Law 401

Rhode Island Senator Meghan Kallman joins us to break down the much-talked-about proposal known as the “Taylor Swift Tax” and the ABCs of tax policy.
She’s calling for wealthy non-residents with second homes valued over $1 million to pay their fair share and explains the data showing “millionaire flight” as a myth.
This episode shines a light on Rhode Island’s upside-down tax code where working people shoulder more of the burden. We also dig into how decades of underbuilding have fueled the state’s housing crisis and what’s being done to fix it, from zoning reform to new funding for affordable housing. Resources:
Meghan Kallman
https://www.rilegislature.gov/senators/kallman/Pages/Biography.aspx
Non-Owner Occupied Property Tax Act
https://tax.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur541/files/2025-07/2025_summary_of_legislative_changes.pdf
The Economic Progress Institute
https://economicprogressri.org/publications/epi-policy-brief-moving-beyond-the-mass-exodus-tax-flight-myth

Rhode Island Comic Con is back, and cosplay fans are preparing to bring their favorite characters to life. But what legal rules come into play behind the costumes? Hosts Michael Donnelly-Boylen and Nicole Dyszlewski sit down with attorney and cosplayer Blake Johnson L’21, to explore intellectual property, fair use, and the dos and don’ts of fandom.  Is it legal to dress as a branded character, and what laws are behind it? From copyright rules to fan art, trademark issues, and building creative careers in Rhode Island, this episode explores why cosplayers pour time, effort, and imagination into their costumes. And what the law has to say about it.
Resources
Blake Johnson
https://www.sheehanlawoffice.net/blake
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders v. Scoreboard Posters
https://www.copyright.gov/fair-use/summaries/dallcowboys-scoreboard-5thcir1979.pdf
Santopietro v. Howell
https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2017/05/24/14-16324.pdf

Just waking up to the fight to reopen Morley Field? Join our guest, Pawtucket City Councilor and attorney Clovis Gregor, as we unpack the dispute over Woodlawn’s only green space and the push to restore it for public use rather than turn it into a parking lot.
What started as a few neighbors speaking up became a microcosm of environmental justice in Rhode Island, raising questions about stewardship, transparency, and public participation in local decision-making. Learn how advocacy and community organizing among the “Friends of Morley Field” are turning the tide toward rehabilitation and recreation, not pavement.
Resources:
Clovis Gregor https://www.clovisglaw.com/
Save Morley Field
https://linktr.ee/savemorleyfield?
RI Environmental Education Association
https://www.rieea.org/reopenmorleyfield/
ecoRI News
https://ecori.org/removal-of-morley-field-will-reduce-green-space-in-pawtucket-neighborhood-thats-already-a-park-desert/
 

How are judges chosen in Rhode Island—and is the process really based on merit, or driven by political connections?
Our guests — Michael Yelnosky, professor and former dean of Roger Williams University School of Law, and John Marion MSL’20, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island — unpack how judges are chosen in Rhode Island and whether the system truly rewards excellence… or favors insiders.
Using a recent Providence Journal article by Katherine Gregg as a starting point — “How can you become a judge in RI? Start with political connections” — we discuss whether reforms intended to reduce patronage have lived up to their promise.
 
Highlights:11:30 History of Picking Judges: Now vs. Before 199423:45 Upset About Judge Selection? Here's How to Speak Out27:29 What Are Magistrates? Understanding Their Role and How They're Appointed36:23 In RI, Knowing Everyone — Should That Disqualify Judge Selectors?
Resources:
“How can you become a judge in RI? Start with political connections.”
https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2025/09/29/who-is-in-the-running-to-be-a-ri-judge-and-their-political-connections/85891915007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z11----p118150c118150e000800v11xx10o11----b0072xxd117265&gca-ft=227&gca-ds=sophi
Bios
Prof. Michael Yelnoksy: https://law.rwu.edu/faculty/michael-j-yelnosky
John Marion MSL’20 https://law.rwu.edu/student-life/stories/exactly-what-i-needed
Common Cause Rhode Island
https://www.commoncause.org/rhode-island/about-us/
Judicial Nominating Commission
https://jnc.ri.gov/

