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A visit with Christina Wells, Professor of Law
Published: September 13, 2007 - Topics:
deference
accountability
civil_liberties
fear_and_prejudice
government_decision-making
Additional Interview Clips
Freedom of speech, freedom of information, constitutional law
The benefit of the first amendment
The dangers of excessive government secrecy
Federal law that limits protests at funerals
The internet’s role in shaping public opinion
Primary research for Wells
How Wells found her way from chemistry to law
The law casebook Wells is co-authoring
How fear and prejudice negatively impact governmental decision-making
Topics:
freedom_of_speech_deference
constitutional_law
In a recent paper, “Questioning Deference,” Wells brings principles from both psychology and law to examine how people make decisions in times of crisis. She shows, for instance, how fear and prejudice can skew the government’s decision-making, citing the prosecution of anti-war protestors during World War I, the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, and the legal battles against Communists during the Cold War as painful reminders.