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Full-Text Articles in Law

Affirmative Action On Law Reviews: An Empirical Study Of Its Status And Effect, Frederick Ramos Oct 1988

Affirmative Action On Law Reviews: An Empirical Study Of Its Status And Effect, Frederick Ramos

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Note discusses the issues involved in affirmative action on law reviews. Part I examines law review affirmative action admissions schemes and alternative types of affirmative action programs. Part II considers the arguments supporting and opposing the implementation of affirmative action programs by law reviews. Part III presents the results of a survey of law reviews concerning affirmative action. This Note concludes that affirmative action programs are the most effective means of increasing minority membership on law reviews, but that law reviews may increase minority membership through other methods.


The Effectiveness Of Measures To Increase Appellate Court Efficiency And Decision Output, Thomas B. Marvell, Carlisle E. Moody Apr 1988

The Effectiveness Of Measures To Increase Appellate Court Efficiency And Decision Output, Thomas B. Marvell, Carlisle E. Moody

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Article will examine the effectiveness of measures commonly employed to increase appellate court productivity. Part I of the Article sets forth some common design problems and explains how the research technique employed in the present study avoids these problems by using a multiple time-series research design. Part II applies this design to state court data. Part II also describes the dependent variable, the number of appeals decided per judge, used in the regression analysis. Part III discusses the results of that analysis-the impact of each change listed above on judicial productivity. The Article, although not advocating the adoption of …


Methodological Issues In The Content Analysis Of Pornography, Daniel Linz, Edward Donnerstein Jan 1988

Methodological Issues In The Content Analysis Of Pornography, Daniel Linz, Edward Donnerstein

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

No scientifically sound analysis of the content of pornography in the United States as a whole currently exists. Dietz and Sears's article takes us a small step closer to quantifying the contents of pornography. Some of the methods employed in the present study, however, prohibit us from making solid generalizations from the findings reported here to the nationwide pornographic marketplace. Our critique of the article will concentrate first on the methods employed in the study and then on the findings obtained through these methods and the authors' interpretation of these findings.


Pornography And Obscenity Sold In "Adult Bookstores": A Survey Of 5132 Books, Magazines, And Films In Four American Cities, Park Elliott Dietz, Alan E. Sears Jan 1988

Pornography And Obscenity Sold In "Adult Bookstores": A Survey Of 5132 Books, Magazines, And Films In Four American Cities, Park Elliott Dietz, Alan E. Sears

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

During the eighteen months that the Attorney General's Commission on Pornography (the Commission) conducted public hearings, public discussion, and staff research, one of the most common types of inquiry directed to the staff consisted of questions as to the content of pornography currently available in the United States. Critics of the Commission's work asserted that the pornography used as exhibits by witnesses at the public hearings was extreme, not commonly available, or unrepresentative of that sold in pornography retail outlets; The only pertinent, quantitative data available to the Commission appeared in a single report in the American Journal of Psychiatry …


Representation Of Children In Child Abuse And Neglect Cases: An Empirical Look At What Constitutes Effective Representation, Donald N. Duquette, Sarah H. Ramsey Jan 1987

Representation Of Children In Child Abuse And Neglect Cases: An Empirical Look At What Constitutes Effective Representation, Donald N. Duquette, Sarah H. Ramsey

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Article describes the purposes and design of our empirical study and analyzes the study's findings. Part I presents a case study of the representation of a child by a volunteer in a way that exhibits the role definition and training of the demonstration groups. Parts II and III discuss who should represent children and how those child advocates should be trained. Part IV discusses the design of the study. Part V presents an analysis of the study's findings. Finally, Part VI considers the policy implications of the study and concludes that the demonstration groups improved the quality of representation …


At-Large Elections And Vote Dilution: An Empirical Study, Richard A. Walawender Jun 1986

At-Large Elections And Vote Dilution: An Empirical Study, Richard A. Walawender

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

The 1982 amendments to the Act, however, have remained a subject of controversy. Opponents of the Act misperceive municipal at-large electoral systems, believing they provide as much minority representation as single-member district systems. This Note addresses that misperception with data showing that at large schemes provide significantly less minority representation than other schemes. The various standards used by federal courts in reviewing the constitutionality of at-large election systems are outlined in Part I. Part II sets forth an analysis of Congress's response to the judicial ambivalence toward at-large elections- the 1982 amendments to section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. …


Farmland And Open Space Preservation In Michigan: An Empirical Analysis, Sandra A. Hoffmann Jun 1986

Farmland And Open Space Preservation In Michigan: An Empirical Analysis, Sandra A. Hoffmann

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Part I of this Note describes the political and economic conditions that gave rise to the farmland and open space preservation enactments. It presents a brief political history of the support for this body of legislation and summarizes the economic arguments raised both for and against these preservation efforts. Part II describes the principal types of state farmland and open space preservation programs enacted during the past thirty years. Finally, Part III presents an empirical analysis of P.A. 116.


