Bill Ong Hing, 2/10/12

Professor of Law, University of San Francisco

The striking down of California's Proposition 8 attempt to take away marital rights from same-sex couples sends a strong immigration-reform message to Congress: it's time to allow U.S. citizens lawfully married to same-sex partners the opportunity to apply for lawful immigrant status.

Mike Lux, 2/9/12

Co-founder and CEO, Progressive Strategies

We'll win some but we'll lose some, and some of the time we will do both at the same time. That is the story of the robo-signing settlement that has finally become a done deal after many long months of struggle over it.

Martin Long, 2/9/12

Entrepreneur and political scientist

There is a great deal of fodder for criticism in Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour's recent mass pardons -- but not a lot of discussion on his Christian rehabilitation justification.

Dennis M. Kelleher, 2/9/12

President and CEO, Better Markets, Inc.

The banks engaged in a years' long pattern of what can only be described as fraudulent if not criminal conduct that would put anyone else in prison for years if not decades, yet banks get to buy off the cops with some money to help just a few of the victims they created.

Yves Smith, 2/9/12

Creator of Naked Capitalism; Author, Econned: How Unenlightened Self Interest Undermined Democracy and Corrupted Capitalism

This settlement is yet another demonstration of who wields power in America, and it isn't you and me. It's bad enough to see these negotiations come to their predictable, sorry outcome. It adds insult to injury to see some try to depict it as a win for long suffering, still abused homeowners.

Daniel Grant, 2/9/12

Arts Writer

No one can be forced to change his or her name because someone else has trademarked it. "Paul McCartney couldn't stop people who are named Paul McCartney and sing from using his name... [but] you couldn't perform under the name The Beatles."

Menachem Rosensaft, 2/9/12

Professor of law and son of Holocaust survivors

It remains to be seen whether Zitelman and others at Save a Torah who kept their heads in the sand long after evidence of Youlus' fraudulent scheme had become incontrovertible will ever offer a public apology for their role in this abomination.

Ediberto Roman, 2/9/12

Professor of Law, Florida International University

This great state's history demonstrates that if we allow immigrants and their children to prosper, as the Cuban community has amply shown, all of us benefit economically. It is past time to end any discrimination against any United States citizen.

Andrea Lyon, 2/9/12

Author, attorney and professor of law, DePaul University

A recent study by former Yale Law School Professor Donohue has shown that the death penalty is given in Connecticut far more based on race and location of the victim than any other factor.

Gretchen Burns Bergman and Neill Franklin, 2/9/12

We are working to change current drug policies from arrest and mass incarceration to therapeutic and restorative policies that will reduce the damage to our communities while improving public safety.

Tony Newman, 2/9/12

Director of Media Relations, Drug Policy Alliance

In September Commissioner Kelly ordered his police to stop making improper marijuana arrests. The 2011 statistics, however, show that his order has not stopped these arrests -- and NYC remains the marijuana arrest capital of the world.

Ana Beatriz Cholo, 2/9/12

Autism mom, former journalist, Navy vet turned flack

When I put myself in Josh Powell's shoes, they don't fit. He said he couldn't live without his two young sons. Fine. Why couldn't he have just killed himself then?

Marc Mauer, 2/8/12

Executive director, The Sentencing Project

It's hardly a secret that the relationship between African American communities and law enforcement has been fraught with conflict. From the old days of station-house beatings to get a confession to today's "stop and frisk" practices, an awful lot of mistrust has been engendered.

Radley Balko, 2/8/12

Senior Writer and Investigative Reporter, The Huffington Post

How can we be facing an epidemic of overdose deaths wrought by too many prescriptions for painkillers and, at the same time, be facing a public health crisis of undertreated pain?

Julie Stewart, 2/8/12

President, Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM)

Members of Congress who believe offenders should be punished for their conduct and not the color of their skin should take heed.

Annette Fuentes, 2/8/12

Journalist; Author, 'Lockdown High: When the School House Becomes a Jailhouse'

Policing in Chicago's schools arguably diminishes the quality of life, and more to the point, the educations of thousands of kids who get on the wrong side of the law.

Dr. Gregory Jantz, Ph.D., 2/8/12

Social Commentator & Psychologist

Hindsight, they say, is 20-20. I can imagine the second-guessing and shattering waves of if-only experienced by the caring, competent people surrounding both of these cases.