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Full-Text Articles in Law

Determining The Retroactive Effect Of Laws Altering The Consequences Of Criminal Convictions, Nancy Morawetz Jan 2003

Determining The Retroactive Effect Of Laws Altering The Consequences Of Criminal Convictions, Nancy Morawetz

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Article explores when laws altering the consequences of conviction can retroactively apply. It traces the roots of the current emphasis on plea agreements to the current confusion about how to determine retroactivity in cases involving quasi-economic transactions and those involving wrongful conduct. Using I.N.S. v. St. Cyr, 533 U.S. 298 (2001), it focuses on the open issue of the date against which new legal consequences are measured. Finally, the Article argues that reliance is an improper indicia of retroactivity for laws governing wrongful conduct and that the proper question is whether the offender had fair notice of the degree …


Abusing State Power Or Controlling Risk?: Sex Offender Commitment And Sicherungverwahrung, Nora V. Demleitner Jan 2003

Abusing State Power Or Controlling Risk?: Sex Offender Commitment And Sicherungverwahrung, Nora V. Demleitner

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This article addresses civil commitment of sexually predatory offenders. It first outlines the most common American approaches to controlling sexual offenders, then details the German concept of Sicherungsverwahrung and greater state control, and finally proposes adopting a modified German approach that assures proportionality and public safety without sacrificing individual liberties. The article concludes by arguing that criminal penalties and safety-based detention should both be seen as elements of social control, which requires that safety measures with clearly punitive components be recognized as part of the punishment process.


Ethical Deception By Prosecutors, Rebecca B. Cross Jan 2003

Ethical Deception By Prosecutors, Rebecca B. Cross

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Comment discusses the Colorado Supreme Court's suspension of Assistant District Attorney Mark Pautler for deceitful conduct in securing the surrender of an axe murderer on a killing spree. Although many thought Pautler's conduct was morally acceptable, disciplinary authorities found that he violated ethical rules governing attorney conduct. Using People v. Pautler as a case study, this Comment sorts through relevant, current interpretations of the ethnics rule and proposes an approach for future analysis.


From Household Bathrooms To The Workplace: Bringing The Americans With Disabilities Act Back To Where It Belongs: An Analysis Of Toyota Motor Manufacturing V. Williams, Argun M. Ulgen Jan 2003

From Household Bathrooms To The Workplace: Bringing The Americans With Disabilities Act Back To Where It Belongs: An Analysis Of Toyota Motor Manufacturing V. Williams, Argun M. Ulgen

Fordham Urban Law Journal

The purpose of this Comment is to analyze how the Supreme Court's treatment of the ADA in Toyota Motor Manufacturing deviated from the economic goals that Congress targeted when it passed the ADA, and argue that plaintiffs such as Ella Williams are exactly whom Congress had in mind when enacting the ADA. In accordance with Congress's intent under Title I of the ADA, "to provide clear, strong, consistent, and enforcable standards addressing discrimination against individuals," this Comment then attempts to establish a clearer, more formal definition of disability, centered on Congress's remedial economic purposes in enacting the ADA. Part I …


Old Whine In A New Battle: Pragmatic Approaches To Balancing The Twenty-First Amendment, The Dormant Commerce Clause, And The Direct Shipping Of Wine , Gordon Eng Jan 2003

Old Whine In A New Battle: Pragmatic Approaches To Balancing The Twenty-First Amendment, The Dormant Commerce Clause, And The Direct Shipping Of Wine , Gordon Eng

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Note examines the tension between the Twenty-First Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Dormant Commerce Clause, with respect to state regulations governing of out-of-state direct shipment of wine to consumers. The Constitution is not clear about where the boundaries of the Commerce Clause lie when Congress has not explicitly addressed an issue. This Note first recognizes the importance of history with respect to the Twenty-First Amendment. It further examines recent court decisions, identifying four approaches taken by federal courts to address this issue and the distinguishing factors that influence the courts' final holdings. Finally, this Note offers …


Religious Values, Legal Ethics, And Poverty Law: A Response To Thomas Shaffer, Stephen Wizner Jan 2003

Religious Values, Legal Ethics, And Poverty Law: A Response To Thomas Shaffer, Stephen Wizner

