Rethinking The “Religious-Question” Doctrine,
2015
Pepperdine University
Rethinking The “Religious-Question” Doctrine, Christopher C. Lund
Pepperdine Law Review
The “religious question” doctrine is a well-known and commonly accepted notion about the First Amendment’s Religion Clauses. The general idea is that, in our system of separated church and state, courts do not decide religious questions. And from this premise, many things flow — including the idea that courts must dismiss otherwise justiciable controversies when they would require courts to resolve religious questions. Yet a vexing thought arises. The religious-question doctrine traditionally comes out of a notion that secular courts cannot resolve metaphysical or theological issues. But when one looks at the cases that courts have been dismissing pursuant to …
Response: Situating Ourselves In History,
2015
Pepperdine University
Response: Situating Ourselves In History, Steven D. Smith
Pepperdine Law Review
The author presents his views on history of religious freedom incorporated in his Brandeis lecture and in the book "The Rise and Decline of American Religious Freedom." Topics discussed include hegemonic status of special protection to religious freedom for legal academics, role of ending religious freedom in providing protection to religious actors under other constitutional provisions like free speech, and impact of ending religious freedom on other freedom like freedom of association.
The End Of Religious Freedom: What Is At Stake?,
2015
Pepperdine University
The End Of Religious Freedom: What Is At Stake?, Nelson Tebbe
Pepperdine Law Review
In recent work, Steven Smith argues that the American tradition of religious freedom is newly imperiled and may even be nearing exhaustion. This Review puts to one side the substance of that argument and focuses instead on what the stakes might be, should it turn out to be correct. It concludes that the consequences would not be as severe as many people fear.
Theorists, Get Over Yourselves: A Response To Steven D. Smith,
2015
Pepperdine University
Theorists, Get Over Yourselves: A Response To Steven D. Smith, Andrew Koppelman
Pepperdine Law Review
In this article, the author presents his views in response to the article The Last Chapter? by critic of contemporary liberal theory Steven D. Smith in reference to his book "Defending American Religious Neutrality." Topics discussed include the political aspects associated with religious freedom, role of secularism in eroding religious freedom, and conflicts between religion and modern secular egalitarianism.
More “Vitiating Paradoxes”: A Response To Steven D. Smith,
2015
Pepperdine University
More “Vitiating Paradoxes”: A Response To Steven D. Smith, Paul Horwitz
Pepperdine Law Review
In this article, the author presents his views in response to the article The Last Chapter? by critic Steven D. Smith. Topics discussed include importance of critical legal studies (CLS) theory in reflecting political aspects of religious freedom, views of Smith in his book "The Rise and Decline of American Religious Freedom," and the relationship of egalitarianism with religious freedom.
The Last Chapter?,
2015
Pepperdine University
The Last Chapter?, Steven D. Smith
Pepperdine Law Review
An essay is presented in which the author presents contrasting views of law professors at Stanford and Harvard University, Michael McConnell and Noah Feldman respectively on religious freedom. Topics discussed include requirement of special protection to religious freedom, protection of religious belief and expression under other constitutional provisions such as freedom of speech, and the failure of Obama Administration in providing special freedom of association to religious associations.
Old Habits Die Hard: Past And Current Issues With Eugenics And Forcible Sterilizations In California,
2015
California Western School of Law
Old Habits Die Hard: Past And Current Issues With Eugenics And Forcible Sterilizations In California, Stephanie Lauren Borrowdale
Stephanie Lauren Borrowdale
While other states have been able to successfully move past their history with eugenics by acknowledging and redressing the harm caused, the issue of forcible sterilizations lingers in California. As the California legislature dealt with a new breed of eugenic policies that emerged in the state penal system, is enough being done to address California’s reliance on forcible sterilizations? This Comment addresses California’s history with forcible sterilization practices and the current issues with sterilization procedures in the California penal system, as well as what measures California has taken to remedy these issues.
