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A Hobson's Choice: Ensuring Open Government Or Conserving Government Funds, Michele L. Mekel Jan 2001

A Hobson's Choice: Ensuring Open Government Or Conserving Government Funds, Michele L. Mekel

Michele L Mekel

Part and Parcel of American democracy is the notion that governmental functions should be carried out in a manner that is open to public scrutiny and accessible to the people. Capturing this belief, sunshine laws and freedom of information statutes requiring public access to government meetings and records began to emerge as early as 1898. Following the 1966 passage of the Federal Freedom of Information Act, states that lacked such provisions adopted open records and open meetings laws. Currently all 50 states and the District of Columbia have statutory provisions that allow public access to official records and meetings. Nevertheless, …

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Public Trust & Distrust: Theoretical Implications Of The Public Trust Doctrine For Natural Resource Management, Erin Ryan Jan 2001

Public Trust & Distrust: Theoretical Implications Of The Public Trust Doctrine For Natural Resource Management, Erin Ryan

Erin Ryan

This essay reviews the theoretical underpinnings of the public trust doctrine, received at common law and constitutionalized in many states, and explores its contentious reception by green legal theorists. Since Professor Joseph Sax's revival of the ancient common law doctrine as a vehicle for environmental advocacy in the early 1970s, it has been hailed by many environmentalists as the most powerful tool available for protecting natural resource commons. At the same time, however, it has been attacked by others who argue that use of the property rights-based doctrine reifies an ownership approach to natural resources and obstructs the development of …

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The Digests Of Pennsylvania, Joel Fishman Jan 1998

The Digests Of Pennsylvania, Joel Fishman

Joel Fishman

Pennsylvania has one of the largest collections of case law for which digests serve as an important research tool.

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History Of The Court Reporter In The Appellate Courts Of Pennsylvania, Joel Fishman Jan 1997

History Of The Court Reporter In The Appellate Courts Of Pennsylvania, Joel Fishman

Joel Fishman

Court reporters collect and publish the opinions of courts. In Pennsylvania, there have been court reporters in the appellate courts since the first set of court reports published in the eighteeth century down to the third quarter of the twentieth century. This article reviews the legislation and controversies surrounding the court reporters.

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Rising Temperatures: Rising Tides, Prof. Elizabeth Burleson Jan 1996

Rising Temperatures: Rising Tides, Prof. Elizabeth Burleson

Prof. Elizabeth Burleson

Transboundary environmental problems do not distinguish between political boundaries. Global warming is expected to cause thermal expansion of water and melt glaciers. Both are predicted to lead to a rise in sea level. We must enlarge our paradigms to encompass a global reality and reliance upon global participation.

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The Reports Of The Supreme Court Of Pennsylvania, Joel Fishman Jan 1995

The Reports Of The Supreme Court Of Pennsylvania, Joel Fishman

Joel Fishman

This article reviews the history of the court reports of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court from mid-eighteenth century to present along with a bibliography of the reports.

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The History Of Statutory Compilations In Pennsylvania, Joel Fishman Jan 1994