Why does land return matter to Indigenous people? In this episode, we speak with Tai Palermo L'22, Legal Director of the Center for Indigenous Peoples Rights, about the historic return of 255 acres in Bristol, RI, from Brown University to the Pokanoket Tribe.
We explore the legal, cultural, and emotional weight of this moment. What land return and the repatriation of sacred artifacts mean for tribal sovereignty. And how they help Indigenous communities take back control and keep their cultures alive.
What’s next for the Pokanoket land? That remains to be seen. This is a conversation about history, justice, and the ongoing work of restoration.
Resources:
Taino Palermo L'22’s Bio
https://law.rwu.edu/faculty/taino-palermo
Land Transfer in The Providence Journal
https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2024/11/20/trailblazing-brown-university-returns-255-acres-to-pokanoket-tribe-bristol-rhode-island/76450706007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z11----p001740n11----c11----e001000v118108o11----b0065xxd116565&gca-ft=233&gca-ds=sophi
Center for Indigenous Peoples Rights
https://www.thecipr.org/
Raymond Two Hawks Watson L'22’s Bio
https://provcei.org/
Office of Federal Acknowledgement
https://www.bia.gov/as-ia/ofa
NAGPRA
https://www.bia.gov/service/nagpra

Ever wondered how to turn your passion into policy? In this episode, we're joined by Professor Victoria Litman of Roger Williams School of Law, who breaks down how everyday Rhode Islanders can become powerful advocates at the state and local level. From writing letters to testifying at the State House, she shares simple, actionable steps to influence the laws that shape your life.
Victoria, a nationally recognized researcher in cannabis and psychedelics regulation, details her personal journey advocating for Bill H7047, which aimed to legalize the possession of psychedelic mushrooms but ultimately did not pass. She emphasizes why showing up — especially for the long game — matters, and how your voice can help educate lawmakers and drive meaningful change.
Resources:
Victoria Litman
https://law.rwu.edu/faculty/victoria-litman
Bill H7047
https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2024/02/01/push-to-legalize-magic-mushrooms-is-back-before-house-judiciary-committee/
Freedom to Read Act https://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_layouts/15/ril.pressrelease.inputform/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31-3c10-431c-8dcd-9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=375699
Petrie-Flom Center
https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/
Capitol TV
https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/
 
Have an episode idea? Email us at law401podcast@rwu.edu.

This week on Law 401, we’re joined by Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies, Executive Director of the Economic Progress Institute, to unpack the sweeping federal legislation known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill." Weayonnoh and her team of experts dug through all 870 pages to break down what really matters for Rhode Islanders.
From massive cuts to Medicaid and SNAP to the broader legal and civil rights implications, we explore the details that affect you.  Who’s most impacted? And how can Rhode Island respond? Tune in for a thoughtful, grounded conversation about law, policy, and the future of equity in our state.
Highlights:
What does this bill really mean to you?
Taxing the top to protect the vulnerable
Why it’s about more than money
What do the numbers really mean?
What are legal entitlements?
 
Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies: https://law.rwu.edu/student-life/stories/if-theres-life-theres-hope
Resources:
OBBB https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text
Commentary: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/07/21/metro/commentary-trump-era-tax-bill-medicaid-snap-rhode-island-tax-policy/
Economic Progress Institute: https://economicprogressri.org/

This episode thrives on podcast partnership. We’re joined by Ed Fitzpatrick, veteran Boston Globe Rhode Island reporter and host of the Rhode Island Report podcast.  What is fake news? In this episode, we explore how misinformation, fueled by AI, amplified on social media, and often dismissed as “fake news,” is reshaping our legal system and democracy. From trials to government debates, misinformation undermines fairness and fuels distrust. Attacks on journalists worsen this by silencing accountability and enabling misinformation to spread.Drawing on decades of reporting, Ed offers insight into the rising tension between free speech, press freedom, and the right to a fair trial in an era of digital half-truths.Resources:Ed’s Bio: https://www.bostonglobe.com/about/staff-list/staff/edward-fitzpatrick/Five Freedoms: https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/amendments/amendment-iInformation Futures Lab: https://sites.brown.edu/informationfutures/RI Board of Elections: https://elections.ri.gov/RI Bans Deepfakes: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/07/02/metro/rhode-island-regulates-deepfakes-elections/Jeff Britt Trial: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/16/metro/ri-political-operative-britt-found-not-guilty-money-laundering-trial/Hungry for more media discussion? Join Boston Globe at the Rhode Map Live event: Telling Rhode Island’s Story: The Future of Local Media. Tuesday, Sept. 30. Info and registration via https://rhodemapliveseptember30.splashthat.com/ 

