Laura Abelson
lauragabelson.bsky.social
Laura Abelson
@lauragabelson.bsky.social
Assistant Professor at SMU Dedman School of Law; Former Quattrone Fellow and federal public defender, researching, writing, and teaching about crim/crim pro/evidence
Pinned
Thanks to @ssrn.bsky.social for highlighting my article, out in the Virginia Law Review. I examine existing doctrine to provide a framework for thinking about emerging technology and the Fourth Amendment. I love that it came from a student question: Does probable cause always mean the same thing?
This article argues that the #USSupremeCourt implicitly considers the level of intrusion into #privacy or #liberty when assessing probable cause, but this "hidden intrusion doctrine" remains unstated & ambiguous.

Read: spkl.io/63329AdmVz
Subscribe: spkl.io/63326AdmVr
Reposted by Laura Abelson
Abelson on Intrusion and the Fourth Amendment

Laura Ginsberg Abelson (Southern Methodist University - Dedman School of Law) has posted The Fourth Amendment's Hidden Intrusion Doctrine (111 Va. L. Rev. 1255 (2025)) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: The Fourth Amendment’s concept of probable cause is…
Abelson on Intrusion and the Fourth Amendment
Laura Ginsberg Abelson (Southern Methodist University - Dedman School of Law) has posted The Fourth Amendment's Hidden Intrusion Doctrine (111 Va. L. Rev. 1255 (2025)) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: The Fourth Amendment’s concept of probable cause is the linchpin of legal standards governing law enforcement actions such as arrests, searches, and seizures. This article challenges the assumption that the same quantum of evidence can meet the probable cause standard regardless of whether law enforcement seek to conduct a search, to seize evidence, or to make an arrest, and regardless of the intrusiveness of such search or seizure.
legaltheoryblog.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Thanks to @ssrn.bsky.social for highlighting my article, out in the Virginia Law Review. I examine existing doctrine to provide a framework for thinking about emerging technology and the Fourth Amendment. I love that it came from a student question: Does probable cause always mean the same thing?
This article argues that the #USSupremeCourt implicitly considers the level of intrusion into #privacy or #liberty when assessing probable cause, but this "hidden intrusion doctrine" remains unstated & ambiguous.

Read: spkl.io/63329AdmVz
Subscribe: spkl.io/63326AdmVr
November 25, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Important and timely work by @ahochmanbloom.bsky.social
I've posted a draft essay, titled "The Emerging Firearms Hypocrisy of Terry," which is forthcoming in @stanlrev.bsky.social. It discusses this summer's decision in U.S. v. Wilson and problematic privileging of 2A rights in 4A analysis. Comments are welcome!
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
October 3, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Reposted by Laura Abelson
What does it take to defend the whole person—not just the case?

Join us at #QC25 to learn how public defenders and advocates use the holistic defense model to serve clients. Moderated by QC Research Fellows @lauragabelson.bsky.social & @ethanlowens.bsky.social.

web.cvent.com/event/5fadd5...
May 11, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Last week I had the chance to present new research examining how the criminal justice system treats family members who are charged as co-defendants. Thanks to QC and PBI, and to all of the participants for their thoughtful comments and fascinating, cutting-edge research on the plea system.
Big thanks to Lucian Dervan and all of our friends at the Plea Bargaining Institute for excellent presentations and discussions at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School on Friday!
April 7, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Reposted by Laura Abelson
The Journal of Constitutional Law Symposium at @upenn.edu was a huge success! We want to thank all of our attendees and speakers, specifically our Research Fellows @ethanlowens.bsky.social and @lauragabelson.bsky.social, for joining us. Read our newsroom piece to learn more: bit.ly/41Gyo9g
March 6, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Some exciting news on my end:
Big news: QC Research Fellow Laura Abelson will be joining the faculty at SMU Law School in the fall. A former public defender, Abelson's research focused on unstated assumptions on decision-makers in the criminal justice system.
February 27, 2025 at 6:30 PM