March 2, 2009

Walter Olson, Point of Law's editor and host, requests that I introduce myself.

With some trepidation, here goes:

According to my official bio, as The Heritage Foundation's Senior Legal Policy Analyst, I study "overcriminalization"--the practice of turning minor civil offenses into serious criminal acts--as well as "constitutional law; national security, civil liberties and privacy issues; domestic intelligence operations; the legal aspects of economic regulation; and tort law."

Yes, that's a rather broad purview. Perhaps it makes more sense if you agree, as I do, with the contention that "A lawyer can provide adequate representation in a wholly novel field through necessary study." Study is, after all, how I spend my days. That, and writing.

My posting here will primarily focus on criminal law and overcriminalization, with some posts on civil justice issues as time allows. I also comment, from time to time, on other topics on Heritage's Foundry blog, the Technology Liberation Front, and my own (somewhat spartan) personal site.

Thanks again to Walter Olson, for the invitation to contribute to a website that I have long admired and relied upon.