Everyday thousands of humans and millions of nonhumans endure solitary confinement. Human prisoners held in this way are confined for 22 to 24 hours a day for weeks, months, or even years on end in cells the size of a parking space. For these humans, the experience is tortuous. Captive animals held in solitary confinement similarly spend much of their lives locked into tiny spaces, isolated, and deprived of the types of interactions and environment essential to their wellbeing. And, like humans, they are driven mad. In human and nonhuman settings, the agony of solitary is chillingly alike and harmful. And, in neither setting is it justifiable or necessary.
In their article, , published in Nebraska Law Review, Haub Law Professors Michael Mushlin and David Cassuto use a comparative format to examine the moral, penological and scientific shortcomings of solitary confinement across species. The article sheds light on the importance of empowering all creatures subjected to solitary confinement. “If we adequately protect all vulnerable beings, the unnecessary suffering inflicted by solitary confinement will finally end,” they write.
For Reese H. Frisch ’26, the path to law school was shaped by a deep-rooted commitment to justice and a desire to serve her community—values that have guided her academic and professional journey from the very beginning.
The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at 91Ƶ is pleased to announce that the Honorable Francesca E. Connolly ’82, Associate Justice of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, Second Judicial Department, will deliver the Law School’s commencement address at its 48th Commencement Ceremony, to be held May 21 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens. Justice Connolly will also receive the Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, the highest honor conferred by the Law School.
The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at 91Ƶ has once again been ranked #1 in the nation for Environmental Law by U.S. News & World Report, marking the seventh time—and the sixth consecutive year—the program has earned the top distinction and further solidifying its position as a global leader in environmental legal education.