hurricane insurance. Christopher can also discuss: • Why insurance markets differ among the states in the Gulf Coast region. • The Fortified Roof incentive programs • Affordability and the need for more carriers to improve competition and pricing risk. Christopher Otten Quote: “The Gulf States are the canaries in the coal mine right now for insurance markets,” Otten said. “It’s probably going to get worse before it gets better. A quiet hurricane season, as unlikely as that is, will help things some – but that doesn’t mean rates will not go up or down. They may increase less than they otherwise would have. With these new laws, particularly in Louisiana, it will take a hurricane for us to know how the new regulations are shaping out.” Contact Roger Dunaway, assistant director of media relations, for interviews at roger@tulane.edu.

2 min

Vulnerability exposed: Car dealerships grapple with fallout from cybersecurity attacks

Nearly 15,000 car dealerships across North America are still struggling to operate after a massive cyberattack has crippled their software systems. As more vehicles become connected to the Internet and reliant on digital systems, cyberattacks pose a serious risk to businesses and consumers. Tulane University cybersecurity expert Demetrice Rogers is available to discuss the next steps in auto industry recovery efforts and what other industries can learn from the incident to avoid repeat attacks. Professor Rogers can speak about: 1. The implications for data security and privacy and the possible compromise of sensitive customer data, including personal information and financial details. 2. Specific cybersecurity weaknesses within the automotive industry that made these car dealerships targets for the cyberattack. 3. Offer insights into effective cybersecurity measures and best practices that car dealerships can implement to strengthen their defenses against future cyber threats. Quote from Demetrice Rogers: “The preliminary reports indicate that the attack on CDK Global was a ransomware incident. Their systems will essentially be held hostage until specific demands, likely monetary, are fulfilled. Initial reports indicate CDK plans to pay the ransom, which could be tens of millions of dollars, to the attackers. I would expect systems to slowly come back online, with some data and processes unavailable until they have fully recovered.” “This situation highlights the critical need for an effective backup and disaster recovery program. Organizations should routinely test their recovery capabilities to ensure preparedness for such incidents. Additionally, it is generally recommended not to comply with hackers' demands or pay the ransom. While it is true that some companies opt to pay (though this is rarely publicized), it is usually more prudent to activate a well-prepared disaster recovery plan.” Contact Roger Dunaway, assistant director of media relations, for interviews at roger@tulane.edu.

View all posts
Powered by