Law Commons^™

Statutory Interpretation In The Courtroom, The Classroom, And Canadian Legal Literature, Stephen F. Ross

Journal Articles

In recent years, judges and scholars in Canada and the United States are devoting more attention to the theory and techniques involved in statutory interpretation. Although some advocate "foundational" theories to answer all theories of interpretation, most difficult cases require a pragmatic approach that requires analysis of the statutory text, original legislative intent, and legislative purpose in light of modern circumstances. Moreover, the most difficult cases may not be answerable by any of these approaches. In difficult cases, judges often resort to "normative canons" - rules they created to further a jurisprudence they desire. These canons need to be closely …

The Good Samaritan And Admiralty: A Parable Of A Statute Lost At Sea, Patrick J. Long

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Shall - Take No. 2, Debra R. Cohen

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Is This Appropriate?, Thomas L. Shaffer, Julia B. Meister

Journal Articles

The word "appropriate" is so wildly overused in American culture that, as with other vacuous words and phrases, a person learns to read right through it. "Appropriate" is verbal tofu. This Essay pauses instead of reading through, particularly to notice the instances in which "appropriate" and its negative counterpart are used to give the appearance of a moral or legal judgment.

"Appropriate," chosen to express a legal judgment, is not only vacuous; it is also irresponsible. It catches the legislator, judge, or administrator in the act of passing the buck, as the President did when he ordered the Justice Department …

Corrections Day, John Copeland Nagle

Journal Articles

In July 1995, the House of Representatives established a Corrections Day procedure for fixing statutory mistakes. This article traces the history of the corrections day idea, beginning with suggestions offered by Justices Cardozo and Ginsburg many years apart. The article also recounts the early applications of Correction Day by the House. This article describes the problem of statutory mistakes: what they are, and who makes them. It explains that statutory mistakes do exist, regardless of how one defines mistake. Congress, agencies, and the courts all make mistakes, though the responsibility for them ultimately resides with Congress, the author of the …

The Limited Relevance Of Plain Meaning, Stephen F. Ross

Journal Articles

In this essay, the author takes the position that linguists' principal expertise - ascertaining how language is used by ordinary speakers of English - is often of little value in interpreting controversial non-criminal federal statutes. Although linguistic techniques might still aid in understanding their meaning, the author's thesis is that extrinsic evidence that is known and accessible to this small sub-community - such as legislative history, established norms of construction, and other evidence about the context in which the legislation arose - is more likely than linguistic analysis to help an outside judge shed light on what Congress meant and …

The Modern Parol Evidence Rule And Its Implications For New Textualist Statutory Interpretation, Stephen F. Ross, Daniel Trannen

Journal Articles

Part I of this article focuses on the history of parol evidence in contract interpretation, describing both Williston's and Corbin's definition and application of the parol evidence rule. With the adoption of the UCC and the Second Restatement, we suggest that Corbin's position-that expansion of admissibility of parol evidence will more accurately reflect the drafters' manifest intentions and minimize the judge's personal biases-has been accepted by experts and legislators alike. In Part II, we summarize the use of legislative history in statutory interpretation, focusing on the rise of the New Textualism and its critique of the use of legislative history …

Shaping Today's Forfeiture Law: A Conversation With Senator Mcclellan, G. Robert Blakey

Journal Articles

In any society, the government's ability to interfere with life, liberty or property is always open for full discussion. In this conversation, Professor Blakey discusses property in the context of organized and white-collar crime, in addition to criminal forfeiture, and frames his discussion around his work with Senator John McClellan on drafting the Organized Crime Control Act.

Where Have You Gone, Karl Llewellyn - Should Congress Turn Its Lonely Eyes To You, Stephen F. Ross

Journal Articles

The purpose of this paper is to explore what, if anything, Congress should do about the canons of statutory construction to prevent judges who are more conservative (or perhaps, in a future era, more progressive) than the majority of the legislature from employing those canons to distort or frustrate legislative policy preferences.

Banning Broadcasting – A Transatlantic Perspective, Geoffrey Bennett, Russel L. Weaver

Journal Articles

The British Government's decision to prohibit radio and television networks from airing interviews or statements by members of certain Northern Ireland organizations, or by allies and sympathizers of such organizations (the Broadcasting Ban or Ban) is analyzed in context. From an analysis of the Ban, some conclusions are drawn about the nature of judicial review.

Reaganist Realism Comes To Detriot, Stephen F. Ross

Journal Articles

Part I of this article discusses Detroit Newspapers and explains how in deferring to the Attorney General's interpretation of the Newspaper Preservation Act, Judge Silberman disregarded every applicable technique of statutory interpretation typically used to resolve the issue. Indeed, each of these techniques suggests that Attorney General Meese's interpretation of the Act was incorrect. This part of the article also demonstrates why deference to Meese was particularly inappropriate in light of the generally accepted justifications for judicial deference to administrative interpretations of statutes.