Fordham Urban Law Journal

Stephen Wizner provides a response to Thomas Shaffer's article on his pursuit of social justice through using religious figures as role models. Wizner argues that Shaffer is clearly right in asserting that there is much in the prophetic literature, and, indeed, in the entire Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, that could serve as a moral impetus for social justice lawyering. One can find considerable support for Shaffer's religious thesis in the texts that he cites, and in the words of the prophets he looks to as role models. Nevertheless, Wizner presents a skeptical response to Professor Shaffer's thoughtful essay. …


Picture Perfect: A Critical Analysis Of The Debate On The 2002 Help America Vote Act, Gabrielle B. Ruda Jan 2003

Picture Perfect: A Critical Analysis Of The Debate On The 2002 Help America Vote Act, Gabrielle B. Ruda

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Comment examines whether the Anti-Fraud provision provides a fair scheme for the identification process during voter registration, or if it inherently violates certain fundamental rights and freedoms of American citizens who wish to cast their ballot. This Comment conducts a historical assessment of the institution of voting, examines the standard of review used by courts to determine whether a law violates a citizen's constitutional right to vote and analyzes whether the Anti-Fraud provision is the appropriate means required to achieve its stated objective of decreasing voter fraud. This Comment argues that discriminatory infringements on voting rights need to be …


Addressing Urban Transportation Equity In The United States , Robert D. Bullard Jan 2003

Addressing Urban Transportation Equity In The United States , Robert D. Bullard

Fordham Urban Law Journal

Transportation touches almost every aspect of our lives and plays a pivotal role in shaping human interactions, economic mobility, and sustainability. Transportation provides access to opportunity and serves as a key component in addressing poverty, unemployment, and equal opportunity goals. This article examines the inequity that exists in the United States when it comes to transit, as the benefits from transportation advancements and investments are not distributed equally among communities, making transportation equity an issue of civil rights and social justice. This article frames transportation issues as a continuation of the civil rights movement and the wrestling with differential treatment …


An Effective Drug Policy To Protect America's Youth And Communities, Asa Hutchinson Jan 2003

An Effective Drug Policy To Protect America's Youth And Communities, Asa Hutchinson

Fordham Urban Law Journal

Drug abuse and addiction, and the government's response to these problems, are frequently and appropriately a topic for public debate. Law enforcement has made significant advances in both reducing the number of people using illegal drugs and in the fight against traffickers. Legalization of illegal drugs would not elinate the black market or eliminate drug-related violence. The facts on the issue make a strong case for a national policy geared toward effective drug abuse education and prevention, and treatment for people dependent on illegal drugs. Our nation should also continue to conduct research to determine the most effective means of …


Snapshots: Holistice Images Of Female Offenders In The Criminal Justice System, Jennifer Ward Jan 2003

Snapshots: Holistice Images Of Female Offenders In The Criminal Justice System, Jennifer Ward

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Essay attempts to pull together the various threads of thought regarding the relationships between gender, race, and class within the justice system, and suggests possible patterns that could be used to create holistic images of female offenders. Part I provides a brief overview of the various explanations used over time to account for criminal behavior by women. Part II details the ways in which gender can affect the processes of the criminal justice system. Part III discusses the impact that race can have on the female offender's experience in the system. Part IV briefly overviews the types of influences …


Theorizing Community Justice Through Community Courts, Jeffrey Fagan, Victoria Malkin Jan 2003

Theorizing Community Justice Through Community Courts, Jeffrey Fagan, Victoria Malkin

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This article reports on research conducted on the Red Hook Community Justice Center in Brooklyn, New York. It theorizes the structure and process of community justice, focusing on the model offered by community courts and examining how the Red Hook Community Justice Center's development and implementation are products of its immersion in the intersection of societal, spatial, and political dynamic within the Red Hook neighborhood. The article begins by reviewing the sociological perspectives that converge in the historical development of "community justice." It continues by setting forth a framework of social regulation and control that shapes the internal workings of …


Due Process And Problem Solving Courts, Eric Lane Jan 2003

Due Process And Problem Solving Courts, Eric Lane

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This article addresses the model of the problem-solving courts, beginning with the 1989 Dade County, Florida drug court and the role of the pro-active problem solving judge as presented by Judge Lederman of the Dade County drug court. The article reviews the role of the pro-active problem-solving judge in light of the defendants due process rights. After reviewing several case studies, transcripts, and literature on the issue, the article concludes that problem-solving judging and lawyering need not be in conflict with due process standards.