School Metal Detector Searches And The Fourth Amendment: An Empirical Study, Myrna G. Baskin, Laura M. Thomas Jun 1986

School Metal Detector Searches And The Fourth Amendment: An Empirical Study, Myrna G. Baskin, Laura M. Thomas

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Note is an empirical study of the weapons searches in the Detroit public schools. Part I traces the history of the Detroit public school searches describes how the searches were conducted, and explains the procedure implemented when a student was arrested or detained. Part II addresses the constitutionality of the search policy and concludes that the current sweep procedure violates the fourth amendment. Part III suggests a number of constitutional, and more effective, methods to decrease the number of weapons and the amount of violence in the Detroit high schools.


An Empirical Analysis Of The Medical And Legal Professions' Experiences And Perceptions Of Medical And Legal Malpractice, J. Douglas Peters, Steven K. Nord, R. Donald Woodson Apr 1986

An Empirical Analysis Of The Medical And Legal Professions' Experiences And Perceptions Of Medical And Legal Malpractice, J. Douglas Peters, Steven K. Nord, R. Donald Woodson

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

The purpose of this study is to describe the general perceptions of doctors and lawyers regarding medical and legal malpractice. The study does not purport to draw conclusions about the statistical significance of the presented numbers and percentages. In addition, the results presented should be interpreted in light of the methodology and response rate obtained in the survey.


Court-Annexed Arbitration, A. Leo Levin Jan 1983

Court-Annexed Arbitration, A. Leo Levin

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Court-annexed arbitration is utilized more extensively today than ever before. It commands widespread and increasing interest, not only because it serves the litigants well, but also because it offers to beleaguered courts a measure of relief from seriously overburdened dockets. This Article examines the use of court-annexed arbitration as an alternative method of dispute resolution. Part I describes how court-annexed arbitration works and the goals it is designed to achieve. Part II focuses on what the actual experience with court-annexed arbitration has been. Utilizing data from a recent empirical study on court-annexed arbitration by the Federal Judicial Center, this section …


Evaluating Michigan's Guilty But Mentally Ill Verdict: An Empirical Study, Gare A. Smith, James A. Hall Oct 1982

Evaluating Michigan's Guilty But Mentally Ill Verdict: An Empirical Study, Gare A. Smith, James A. Hall

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Because Michigan's GBMI statute has been in effect for several years, enough data exists to assess the statute's use and practical effect. The purpose of this Project is to evaluate the statute and thus provide guidance for those legislatures considering similar proposals. This Project concludes that the new verdict has completely failed in its intended purpose. Part I describes the statute's history, legislative purpose, and procedural mechanics. Part II analyzes the displacing effect of the GBMI verdict on other verdicts, and sets forth empirical data on the disparate characteristics of defendants who raise the insanity defense and are subsequently found …


Legitimacy In Social Reform Litigation: An Empirical Study, Timothy Wilton Jan 1982

Legitimacy In Social Reform Litigation: An Empirical Study, Timothy Wilton

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Article undertakes a detailed examination of a single lawsuit, Martin Luther King Junior Elementary School Children v. Ann Arbor School District Board. This study first explores the diversity of interests present among both the plaintiff and defendant groups in King, and analyzes the performance of the attorneys in representing these interests. The Article then turns to the problems of resistance that arise at the decree stage in social reform litigation, and presents an empirical evaluation of the factors influencing the response to judicially mandated relief.


An Empirical Analysis Of The Equal Credit Opportunity Act, James A. Burns Jr. Oct 1979

An Empirical Analysis Of The Equal Credit Opportunity Act, James A. Burns Jr.

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This article will first examine the legislative history of the ECOA to discover (1) the impetus for its enactment; (2) the views of proponents and opponents of the legislation concerning the presence of credit discrimination, its proper cure, and the proposed provisions of the bills introduced to deal with the problem; and (3) the congressional intent as to the use of various credit-granting factors described by the Act. Regulation B will then be similarly examined to find out how the broad mandates of the ECOA have been made concrete for the use of creditors. Finally, the article will focus on …


No-Fault Auto Reparation In Florida: An Empirical Examination Of Some Of Its Effects, Joseph W. Little Jan 1975

No-Fault Auto Reparation In Florida: An Empirical Examination Of Some Of Its Effects, Joseph W. Little

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This article discusses certain aspects of reparations systems that can be described by statistical parameters, but it does not attempt to evaluate whether or not pervasive sociological changes may result from legal modifications of the concept of fault. It may be that any erosion of fault as a legal concept will result in a decline in individual responsibility. The fact that some members of the bar and some members of the medical profession allegedly regularly engage in conspiracies to defeat the $1,000 medical expense threshold of the Florida statute could be cited as evidence of such deterioration. Nevertheless, this writer …


Information Disclosure And Consumer Behavior: An Empirical Evaluation Of Truth-In-Lending, William K. Brandt, George S. Day Jan 1974

Information Disclosure And Consumer Behavior: An Empirical Evaluation Of Truth-In-Lending, William K. Brandt, George S. Day

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This article offers some empirical insight into the debate over the efficacy of disclosure legislation. The primary concern is the effect of the Act on (1) the level of consumer knowledge of interest rates and finance charges; (2) the extent of comparison shopping; and (3) the decisions to postpone purchases, to use cash instead of credit, or to reduce the finance charges by increasing the downpayment or reducing the number of payments. The article also evaluates patterns of consumer behavior and credit-granting procedures which may constrain the long-run potential of TIL.


