Welcoming and introducing Andrew Ironside, MLP&R’s new “California stringer”

I am pleased and quite fortunate to now be able to introduce officially in this space Andrew Ironside, a former student of mine at The Ohio State University Moritz College.  Andrew has a journalism background and a range of public policy experiences along with his law degree, and he just now  happens to be based in Southern California.  I was able to utilize some of my (always-too-meager) research funds to hire Andrew part-time for the rest of this year to serve as a legal writer/researcher/commentator for this blog. 

I am hopeful that Andrew can and will add a distinctive “blog-voice” in this space, as well as provide on-the-scene, on-the-ground perspectives on a range of marijuana reform issues now playing out in California.  (This is why I have taken to describing Andrew as MLP&R’s new “California stringer.”)  I asked Andrew to facilitate his introduction in this space with a mini-auto-bio:

Since graduating from undergrad in 2006, I’ve gained political and policy experience at Media Matters for America (researcher/writer), Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus (legislative clinic), and Innovation Ohio (policy intern).  I graduated from Moritz in 2013, and since then I’ve been researching and writing on criminal justice and civil and voting rights.  I live in Los Angeles, where I hope to continue working and writing on criminal justice/drug policy reform in the future.

Helpfully, in addition to having relevant professional experiences, Andrew also has blogging experience through his creation of, and years of blogging at, the Civil Rights Law & Policy Blog.  Here are some links to several blog posts from that blog that highlight his eclectic coverage and talents:

Felon disenfranchisement, political power, and the First Amendment right to vote

Today in Civil Rights History: Inaugural National Women’s Rights Convention in Worcester, MA

Paralyzed Denver inmate says keeping him locked up serves no purpose

Messaging programs promising anonymity might not be as secure as you think

Teens talk about ACLU suit over school drug test policy

California NAACP calls marijuana legalization initiative a civil rights issue 

This last linked post above highlights that Andrew and I are not alone when (sometimes? often?) looking at marijuana reform issues through the lens of civil rights.  And I am excited that Andrew via periodic posts will be bringing that lens and many others when sharing his perspectives in this space in the months to come.