Jurisprudence Commons^™

Balancing Commerce, History, And Geography: Defining The Navigable Waters Of The United States, John F. Baughman

Michigan Law Review

This Note develops a simple set of principles useful for defining navigable waters in a contemporary context. Part I considers why federal admiralty jurisdiction exists, and traces the evolution of the phrase navigable waters as a term of art. Part II analyzes the conflicting contemporary definitions of navigable waters. Part III resolves the conflict by proposing guidelines that address the major concerns of all competing definitions. The system advocated is consistent with the goals of admiralty, constitutionally sound, easy to apply, and focuses attention on the nexus test to resolve the issue of whether particular cases "belong" in admiralty.

Case Digest, Journal Staff

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Case Digest

1. ACT OF STATE ACT OF STATE DOCTRINE APPLIES TO INFORMAL ACTIONS OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS IF THE GOVERNMENTAL AGENT ACTS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS AUTHORITY

2. ADMIRALTY SIGNIFICANT--RELATIONSHIP-TO-MARITIME-ACTIVITY TEST USED TO DETERMINE ADMIRALTY TORT JURISDICTION

3. ALIEN'S RIGHTS REGULATIONS EXCLUDING RESIDENT ALIENS FROM EMPLOYMENT IN FEDERAL COMPETITIVE CIVIL SERVICE VIOLATE DUE PROCESS CLAUSE OF FIFTH AMENDMENT

4. AVIATION MENTAL DISTRESS ATTACHES TO AN AIR CARRIER'S STRICT LIABILITY FOR BODILY INJURY UNDER THE WARSAW CONVENTION

5. IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION CONGRESS MAY GRANT CITIZENSHIP TO FOREIGN-BORN CHILDREN OF CITIZEN FATHERS, WHILE DENYING SAME TO OFFSPRING OF CITIZEN MOTHERS

6. …