An Empirical Study Of Six And Twelve-Member Jury Decision-Making Processes, Joan B. Kessler Jan 1973

An Empirical Study Of Six And Twelve-Member Jury Decision-Making Processes, Joan B. Kessler

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This article employs the techniques of the social sciences in testing a legal proposition. After setting forth the hypotheses and methodology utilized by the experiment discussed herein, it presents the results obtained by examining the deliberations of different-sized juries concerning the same civil litigation. This article does not purport to be definitive; it does, however, attempt to indicate one methodology of interdisciplinary research which can be undertaken and the utility of this research to both the social sciences and the legal profession.


Six-Member And Twelve-Member Juries: An Empirical Study Of Trial Results, Lawrence R. Mills Jan 1973

Six-Member And Twelve-Member Juries: An Empirical Study Of Trial Results, Lawrence R. Mills

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

The most convincing basis for criticism of the Supreme Court's conclusion that there is "no discernible difference" between the results reached by the six-member juries and those reached by the twelve-member juries would be empirical data suggesting a contrary conclusion. A recent study by the Institute of Judicial Administration comparing twelve-member and six-member juries in over 650 civil cases in New Jersey courts disclosed less than a two percentage-point difference between the respective percentages of verdicts rendered for plaintiffs by the two different-sized juries. The same study seemed to indicate that the damage awards in twelve-member jury cases were higher …


National Study Of The Aftermath Of Apprehension, Martin Gold, Jay R. Williams Dec 1969

National Study Of The Aftermath Of Apprehension, Martin Gold, Jay R. Williams

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

It appears, unfortunately, that what legal authorities now commonly do upon apprehending a juvenile for his delinquent behavior is worse than not apprehending him at all. Two independent studies demonstrate that apprehension itself encourages rather than deters further delinquency. Such a conclusion constitutes a serious indictment of current procedures. This article documents that conclusion and, together with the reactions to these data of men professionally concerned with the problem of delinquency, suggests what might be done about this problem.


Aftermath Of Apprehension: Social Scientist's Response, Richard B. Stuart Dec 1969

Aftermath Of Apprehension: Social Scientist's Response, Richard B. Stuart

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Gold and Williams suggest in National Study of the Aftermath of Apprehension that "It appears, unfortunately, that what legal authorities commonly do upon apprehending a juvenile for his delinquent behavior is worse than not apprehending him at all." If this conclusion is correct, and it is the result of two interrelated studies, then it should influence sweeping programmatic reforms in the social institutions concerned with promoting and safeguarding the development of youth. The intent of this article is to suggest avenues available for this reform both within and beyond the juvenile justice system. Before addressing the implications of the research, …


Aftermath Of Apprehension: Juvenile Court Judge's Response, John P. Steketee Dec 1969

Aftermath Of Apprehension: Juvenile Court Judge's Response, John P. Steketee

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

It would appear that juveniles find apprehension to be a reinforcement of their delinquent behavior. Being apprehended and questioned by the police, referred to juvenile court, meeting a probation officer, and going before a judge, not to mention the status one gains in one's group from police and/or court contact, can be a very significant chain of events for many adolescents who have never known the excitement of personal recognition by parents, school officials or even friends. For the first time, they are recognized and listened to, albeit for the wrong reasons. The attention need not be positive; shouting, scolding, …


Aftermath Of Apprehension: Family Lawyer's Response, Robert F. Drinan S.J. Dec 1969

Aftermath Of Apprehension: Family Lawyer's Response, Robert F. Drinan S.J.

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

It is contended here that Gold and Williams' statement of their thesis in National Study of the Aftermath of Apprehension that "apprehension itself encourages rather than deters further delinquency" is not what their research proves. The research proves rather that the revelation of the apprehension to the delinquent's parents without the consent of the youth apprehended is the real cause of the youth's further delinquency. Stated more precisely, it is the attitude of the parents towards the youth who has been apprehended by the police which is the critical factor in encouraging or deterring the youth from further delinquency.


Wage Garnishment Should Be Prohibited, William T. Kerr Apr 1969

Wage Garnishment Should Be Prohibited, William T. Kerr

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Historically, the statutory treatment of wage garnishment among the states has been characterized primarily by its diversity. Although most states exempt a specified amount of a man's wage from the reach of his creditors, the dollar levels of these exemptions are as various as the methods chosen to compute the amount to be exempted. In addition, legislators, some union spokesmen and some legal commentators have become increasingly aware of the role of wage garnishment in the "debtor-spiral" of easy credit, discharge from employment, bankruptcy and welfare. Inevitably this spiral involves a disproportionate impact on the poor. Impelled by these concerned …