Zoning laws, red tape, and outdated building restrictions are blocking the housing Rhode Islanders desperately need. In this episode of Law 401, House Speaker Joe Shekarchi joins us to break down how the General Assembly is fighting the housing crisis by passing laws to fix a system that keeps homes out of reach for so many.In this episode, we cover: How zoning laws have slowed housing growth, and what’s changing What preemption means, and how the state uses it to mandate housing access The legalization and expansion of Accessory Dwelling UnitsNew efforts to repurpose vacant commercial and institutional buildingsWhy increasing housing supply can help bring down rents and reduce homelessnessThe balance between local control and statewide responsibilityPLUS: The HASBRO Headquarters moveResources: Speaker Shekarchi’s Bio: https://www.rilegislature.gov/representatives/Shekarchi/Pages/Biography.aspx2025 R.I. Housing Legislation: https://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_layouts/RIL.PressRelease.ListStructure/Forms/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31%2D3c10%2D431c%2D8dcd%2D9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=375110&Web=2bab1515%2D0dcc%2D4176%2Da2f8%2D8d4beebdf488\2024 R.I. Housing Bills Passed:  https://www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease/_layouts/15/ril.pressrelease.inputform/DisplayForm.aspx?List=c8baae31-3c10-431c-8dcd-9dbbe21ce3e9&ID=374721HousingWorks R.I. 2024 Factbook: https://d337wih8hx5yft.cloudfront.net/images/Publications/HWRI_HFB24.pdfChapter 37: RI Fair Housing Practices Act https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE34/34-37/INDEX.HTM

What’s a tariff — and why do they have the power to shake the global economy, trigger political showdowns, and hit your wallet at the grocery store?In this episode of Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded, co-hosts Nicole P. Dyszlewski and Michael Donnelly-Boylen explore how tariffs impact everything from international trade to Rhode Island’s local businesses. They’re joined by Gregory W. Bowman, Dean of Roger Williams University School of Law and former international trade attorney, for a deep dive into how this complex economic tool works — and why we should all be paying attention.In this episode, we cover: What tariffs are and how they influence global trade relationshipsThe legal and political process behind implementing tariffsWhy tariffs don’t just affect big corporations, but everyday consumers Historical and current U.S. tariff policies — and the debates surrounding themThe tension between protecting national industries and global market accessHow future lawyers can prepare to work in this evolving legal landscapeWhether you’re a student of law, a small business owner, or someone trying to make sense of trade wars in the news, this episode unpacks the legal and practical sides of tariffs in an accessible way.Listen now and subscribe to Law 401: Legal Issues Decoded — legal conversations made accessible.Rhode Island Impacts:Polaris MEP "Tariff Impact Report" (June 2025) https://polarismep.org/news/tariff-impact-report/University of Rhode Island report: “Tariff‑induced uncertainties cloud R.I. economy’s recession status”https://www.uri.edu/news/2025/08/tariff-induced-uncertainties-cloud-r-i-economys-recession-status-says-uri-economist/General:Tariffs—Everything you need to know but were afraid to ask https://www.epi.org/publication/tariffs-everything-you-need-to-know-but-were-afraid-to-ask/Carlo Institute's 'Separating Tariff Facts from Tariff Fictions' https://www.cato.org/publications/separating-tariff-facts-tariff-fictionsBoston Globe article: "Appeals court finds Trump’s sweeping tariffs unconstitutional but leaves them in place for now" https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/08/29/business/trump-tariffs-unconstitutional-appeals-court/