Research

Driving Legal Innovation. Informing Public Policy.

At the Hawthorne Law and Public Policy Institute, our research is at the heart of everything we do. We explore how law shapes-and is shaped by-public policy, governance, and justice. Our nonpartisan approach brings legal scholarship into direct conversation with policymakers, civil society, and the public.

We focus on the intersection of constitutional law, legislative analysis, and emerging challenges in public governance.

Constitutional Law & Democratic Institutions

We examine how the U.S. Constitution continues to evolve in practice focusing on judicial independence, separation of powers, electoral processes, and threats to democratic norms.

​Key topics include:

  • Judicial reform and court legitimacy

  • Voting rights and election law

  • Emergency powers and constitutional crisis response

Core Research Areas

Civil Rights & Social Justice

Our research explores the legal mechanisms that protect (or fail to protect) individual rights, with an emphasis on racial justice, economic equity, and systemic reform..

Key topics include:

  • Police accountability and qualified immunity

  • Housing and educational equity

  • Civil liberties in the digital age

Administrative & Regulatory Law

We investigate how federal and state agencies exercise power, and how legal frameworks can improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability in governance.

Key topics include:

  • Rulemaking and regulatory oversight

  • The administrative state and judicial deference

  • Impact assessments and regulatory equity

Legislative Drafting & Policy Analysis

We provide legal insight on the design, drafting, and interpretation of legislation. Our work supports lawmakers, analysts, and civic organizations aiming to craft effective and legally sound policy.

Key topics include:

  • Statutory interpretation and reform

  • Preemption and state–federal conflicts

  • Drafting toolkits for equitable policymaking

Technology, Law & Society

We study how emerging technologies, from artificial intelligence to biometric surveillance, are challenging existing legal frameworks and prompting new governance models.

Key topics include:

  • Data privacy and surveillance law

  • AI regulation and algorithmic bias

  • Tech accountability and public interest design

International Law & Outer Space Governance

We explore how the expansion of national space programs and private-sector actors is testing the limits of existing international treaties and customary space laws. This area focuses on creating governance frameworks that promote peaceful, sustainable, and cooperative use of outer space.

Key topics include:

  • Interpretation and evolution of the Outer Space Treaty

  • International cooperation and dispute resolution in space activities

  • Norms for responsible behavior in orbit and beyond

  • Legal status of celestial bodies and resource extraction

  • Global frameworks for space traffic management

Commercial Launch Regulation & Liability Frameworks

We investigate the legal responsibilities of governments and private companies in the context of commercial spaceflight. As the industry shifts toward privatized launch systems, our research addresses how to build fair, risk-aware, and innovation-friendly regulatory environments.

Key topics include:

  • Licensing regimes for private launch and re-entry

  • National versus international liability for launch failures

  • Risk-sharing and insurance in commercial space operations

  • Cross-border compliance for multinational space firms

  • Launch site governance and environmental considerations

Space-Based Data Governance & Security

We examine how the rise of satellite technologies and orbital infrastructure is reshaping legal frameworks around data ownership, surveillance, and national security. As the global space industry expands, so do the legal and ethical questions surrounding the collection, use, and protection of space-derived information.

Key topics include:

  • Legal jurisdiction over satellite-collected data

  • International frameworks for space-based climate and environmental monitoring

  • Dual-use technologies and civilian-military legal boundaries

  • Cybersecurity protocols for orbital data infrastructure

  • Data sovereignty and equitable access to satellite networkds

Research Outputs

  • Policy Briefs & Reports: Timely, accessible papers offering legal context and actionable recommendations.

  • Legal Commentaries: Insightful analysis of current legal controversies and court decisions.

  • Amicus Briefs: Expert legal opinions submitted in key constitutional and civil rights cases.

  • Academic Papers: Peer-reviewed research advancing legal scholarship in policy-relevant areas.

Collaborative Initiatives

Our research is often conducted in partnership with:​

  • Law schools and academic institutions

  • Civil society organizations

  • Governmental bodies and agencies

  • International legal and policy networks