Just The (Unweildy, Hard To Gether, But Nonetheless Essential) Facts, Ma'am: What We Know And Don't Know About Problem-Solving Courts, Greg Berman, Anne Gulick Jan 2003

Just The (Unweildy, Hard To Gether, But Nonetheless Essential) Facts, Ma'am: What We Know And Don't Know About Problem-Solving Courts, Greg Berman, Anne Gulick

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This article asses what is known and what remains to be understood about problem-solving courts. Specifically, the article asserts that drug courts serve a needy population, court mandated treatment programs have higher retention rates, those who participate longer have better outcomes, those in drug courts had lower rates of recidivism, drug use, and that graduated sanctions have statistically significant impact on offenders behavior, sanctions are crucial to the model's effectiveness, post-program studies are sparse, drug courts are less costly than traditional adjudication, but cost savings for jail and prison beds are less clear. The article also addresses questions that remain …


The Fordham Urban Law Journal: A New Millennium, Constantine N. Katsoris Jan 2003

The Fordham Urban Law Journal: A New Millennium, Constantine N. Katsoris

Fordham Urban Law Journal

A general overview of the journal's progress and publications.


Expanding Latino Participation In The Legal Profession: Strategies For Increasing Latino Law School Enrollments, William Malpica, Mauricio A. España Jan 2003

Expanding Latino Participation In The Legal Profession: Strategies For Increasing Latino Law School Enrollments, William Malpica, Mauricio A. España

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Essay explores how Latinos have faired in the law school admissions process -- a hurdle that the group has yet to overcome -- and evaluates current efforts to bolster Latino enrollment. It examines the underlying conditions that contribute to low Latino enrollment in law schools by revealing the primary obstacles to Latino admission: the limited pool of eligible Latino college graduates and current law school admissions policies that emphasize Law School Admission Test scores and grade point averages. This Essay review a sampling of responses to low Latino law school enrollment and concludes that the most effective strategies for …


Starting Over With A Clean Slate: In Praise Of A Forgotten Section Of The Model Penal Code, Margaret Colgate Love Jan 2003

Starting Over With A Clean Slate: In Praise Of A Forgotten Section Of The Model Penal Code, Margaret Colgate Love

Fordham Urban Law Journal

Convicted felons have no realistic hope of full reintegration into society when jurisdictions do not provide for eventual removal of collateral penalties and when relief mechanisms are insufficient or ineffective. Because Americans are uncomfortable with such an unforgiving system and states are considering the economic burdens of such a system, jurisdictions should take steps to limit the scope and duration of these collateral consequences. This Article proposes a legal framework aimed to fully reintegrate an offender into society post incarceration. It urges a return to the reforms of the 1960s and 70s, the ABA Standards on Collateral Sanctions, and Section …


The International Significance Of An Instance Of Urban Environmental Inequity In Tijauna, Mexico , Tseming Yang Jan 2003

The International Significance Of An Instance Of Urban Environmental Inequity In Tijauna, Mexico , Tseming Yang

Fordham Urban Law Journal

Environmental equity problems are not exclusive to any one nation. With a lack of regulations, communities of color and poor, and the prevalence of social marginalization, issues of environmental inequality may occur even more vividly in countries with this climate. In Tijuana, Mexico, Metales y Derivados, an abandoned lead smelter, left its surrounding community, Colonia Cilpancingo, with a litany of health related issues and a hunt for justice from its failure to act with appropriate environmental stewardship. Having gained attention in the international news and exposing a failure of regulatory policies and transnational exploitation, Metales is an example of the …


Healthy Children, Healthy Communities: Schools, Parks, Recreation, And Sustainable Regional Planning, Robert Garcia, Erica S. Flores, Sophia Mei-Ling Jan 2003

Healthy Children, Healthy Communities: Schools, Parks, Recreation, And Sustainable Regional Planning, Robert Garcia, Erica S. Flores, Sophia Mei-Ling

Fordham Urban Law Journal

Obesity and inactivity have become a troubling crisis for today’s youth. Low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately affected by these conditions, due to a denial of the benefits of safe open spaces for physical activity and opportunities to be active. The article describes the epidemic of obesity and unfitness in the United States and the statistics associated with inactivity, as well as the health impacts associated with being overweight and obese and the importance of physical activity. Along with the health implications, the trend in obesity is primed to carry huge direct and indirect financial costs. This health …


