The rule of lenity, requires ambiguous criminal laws be interpreted in favor of the defendants subjected to them. It is a centuries-old protection, but overcriminalization has eroded the rule, thus making its formal codification necessary.
Criminal Justice
For Every Woman Who Locks Her Car Twice
There is a common thread connecting women everywhere. Whether you’re a young professional walking to the subway after work—headphones in, keys clenched between your fingers—or a mother finishing a Target run, buckling your toddler into a car seat while scanning the parking lot, there is a shared experience beneath it all. A quiet but constant...
May 21, 2026