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Full-Text Articles in Law

The Fourteenth Amendment Reconsidered, The Segregation Question, Alfred H. Kelly Jun 1956

The Fourteenth Amendment Reconsidered, The Segregation Question, Alfred H. Kelly

Michigan Law Review

Some sixty years ago in Plessy v. Ferguson the Supreme Court of the United States adopted the now celebrated "separate but equal" doctrine as a constitutional guidepost for state segregation statutes. Justice Brown's opinion declared that state statutes imposing racial segregation did not violate the Fourteenth Amendment, provided only that the statute in question guaranteed equal facilities for the two races. Brown's argument rested on a historical theory of the intent, although he offered no evidence to support it. "The object of the amendment," he said, "was undoubtedly to enforce the absolute equality of the two races before the law, …


Constitutional Law - Equal Protection - Legality Of Plans For Maintaining School Segregation, John B. Huck Jun 1956

Constitutional Law - Equal Protection - Legality Of Plans For Maintaining School Segregation, John B. Huck

Michigan Law Review

On May 19, 1954, the Supreme Court of the United States declared that segregation in public schools was a denial of equal protection of the law. Since that date many and varied plans have been proposed to maintain segregated education by avoiding the impact of the decision. The legality of three of these proposed avoidance devices will be analyzed in this comment.


Labor Law - Lmra - Discrimination Discharge - Effect Of Legal Ground For Discharge Where Possible Dual Motivation Exists, Joy Tannian S.Ed. May 1956

Labor Law - Lmra - Discrimination Discharge - Effect Of Legal Ground For Discharge Where Possible Dual Motivation Exists, Joy Tannian S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Respondent discharged an employee under the terms of a union contract which provided that employees could be discharged for failure to carry out the employer's orders. It was undisputed that the employee had failed to submit required reports on at least two occasions. A complaint alleging the commission of an unfair labor practice was filed. The National Labor Relations Board found that the employee had been discharged as a :reprisal for his union activities in violation of section 8 (a)(1) of the amended National Labor Relations Act. The Board ordered reinstatement under section 10 (c) of the act. In an …


Constitutional Law-Equal Protection-Racial Restrictive Covenant In Deed Of Cemetery Lot As Defense To Damage Action, Lawrence N. Ravick Apr 1956

Constitutional Law-Equal Protection-Racial Restrictive Covenant In Deed Of Cemetery Lot As Defense To Damage Action, Lawrence N. Ravick

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff brought a damage action against a private cemetery for its refusal to permit the interment of her Indian husband in a burial lot which she had purchased from the defendant cemetery under a contract restricting burial privileges to members of the Caucasian race. Held, reliance upon a restrictive covenant to deny recovery does not constitute state action in violation of the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Federal Constitution. Rice v. Sioux City Memorial Park Cemetery, (Iowa 1953) 60 N.W. (2d) 110.


Constitutional Law - Civil Rights Acts - Civil Liability Of State Officials Acting Withing Their Discretionary Powers, Charles B. Renfrew S.Ed. Mar 1956

Constitutional Law - Civil Rights Acts - Civil Liability Of State Officials Acting Withing Their Discretionary Powers, Charles B. Renfrew S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff was adjudged mentally ill by a county probate judge and ordered committed to a state mental hospital in November 1950. The commitment was made pursuant to a petition made out by the county deputy sheriff on the recommendation of a local attorney. In August of 1952, plaintiff was released from the state mental hospital. He then filed an action in the county circuit court to test the validity of his commitment. The circuit court found that the commitment was void, because of a failure by the authorities to comply with the applicable statutory requirements, and granted a permanent injunction …


Constitutional Law - Equal Protection - Determinable Fee As Devise To Impose Racial Restrictions On Use Of Land, Charles B. Renfrew S.Ed. Mar 1956

Constitutional Law - Equal Protection - Determinable Fee As Devise To Impose Racial Restrictions On Use Of Land, Charles B. Renfrew S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Land was conveyed by deed to the Park and Recreation Commission, a municipal corporation. The grant was in the nature of a determinable fee, with the land to revert to the grantor if it was ever used by members of any race other than the white race. Members of the colored race petitioned the Park and Recreation Commission for permission to use the recreational facilities erected on the land conveyed and the commission then sought a declaratory judgment as to the legal effect of the possibility of reverter contained in the deed, joining the petitioners and the grantors of the …


Labor Law - Lmra - Duty Of Certified Union To Represent Bargaining Unit Fairly, Edward W. Powers S.Ed. Feb 1956

Labor Law - Lmra - Duty Of Certified Union To Represent Bargaining Unit Fairly, Edward W. Powers S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Local N, composed entirely of Negroes, and Local W, composed entirely of whites, and both affiliated with the same international union, had been certified by the National Labor Relations Board as the joint bargaining representatives for the bargaining unit. Subsequent to this certification, the two locals allegedly agreed between themselves that they would be represented by one bargaining committee elected by a majority vote of the unit, and that there would be but one line of seniority in any agreement negotiated by this committee. The committee which was elected consisted solely of members of Local W. It …


Constitutional Law - Due Process - State Procedure For Attacking The Composition Of Grand Juries, Robert E. Hammell Jan 1956

Constitutional Law - Due Process - State Procedure For Attacking The Composition Of Grand Juries, Robert E. Hammell

Michigan Law Review

Defendant Michel, a Negro, was indicted by a grand jury for rape on February 19, 1953. On March 2, the same day that the term of the grand jury expired, he was arraigned and counsel was appointed. One week (five judicial days) later, motion was made to quash the indictment on grounds of discrimination against Negroes in impaneling the grand jury. The trial court ruled that the objection had been waived because Louisiana law requires that it be raised within three judicial days after the expiration of the term of the grand jury. The defendant was convicted, and the Louisiana …


Constitutional Law - Interstate Commerce - Validity Of Segregation In Interstate Railway Facilities, Robert W. Steele Jan 1956

Constitutional Law - Interstate Commerce - Validity Of Segregation In Interstate Railway Facilities, Robert W. Steele

Michigan Law Review

The defendant, St. Louis and San Francisco Railway Company, maintained separate accommodations in railway coaches and terminal waiting-rooms for white and Negro passengers. Section 3 (1) of the Interstate Commerce Act makes it unlawful for a rail carrier to subject any person to any unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage. Plaintiff association joined with seventeen individual parties in filing a complaint with the Interstate Commerce Commission charging the carrier with violating the provisions of this act and in seeking an order requiring it to cease and desist from using these discriminatory practices. Held, assignment of accommodations on the basis of race …