It Takes A Region , Angela Glover Blackwell Jan 2003

It Takes A Region , Angela Glover Blackwell

Fordham Urban Law Journal

Suburbanization and sprawl present new issues and challenges of regional inequity and equal opportunity. As awareness of the effects of the impacts of uneven and unhealthy development patterns grow, the debate for dealing with the fallout of sprawl is being taken up and policy agenda is emerging to address smart growth. With the emergence of the region rather than the city as the dominant economic and social geographic unit and key policy changes, the article propounds that the mistakes of the past fifty years can be reversed and regional equity achieved. The article makes it clear that life changes are …


Campaign For Fiscal Equity, Inc. V. New York: No Slam Dunk Victory For Public School Children, Denise C. Morgan Jan 2003

Campaign For Fiscal Equity, Inc. V. New York: No Slam Dunk Victory For Public School Children, Denise C. Morgan

Fordham Urban Law Journal

Having been involved in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, Inc. v New York case over the course of ten years, Denise C. Morgan has an intimate view of the victories and losses resulting in the Court of Appeals decision. In the article, the wins and losses of the case are discussed as she sees it, and how the victory on the state level came with a loss on the federal one. The article describes the CFE case and its two claims: the victory that the promised to make the distribution of state aid for public education to New York City …


Clarifying The Federal Fair Housing Act’S Exemption For Reasonable Occupancy Restrictions, Tim Iglesias Jan 2003

Clarifying The Federal Fair Housing Act’S Exemption For Reasonable Occupancy Restrictions, Tim Iglesias

Fordham Urban Law Journal

The 1988 Fair Housing Act Amendments (FHAA) for “reasonable” governmental occupancy standards contains a deceptively simple “exemption” that has been the subject of interpretation by numerous courts. This article argues that this “exemption” has been misinterpreted by these courts, particularly by the Sixth Circuit in Affordable Housing Advocates v. City of Richmond Heights. The article describes how this misinterpretation undercuts the protection from housing discrimination that the FHAA provides for families, especially families of color. The article details the FHAA’s familial status provision and “reasonable” standard exemption, and goes on to “analyze relevant case law and the legislative history to …


Edison Schools And The Privatization Of K-12 Public Education: A Legal And Policy Analysis, Lewis D. Solomon Jan 2003

Edison Schools And The Privatization Of K-12 Public Education: A Legal And Policy Analysis, Lewis D. Solomon

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Article examines the private takeover of the management of K-12 publicly funded schools. It focuses on one particular educational management organization, Edison Schools. This Article examines the situation in Philadelphia's public schools and the efforts of a local school reform commission to revitalize K-12 education. It goes on to look into the personalities of those who started and today run Edison Schools, analyze Edison Schools financial position, and discuss the structured educational approach Edison Schools uses in it schools. This Article addresses the policy considerations behind the efforts to privatize public schools. It concludes that while Edison Schools does …


The Impact Of 9/11 And Its Aftermath On Substance Use And Psychological Functioning: An Overview, Patrick B. Johnson, Linda Richter Jan 2003

The Impact Of 9/11 And Its Aftermath On Substance Use And Psychological Functioning: An Overview, Patrick B. Johnson, Linda Richter

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Essay provides a brief summary and evaluation of findings on the mental health and substance abuse consequences of the events of 9/11 throughout the nation and in United States' cities. It also presents new data obtained from clients who entered substance abuse treatment in New York and other cities either before 9/11 or during a six-month period following the events. This Essay discusses how best to interpret these varying research findings. It concludes that crisis produces many responses and most people just coped with 9/11 in their individual ways.


Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Terrorists: An In-Depth Analysis Of The Government's Right To Classify United States Citizens Suspected Of Terrorism As Enemy Combatants And Try Those Enemy Combatants By Military Comission, Amanda Schaffer Jan 2003

Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Terrorists: An In-Depth Analysis Of The Government's Right To Classify United States Citizens Suspected Of Terrorism As Enemy Combatants And Try Those Enemy Combatants By Military Comission, Amanda Schaffer

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Comment explores the government's right to treat citizens as enemy combatants and whether their trials should be by military commissions or by the non-military criminal justice system. It gives background information and explains the source of the government's right to determine enemy combatant status and to use military commissions. This Comment also describes the distinctions between a military trial and a regular criminal trial and explains the status of two cases regarding American citizens declared to be enemy combatants. The Comment goes on to explain why the government wants to use military commissions to try terrorists and the advantages …


The Usa Patriot Act: Civil Liberties, The Media, And Public Opinion, Lisa Finnegan Abdolian, Harold Takooshian Jan 2003

The Usa Patriot Act: Civil Liberties, The Media, And Public Opinion, Lisa Finnegan Abdolian, Harold Takooshian

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Essay offers an examination of the legal provision of the USA Patriot Act. It then looks at the distinct shift in U.S. media reporting on this legislation over time, and in-depth public opinion findings on people's mixed views of post-9/11 civil liberties. This Essay concludes that media coverage of events is best accompanied by tracking polls, to chart how much and why the U.S. public is coalescing or further dividing on issues of individual liberties during crisis.


