Below is a selection of recent news highlights featuring members of Vermont Law and Graduate School’s faculty and staff.
Vermont’s New Education Reform Law Faces Legal Challenge Over Reduced School Choice
March 2, 2026
Vermont Public
Jared Carter JD’09, professor of law, weighs in on a new lawsuit against Act 73, which seeks to change the way that Vermont pays and governs public schools and reframes the role of private schools.
Vermont Looks to Study – and Possibly Block – Data Centers
March 4, 2026
Vermont Public
Mark James LLM’16, interim director of the Institute for Energy and the Environment, appeared on “Vermont Edition” to discuss data centers and their relationship to artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, as well as the environmental impacts.
Toiling in Toxic Fields: California is Failing to Protect the Health and Safety of Thousands of Child Farmworkers
March 5, 2026
Earth Island Journal
Emma Scott, director of the Food and Agriculture Clinic, comments on the low record of recent inspections in California’s San Joaquin Valley, an area with a significant number of agricultural workers, by the Bureau of Field Enforcement, a department responsible for regulating child labor laws.
Administration to Convene ‘God Squad’ With Power to Override Environmental Law
March 16, 2026
The New York Times
The Trump administration has moved to convene the “God Squad,” a federal panel with power to override protections under the Endangered Species Act, regarding oil in the Gulf of Mexico. Pat Parenteau, professor of law emeritus and senior fellow for climate policy, who helped write the legislative language that created the God Squad provision, is quoted.
Judge Says Detention of Ecuadorian Woman Violated Constitution
March 18, 2026
Vermont Public
Following the release of the three people detained by ICE during a raid in South Burlington, Brett Stokes, director of the Center for Justice Reform Clinic, is quoted about what this may mean longterm.
How Gas Prices Might Drive More People to Switch to an EV
March 20, 2026
Vox
Jenny Carter JD’86/MSL’87, professor of law and staff attorney, discusses the appeal of consumer EV adoption as gas prices continue to increase. Higher gas prices reveal equity issues, with low-income consumers having the most to gain from driving EVs, but the least likely to be able to afford or have charging access for them.
The Push to End Animal Testing is Gaining Steam, But Technology Can’t Fill the Gap Yet
March 20, 2026
CNN
Delci Winders, director of the Animal Law and Policy Institute, comments on the outlook for animal testing under the current administration.
Vermont Defends Climate Superfund Law in Federal Court
March 30, 2026
WCAX
Christophe Courchesne, director of the Environmental Law Center and Environmental Advocacy Clinic, spoke about the first day of arguments over Vermont’s Climate Superfund Act, which has been challenged by the federal government. Attorneys for the state and environmental groups asked a federal judge to dismiss the challenge.