Law Commons^™

Preemption And Theories Of Federalism, Robert R. M. Verchick, Nina A. Mendelson

Book Chapters

American government is an experiment in redundancy, with powers and duties shared among federal, state, and local decision makers. The arrange­ment is designed to divide power, maximize self-rule, and foster innovation, but it also can breed confusion. In the areas of public safety and environ­mental protection, state and federal leaders (to name the two most active players in these disputes) are often seen jockeying for the inside track, hoping to secure the resources or authority needed to promote their views of the public good or gain politically. To outside observers, the best outcomes are not obvious. For example, should the …

State Government—The Arkansas Freedom Of Information Act—Public Or Private Record: A Simple Distinction Threatens The Future Of Open Government In Arkansas, Pulaski County V. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc., 371 Ark. 214, 264 S.W.3d 465 (Ark. Oct. 4, 2007)., Geoffrey D. Neal

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review

No abstract provided.

Tuck-It-Away Associates, L.P. V. Empire State Development Corp., Kelly D. Fisher

NYLS Law Review

No abstract provided.

Pretextual Takings: Of Private Developers, Local Governments, And Impermissible Favoritism, Daniel B. Kelly

Journal Articles

Since Kelo v. City of New London, the preferred litigation strategy for challenging a condemnation that benefits a private party is to allege that the taking is pretextual. This Article contends that, although pretextual takings are socially undesirable, the current judicial test for identifying such takings is problematic. Yet an alternative, intent-based test might be impracticable, as well as underinclusive: condemnors often have mixed motives, particularly when confronted with a firm's credible threat to relocate. Instead, the Article develops a framework that emphasizes informational differences between local governments and private developers. When the government lacks information regarding the optimal site …

The History Of The New York City Law Department: Fighting For The City By William E. Nelson, Ross Sandler

Articles & Chapters

No abstract provided.

The Proxy Advisory & Corporate Governance Industry: The Case For Increased Oversight And Control, Tamara C. Belinfanti

Articles & Chapters

The proxy advisory and corporate governance industry plays a significant role in shareholder voting and in the formulation of corporate governance policy. The industry operates with relatively little accountability and virtually free from regulatory oversight. Understanding the relationship between this industry and mutual funds, who in the aggregate are the largest owners of publicly traded shares in the United States, is critical to understanding issues of shareholder rights, the meaning of the right to vote in corporate elections, and the role that institutional investors, like mutual funds, play in the corporate landscape.

Mutual funds exercise their substantial voting power by …

Bargaining Around Bankruptcy: Small Business Workouts And State Law, Edward R. Morrison

Faculty Scholarship

Federal bankruptcy law is rarely used by distressed small businesses. For every 100 that suspend operations, at most 20 file for bankruptcy. The rest use state law procedures to liquidate or reorganize. This paper documents the importance of these procedures and the conditions under which they are chosen using firm-level data on Chicago-area small businesses. I show that business owners bargain with senior lenders over the resolution of financial distress. Federal bankruptcy law is invoked only when bargaining fails. This tends to occur when there is more than one senior lender or when the debtor has defaulted on senior debt …

Systemic Classism, Systemic Racism: Are Social And Racial Justice Achievable In The United States?, Thomas Kleven

Thomas Kleven

This paper argues that the United States is systemically a highly classist and racist society, that systemic classism and racism are intimately interrelated phenomena, and that reforming this situation requires a mass movement of working class people of all ethnicities for social and racial justice for all. Section II discusses aspects of American society infected by systemic classism and racism. The focus is on the economic system, the local governmental structure, and the political process – central and interrelated features of society’s class and racial hierarchies. The thesis is that these institutions are structured and operate so as to systematically …

2009 Planetizen Blog Posts, Michael Lewyn

Michael E Lewyn

Systemic Classism, Systemic Racism: Are Social And Racial Justice Achievable In The United States?, Thomas Kleven

Thomas Kleven

This paper argues that the United States is systemically a highly classist and racist society, that systemic classism and racism are intimately interrelated phenomena, and that reforming this situation requires a mass movement of working class people of all ethnicities for social and racial justice for all. Section II discusses aspects of American society infected by systemic classism and racism. The focus is on the economic system, the local governmental structure, and the political process – central and interrelated features of society’s class and racial hierarchies. The thesis is that these institutions are structured and operate so as to systematically …

Do Markets Work Better Than Legal Restraints? A Response To Clayton Gillette's "Fiscal Home Rule", Paul Diller

Paul Diller

No abstract provided.