From Equity To Adequacy: The Legal Battle For Increased State Funding Of Poor School Districts In New York, Brian J. Nickerson, Gernard M. Deenihan Jan 2003

From Equity To Adequacy: The Legal Battle For Increased State Funding Of Poor School Districts In New York, Brian J. Nickerson, Gernard M. Deenihan

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Article evaluates the influence of federal courts' school finance cases on the New York school finance groups' decision to litigate in the New York courts. It then analyzes the importance of other states' legal precedents in school finance cases as a factor influencing interest groups in New York to challenge the state's public education funding formulas. This Article discusses the progression of public elementary and secondary school funding formula litigation in New York, focusing on the legal arguments raised by various interest group-plaintiffs and tracing the development of those arguments to school finance cases in other states. The conclusion …


Statutory Limitations On Civil Rights Of People With Criminal Records, Debbie A. Mukamal, Paul N. Samuels Jan 2003

Statutory Limitations On Civil Rights Of People With Criminal Records, Debbie A. Mukamal, Paul N. Samuels

Fordham Urban Law Journal

State and federal statutory restrictions limit the civil rights of individuals with criminal records and create a barrier to reentry into society. The article explores eight specific areas of restriction: (1) ability to obtain employment, (2) eligibility for public housing, (3) eligibility for public assistance and food stamps, (4) eligibility for student loans, (5) access to records for non-criminal justice purposes, (6) voting rights, (7) drivers' licenses privileges, and (8) rights to be foster and adoptive parents. Finally, the article argues that the government has an obligation ensure fairness and opportunities to reenter society for people with such records.


Barred From The Vote: Public Attitudes Toward The Disenfranchisement Of Felons, Brian Pinaire, Milton Heumann, Laura Bilotta Jan 2003

Barred From The Vote: Public Attitudes Toward The Disenfranchisement Of Felons, Brian Pinaire, Milton Heumann, Laura Bilotta

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This article explores public attitudes toward the disenfranchisement of felons. Using survey research methods -- Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing of 503 randomly selected adults -- the authors posed questions related to the purpose of the criminal justice system, public attitudes about treatment and punishment of felons, and public support for the disenfranchisement of felons. The data is aggregated and sorted based on ethnicity, gender, political affiliation, and education. The data demonstrates that the American public does not support permanent disenfranchisement of convicted felons but that it does support some limitations. The authors first review state laws and legal/political issues implicated, …


Reciprocal Effects Of Crime And Incarceration In New York City Neighborhoods, Jeffrey Fagan, Valerie West, Jan Holland Jan 2003

Reciprocal Effects Of Crime And Incarceration In New York City Neighborhoods, Jeffrey Fagan, Valerie West, Jan Holland

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This Article identifies and estimates the ecological dynamics of increasing spatial and social concentration of incarcerated individuals in urban neighborhoods using data from New York City between 1985 and 1997. It argues that this dynamic becomes self-sustaining and reinforcing over time. In conclusion, the Article discusses how high incarceration rates impact the relationships between citizens and the law, directly affecting residents and influencing policy preferences of non-residents.


La Bodega De La Familia: Supporting Parolees' Reintegration Within A Family Context, Jeanne Flavin, David Rosenthal Jan 2003

La Bodega De La Familia: Supporting Parolees' Reintegration Within A Family Context, Jeanne Flavin, David Rosenthal

Fordham Urban Law Journal

This essay discusses how Family Justice and La Bodega de la Familia respond to the diverse challenges of reintegration post incarceration. It also discusses the benefits of a model of judicial supervision that recognizes individuals' social locations within their families and communities. With the goal of producing more effective and humane prisoner reintegration, especially in the context of drug offenses, the Authors recommend family case management. They additionally encourage parole and criminal justice practice to shift its focus from the individual parolee to families and their strengths.