Don’t Name Laws After People — Including Aaron Swartz

January 17th, 2013

Ted Frank’s Law states: “My rule of thumb is a strong presumption that any law named after a victim is poor public policy enacted by legislators who confuse voting against a law with voting against an innocent person.”

I invoke Ted Frank’s Law with respect to proposals to name a law amending the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act after Aaaron Swartz. Even though I would agree with this law–especially a law that chips away at an overbroad statute that empowers aggressive prosecutors–I remain steadfast in opposing naming laws after deceased people.

See my previous coverage of Ted Frank’s Law herehereherehereherehere, and here.