The Situation in Los Angeles and the U.S. Military: Legal and Policy Implications

Over the past several days, the Trump administration has taken increasingly drastic steps in response to protest activity and unrest in Los Angeles — including federalizing 4,000 National Guard troops and sending hundreds of Marines, against the objections of California’s state and local leadership.
As events unfold on the ground in LA, and in the lead-up to further anticipated protests this weekend, Just Security and the Reiss Center on Law and Security hosted a YouTube Live event to examine the pressing legal and policy issues at stake.
Notes:
• Watch the full June 12th, 2025 event on YouTube, here (youtube.com/live/M24S3Rcgon0?feature=share).
• Elizabeth Goitein (justsecurity.org/author/goiteinelizabeth): Senior Director, Liberty & National Security Program, Brennan Center for Justice
• Mary B. McCord (justsecurity.org/author/mccordmary): Visiting Professor of Law and Executive Director, Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, Georgetown Law; Member, Board of Directors, Just Security
• Steve Vladeck (justsecurity.org/author/vladecksteve): Agnes Williams Sesquicentennial Professor of Federal Courts, Georgetown Law; Executive Editor, Just Security
• Ryan Goodman (justsecurity.org/author/goodmanryan): Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Professor of Law and Faculty Co-Director, Reiss Center on Law and Security, NYU School of Law; Founding Co-Editor-in-Chief, Just Security
• Just Security’sCivilian-Military Relations (justsecurity.org/tag/civilian-military-relations) coverage.
• Just Security’sDomestic Deployment of the U.S. Military (justsecurity.org/tag/domestic-deployment-of-u-…) coverage.
• Just Security’s Law Enforcement (justsecurity.org/tag/law-enforcement) archives.