Part II explains that Detroit Newspapers is one of several opinions by conservative Reagan judicial appointees that …

Legislative Enforcement Of Equal Protection, Stephen F. Ross

Journal Articles

This Article explores the legislative role in enforcing the constitutional guarantee to equal protection. Part I describes the underenforcement principle that explains the restrictive judicial exercise of authority in constitutional matters. The Article then focuses on Congress' role in examining issues relating to the constitutional guarantee of equal protection that the courts have chosen to underenforce. Part II analyzes relevant constitutional provisions that may empower or limit congressional actions. Part III considers ways in which Congress can address state violations of equal protection through directives to the judiciary and through the legislative process. Part IV details how both federal and …

Corrections: A Tale Of Two Bills, Tex Dutile

Journal Articles

This response critiques two bills regarding federal sentencing reform recently debated in Congress, the Sentencing Act of 1983 and the Sentencing Improvement Act. The Author explains the features of the two bills and its benefits but ultimately argues that despite its ability to provide needed reform, it will not correct the archaic, inhumane corrections system that would still remain. He proposes that, in addition to sentencing reform, the corrections system needs to be reformed and calls for newly funded programs to help rehabilitate criminals.

Comments On Powell V. Mccormick, Charles E. Rice

Journal Articles

Powell v. McCormack is an unfortunate decision, principally because the Supreme Court should never have exercised its jurisdiction over the case. The ruling, however, is chiefly open to criticism, not because it is demonstrably contrary to established rules of law, but because it runs counter to those less clearly articulated, and essentially precatory, admonitions of judicial restraint which are implicit in the separation of governmental powers. The crucial point is not the jurisdiction of the subject matter, the Speech or Debate Clause, the issue of mootness raised by Justice Stewart in dissent or the substantive merits of Adam Clayton Powell's …

Introduction, Joseph O'Meara

Journal Articles

A symposium was held on February 29, 1964, devoted to the constitutional amendments proposed by the Council of State Governments. Very briefly these amendments would (1) vest power to amend the Constitution in State legislatures; (2) set up a "Court of the Union," composed of the chief justice of the supreme court of each of the 50 states, which would have authority to review "any judgment of the Supreme Court relating to the rights reserved to the states or to the people by this Constitution"; (3) take from the federal courts all jurisdiction over the apportionment of representation in State …

Congressional Committee Reports: Their Role And History, Thomas F. Broden

Journal Articles

Most lawyers have an extremely limited understanding of the function of a congressional committee report. In general, lawyers think of such reports as aids to the interpretation of statutes on the books and much has been written about this role of the committee report. This role is considered by many as the committee report's primary, if not its only, function. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is the purpose of this article to explain its other, more important roles, those in the legislative process and to examine the historical development of the use of written committee reports in …

The Advent Of The Administrative Process And Its Future, Thomas Frank Konop

Journal Articles

Every government exercises three governmental powers E that are necessary for its existence. They are Taxation, Police Power, and the Power of Eminent Domain. Every government, however crude, or whatever we may call it, must have the power first to make the law, which is called the legislative power; second, it must have the power to declare what the law is, which is the judicial power; and third, it must have the power to enforce the law and this is called the executive power.

In the very early governments such as the government of the clan or tribe, these three …

Liberty And The Police Power, Clarence Emmett Manion

Journal Articles

The American citizen now has practically no rights of person or property that neither Congress nor the State legislature may not impair by legislation. The adoption of the Articles of Confederation and the Federal Constitution served merely to transfer to the Federal government certain powers formerly exercised by the individual States. When all individuals were protected in the exercise of their respective rights it was never supposed that the rights of the individual were to be protected or approached through the avenues of legislation dictated by majority opinions as to what is now and again for the "general good". The …

Congress And The Supreme Court (Continued), Thomas Frank Konop

Journal Articles

In 1924, Plank Five of the Platform of the Independent candidate for President proposed a constitutional amendment that would enable Congress to override judicial review by reenacting a statute. Such an amendment would, of course, run in stark contrast to Chief Justice Marshall’s opinion in Marbury v. Madison. This paper explores nature of this proposed amendment and analyzes the implications of overturning the foundation of judicial power in our tripartite system of government. In sum, the author suggests that judicial review serves as an excellent check on Congress and the temporary passions of the public itself.

Congress And The Supreme Court, Thomas Frank Konop

Journal Articles

In 1924, Plank Five of the Platform of the Independent candidate for President proposed a constitutional amendment that would enable Congress to override judicial review by reenacting a statute. Such an amendment would, of course, run in stark contrast to Chief Justice Marshall’s opinion in Marbury v. Madison. This paper explores nature of this proposed amendment and analyzes the implications of overturning the foundation of judicial power in our tripartite system of government. In sum, the author suggests that judicial review serves as an excellent check on Congress and the temporary passions of the public itself.

Constitutional Law - War Powers Of Congress (Validity Of Conscription Act), Francis Joseph Vurpillat

Journal Articles

This paper was read before The Round Table of South Bend, Indiana, and before the classes in constitutional law prior to the rendition of the decision by the United States Supreme Court, sustaining the Conscription Act. The paper is here presented in its original form, by request, on account of its controversial character and legal-brief style, the subject-matter of constitutional law and war powers being ever new to students of the law.