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Clara Spera

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Clara Spera is a 3L at Harvard Law School. She previously worked as a national security research intern at the Brookings Institution. She graduated with an M.Phil from the University of Cambridge in 2014, and with a B.A. from the University of Chicago in 2012.

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Appointments, Confirmations & Budgets

Neil Gorsuch on National Security Law

Helen Klein Murillo, Yishai Schwartz, Clara Spera   Wed, Feb 1, 2017, 2:51 PM

Last night, President Trump nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals to fill the ninth seat on the Supreme Court. We have mined Judge Gorsuch’s opinions in the areas likely of interest to Lawfare’s readers — immigration, separation of powers, the Fourth Amendment, administrative law, international law, and foreign affairs.

Case Coverage: Al Nashiri Case

This Week at the Military Commissions, 12/14 Session: We Actually Read Those Books About CIA Interrogations

Clara Spera   Sun, Dec 18, 2016, 11:33 AM

This morning’s proceedings in the Nashiri case begin with standard procedural discussions, including noting that the accused waived his right to be present at that morning’s commission hearing. Military judge Air Force Colonel Vance Spath, allows the government to question the relevant Assistant Staff Judge Advocate to ensure that Nashiri was made aware of his right to attend the hearing and properly gave his informed consent to waive his presence.

Case Coverage: Al-Iraqi Case

This Week at the Military Commissions, 11/15 Session: We’re Asking the Questions Now, Judge

Clara Spera   Fri, Nov 18, 2016, 10:53 AM

On Tuesday, the case of U.S. v. Abd al Hadi al-Iraqi was called back to session but, this time, not with the usual players. Colonel Peter S. Rubin of the USMC replaced Captain Waits as the military judge presiding over the commission. Because of this shake-up, which was not explained during the course of the hearing, Colonel Rubin opened the floor for voir dire. The trial counsel had no immediate questions for the judge, but the defense counsel, led by Brent Rushforth, spent the first morning session questioning the judge.

Domestic Terrorism

Senate to Vote on Proposed Gun Control Measures Today

Clara Spera   Mon, Jun 20, 2016, 9:30 AM

Today, the Senate will vote on proposed gun control legislation. While it is unclear if Senate Democrats will be able to garner enough support from Republican colleagues to pass any of the Democrat-backed proposals—which are being presented as amendments to the Commerce, Justice and Science appropriations bill, which was already on the floor—here, we offer a round-up of the various proposals.

I. Preventing the Sale of Guns to Suspected Terrorists