Democracy Enhancement And The Sixth Amendment Right To Choose,
2015
University of Cincinnati College of Law
Democracy Enhancement And The Sixth Amendment Right To Choose, Janet Moore
Janet Moore
A democracy deficit undermines the legitimacy of criminal justice systems. People enmeshed in these systems are disproportionately poor people and people of color with little voice in creating or implementing the governing law. A stark example is the Sixth Amendment right to choose a lawyer. This understudied and undertheorized right is protected for criminal defendants who can afford to hire counsel. Yet according to Supreme Court dicta and rulings by other courts across the country, poor people “have no right to choose” their lawyers. This Article argues that the Sixth Amendment right to choose should apply to the overwhelming majority …
Wynne: It's Not About Double Taxation,
2015
University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
Wynne: It's Not About Double Taxation, Michael S. Knoll, Ruth Mason
All Faculty Scholarship
This Article discusses Wynne v. Comptroller, a dormant Commerce Clause case against Maryland pending before the Supreme Court. We use economic analysis to rebut Maryland’s claim that its tax regime does not discriminate against interstate commerce. We also argue that the parties’ framing of the central issue in the case as whether the Constitution requires states to relieve double taxation draws focus away from the discrimination question, and therefore could undermine the Wynnes’ case and lead to unjustified narrowing of the dormant Commerce Clause. We also show how our approach to tax discrimination resolves many of the issues that …
The Rhetoric Of Constitutional Absolutism,
2015
William & Mary Law School
The Rhetoric Of Constitutional Absolutism, Eric Berger
William & Mary Law Review
Though constitutional doctrine is famously unpredictable, Supreme Court Justices often imbue their constitutional opinions with a sense of inevitability. Rather than concede that evidence is sometimes equivocal, Justices insist with great certainty that they have divined the correct answer. This Article examines this rhetoric of constitutional absolutism and its place in our broader popular constitutional discourse. After considering examples of the Justices’ rhetorical performances, this Article explores strategic, institutional, and psychological explanations for the phenomenon. It then turns to the rhetoric’s implications, weighing its costs and benefits. This Article ultimately argues that the costs outweigh the benefits and proposes a …
Criminal Innovation And The Warrant Requirement: Reconsidering The Rights-Police Efficiency Trade-Off,
2015
William & Mary Law School
Criminal Innovation And The Warrant Requirement: Reconsidering The Rights-Police Efficiency Trade-Off, Tonja Jacobi, Jonah Kind
William & Mary Law Review
It is routinely assumed that there is a trade-off between police efficiency and the warrant requirement. But existing analysis ignores the interaction between law-enforcement investigative practices and criminal innovation. Narrowing the definition of a search or otherwise limiting the requirement for a warrant gives criminals greater incentive to innovate to avoid detection. With limited resources to develop countermeasures, law enforcement officers will often be just as effective at capturing criminals when facing higher Fourth Amendment hurdles. We provide a game-theoretic model that shows that when law-enforcement investigation and criminal innovation are considered in a dynamic context, the police efficiency rationale …
February 13, 2015: Why Does Isis Have Any Support?,
2015
Duquesne University
February 13, 2015: Why Does Isis Have Any Support?, Bruce Ledewitz
Hallowed Secularism
Blog post, “Why Does ISIS Have Any Support?“ discusses politics, theology and the law in relation to religion and public life in the democratic United States of America.
Book Review: Nuclear Weapons And Law. Ed. Arthur Selwyn Miller And Martin Feinrider. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1984.,
2015
University of Georgia School of Law
Book Review: Nuclear Weapons And Law. Ed. Arthur Selwyn Miller And Martin Feinrider. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1984., Dorinda G. Dallmeyer
Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law
No abstract provided.
