Letter from the Editor, Volume XVI, Issue II

Dear Readers,

Thank you for your interest in The Criminal Law Practitioner. This Summer 2026 Issue marks the second and final in the 16th Volume of our publication. This journey has been one characterized by academic and professional curiosity, cross-discipline collaboration, and collective creativity. As always, I want to give a big shout out to our entire staff, especially my predecessor Davis Hayman. Their hours of tireless dedication has made this experience rewarding and fulfilling for everyone on our Editorial Board, and I believe this commitment is reflected in the intriguing articles.

First, “California’s Racial Justice Act” analyzes the application of California’s Racial Justice Act to law enforcement throughout a criminal proceedings. This piece argues that while California’s Racial Justice Act is based on admirable goals, it falls short of achieving those goals and goes on to suggest certain amendments that could enable the Act to better achieve the legislature’s goals.

Second, in “Artificial Crimes, Real Consequences: Rethinking Federal Power in the Age of AI and Internet-Based Crime” Washington College of Law’s own Leyla Izquierdo, argues for the application of the Categorical Approach more consistently because both the internet and AI systems are interstate by design. Izquierdo focuses her analysis on the Wire Fraud Act, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and federal money laundering statutes.

These pieces each reflect their others’ unique and novel approach to criminal legal scholarship, as each explore niche areas of criminal legal practice. The Summer 2026 of the 16th Volume of our publication represents months of collaborative work between the Criminal Law Practitioner, its staff, and the faculty and staff of American University Washington College of Law. This semester has truly been a collaborative process and one full of love and dedication to criminal law scholarship. I’d like to thank each member of this process for their dedication. I hope this issue and these two incredible pieces serve as catalysts for meaningful, cutting-edge discussion on the novel issues that are facing our practice area. I hope this piece communicates the dedication, passion, and care that went in to getting it in your hands. As always, please contact us at clp@wcl.american.edu if you have any comments or questions.

Very Respectfully,

Isabel V. Capecci

Editor-in-Chief