The Modern Battle Of Suffrage: The Dual Residents Right To Enfranchisement, Suketa K. Brahmbhatt

Suketa K Brahmbhatt

Restriction on second home, vacation homeowners, in special elections. The paper begins with a general overview about voting restrictions such as, prisoners, nursing home residents, and college students. First, the paper discusses the legal reasoning States have provided for restricting prisoners from voting. In addition, this section will discuss the limits on the meaning of “resident,” primarily nursing home residents. This section concludes by discussing how College students are allowed to vote and the policy reasons behind it. The next section lays out the restrictions on second homeowners (vacation homeowners) ability to vote in special elections. The rest of this …

Constituting Vanuatu: Societal, Legal And Local Perspectives,, Benedict Sheehy, Jackson Maogoto

Benedict Sheehy

Governance in Vanuatu has been a source of concern for Australia as it forms part of Australia’s ‘Arc of Instability.’ Vanuatu has adopted a modified Westminster system as that system is often advocated as the model for constitutions and governance around the world. In various former colonies local populations were expected to simply absorb its liberal democratic principles apparently on some assumption that such principles were an innate part of human nature. Most readings of history would come to a different conclusion. Vanuatu illustrates this error and the complexities of a society that not only creates a broad challenge for …

Politeia And Arete. Archeology Of Senses And Hellenic Legacy, Paulo Ferreira Da Cunha

Paulo Ferreira da Cunha

The idea of the Republic and its value is again the order of the day, not only due to Neorepublican theorists, but also because of many current debates, such as multiculturalism, the laicity of states and societies, transparency and corruption, etc. Along with Republican constitutional rules, principles and values, some proclaimed during the French Revolution (such as Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité), the debate shows the importance of an even deeper question: the importance of virtues, and the Greek legacy of Republican virtues. In this paper, among other points, we remember Pericles’ funereal speech in Thucydides’ History of Peloponnesian War, and some …

Hermenêutica Constitucional Entre Savigny E O Neoconstitucionalismo, Paulo Ferreira Da Cunha

Paulo Ferreira da Cunha

Apontar para os novos rumos jurisfilóficos mas também práticos do Neoconstitucionalismo contrastando as suas aportações hermenêuticas com o legado de Savigny nesta matéria.

Neoconstitucionalismo: De Espectro A Realidade, Paulo Ferreira Da Cunha

Paulo Ferreira da Cunha

Prefácio da obra "Neoconstituionalismo", chamando a atenção para o papel desta nova perspectiva, novo paradigma da juridicidade, chamado a reforçar a centralidade do Direito Constitucional no mundo jurídico, e a desempenhar um papel de relevo no plano hermenêutico e da superação (?) de algumas querelas jurisfilosóficas.

Ripe Standing Vines And The Jurisprudential Tasting Of Matured Legal Wines – And Law & Bananas: Property And Public Choice In The Permitting Process, Donald J. Kochan

Donald J. Kochan

From produce to wine, we only consume things when they are ready. The courts are no different. That concept of “readiness” is how courts address cases and controversies as well. Justiciability doctrines, particularly ripeness, have a particularly important role in takings challenges to permitting decisions. The courts largely hold that a single permit denial does not give them enough information to evaluate whether the denial is in violation of law. As a result of this jurisprudential reality, regulators with discretion have an incentive to use their power to extract rents from those that need their permission. Non-justiciability of permit denials …

The Status And Evolution Of Laws And Policies Regulating Privately Owned Tigers In The United States, Philip J. Nyhus, Michael Ambrogi, Caitlin Dufraine, Alan Shoemaker, Ronald L. Tilson

Philip J. Nyhus

No abstract provided.