Regan V. Wald, The Supreme Court Defers To Presidential Authority In Matters Of Foreign Policy By Upholding Travel Restrictions To Cuba,
2015
University of Georgia School of Law
Regan V. Wald, The Supreme Court Defers To Presidential Authority In Matters Of Foreign Policy By Upholding Travel Restrictions To Cuba, Thomas M. Mashburn
Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law
No abstract provided.
Free Speech And Speaker's Intent: A Reply To Kendrick.,
2015
University of San Diego
Free Speech And Speaker's Intent: A Reply To Kendrick., Larry Alexander
Faculty Scholarship
No abstract provided.
Full Faith And Conflict Of Law: The Peculiar Legacy Of Legal Federalism,
2015
University of Delaware
Full Faith And Conflict Of Law: The Peculiar Legacy Of Legal Federalism, Sheldon D. Pollack
Sheldon D Pollack
The new constitution crafted by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was a major improvement over its predecessor (the ill-fated Articles of Confederation), especially in concentrating greater political authority at the center of the confederation, it imposed a flawed constitutional structure on the new regime based on the same untenable proposition that undermined the national government of the Confederacy—namely, that it was possible to preserve the states as separate “sovereign” political organizations within the political union. In adopting a federal constitutional structure for the new republic (as opposed to a “consolidated” or “unitary” government), the Founders institutionalized a …
Chevron'S Legacy, Justice Scalia's Two Enigmatic Dissents, And His Return To The Fold In City Of Arlington, Tex. V. Fcc,
2015
The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
Chevron'S Legacy, Justice Scalia's Two Enigmatic Dissents, And His Return To The Fold In City Of Arlington, Tex. V. Fcc, Stephen J. Leacock
Catholic University Law Review
The creation by the judiciary of the doctrine of Chevron deference to administrative agencies’ determinations, followed by the judiciary’s application and supervision of the Chevron deference doctrine in Administrative Law continue. Protection by the judiciary of the evolution of the doctrine also continues as an integral component of the judiciary’s contribution to the central objective of the three coequal branches of government to achieve for the United States a more perfect union. However, synergistic cooperation between the three branches in order to achieve that central objective requires that each branch honor its own constitutional obligation under the United States Constitution …
Following Fisher: Narrowly Tailoring Affirmative Action,
2015
The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
Following Fisher: Narrowly Tailoring Affirmative Action, Eang L. Ngov
Catholic University Law Review
Affirmative action has been at the forefront of educational policies and to this day continues to enliven debates. For decades, schools have litigated over whether affirmative action can be used to create a diverse student body. Now, the litigation has shifted to whether affirmative action policies are narrowly tailored. The Supreme Court’s most recent affirmative action case, Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, requires that schools prove that there are no workable race neutral alternatives in order to demonstrate that their affirmative action programs are narrowly tailored. This article examines the available race neutral alternatives: percentage plans; socioeconomic …
Carrying The Second Amendment Outside Of The Home: A Critique Of The Third Circuit's Decision In Drake V. Filko,
2015
The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
Carrying The Second Amendment Outside Of The Home: A Critique Of The Third Circuit's Decision In Drake V. Filko, Ryan Notarangelo
Catholic University Law Review
In D.C. v. Heller, the Supreme Court of the United States held that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s inherent right to keep and bear arms for self-defense-most notably, inside the home. Post-Heller, the lower courts are split on the Second Amendment’s protections outside of the home. This Note addresses the Third Circuit’s opinion on that split. In Drake v. Filko, the Third Circuit addressed whether New Jersey’s concealed carry permit law, which requires an individual to demonstrate a “justifiable need” to carry a handgun outside of the home, violated the Second Amendment. The plaintiffs were …
The Catholic Law School & Constitutional Self-Government,
2015
The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
The Catholic Law School & Constitutional Self-Government, The Honorable Diarmuid F. O'Scannlain
Catholic University Law Review
Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain serves as a Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. This talk was delivered at the Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America on September 15, 2014 for the 2014 Brendan F. Brown Lecture and has been adapted and updated for this article format.
