Law Commons^™

Faith In Reason: The Process Tradition In American Jurisprudence, Neil Duxbury

Cardozo Law Review

Even the most cursory survey of the history of jurisprudence reveals a remarkable tendency on the part of legal philosophers to develop concepts, for want of a better word, which are purportedly foundational to the existence of a legal system. Positivists and natural lawyers alike have long been committed to the search for that special concept which stands as the fons et origo of law. Legal philosophers typically frame this search in terms of a quest to discover something singular; and when they do try to conceive of a legal system as founded on a plurality of concepts, their assertions, …

Developments In Trading Claims: Participations And Disputed Claims, Chaim J. Fortgang, Thomas Moers Mayer

Cardozo Law Review

The two years since our last paper on trading claims' have seen an explosion in the market for claims against Chapter 11 debtors. More institutions are involved in buying, selling, and brokering claims than ever before. Goldman, Sachs & Company, Salomon Brothers Inc., Lazard Freres & Company, Inc., and Kidder Peabody & Company have joined Oppenheimer & Company, and Bear, Stearns & Company as established Wall Street houses making markets in distressed claims. Commercial banks such as First National Bank of Chicago, ING Bank, and Citibank, N.A. now buy and sell bank claims against distressed debtors.

When Axioms Collide, Jeffrey Daniel Haskell

Cardozo Law Review

Recently, American courts have begun to adopt an increasingly liberal approach to will construction and reformation. This trend reflects the continuing battle between two elemental axioms of wills law: (i) observing the formalities imposed by the Wills Act, and (ii) admitting extrinsic evidence to effectuate the intent of the testator. As recent case law suggests, the former axiom has been steadily losing ground to the latter. This assault on the previously inviolate stronghold of wills formalities has come in two waves: remedies given for execution errors, and remedies for content errors. This Note establishes that a third wave should follow-remedies …

Pierre Schlag’S “The Problem Of The Subject”: Law’S Need For An Analyst, David S. Caudill

Cardozo Law Review

Pierre Schlag's book-length law review article, The Problem of the Subject, sets out to reveal, and succeeds in revealing, nothing - Schlag reveals a gap or void in contemporary legal philosophy with respect to the subject. Of course, the subject (for now, the "I" or self or individual) can be found in legal theory-people reflect on law, make law, and obey or break the law-but legal theorists generally avoid the question of who the subject is. Thus, accounts of the subject are rare in legal scholarship, and the problems that such accounts would raise are generally evaded. Of course, …

Judge Charles Edward Clark Edited By Peninah Petruck, Peter Charles Hoffer

Cardozo Law Review

For everyone who knew him while he lived and everyone whose career or education he touched, Charles Edward Clark (1889-1963) was a presence almost larger than life. A shade under six feet tall, with a bullfrog voice, barrel chest, and broad shoulders, he could not be missed in a crowd. A man whose habits and opinions had an "allor-nothing quality" during a critical era for legal education and government-lawyer relations, Clark's presence seemed to fill the law school he led and the bench on which he sat.

Errata

Cardozo Law Review

In Volume 15, Numbers 1-2, an error regretfully appears on page 110, footnote 80, of Professor Michael Stokes Paulsen’s article. The Merryman Power and the Dilemma ofAutonomous Executive Branch Interpretation.

Yael Shefer (A Minor) By Her Mother And Natural Guardian, Talila Shefer V. State Of Israel, Menachem Elon, Yaakov Malz, H. Ariel

Translated Opinions

Facts: The appellant, Yael, a minor, was born with the incurable Tay-Sachs disease. When she was two, her mother applied to the District Court for a declaratory judgment that when Yael’s condition worsened, she would be entitled not to receive treatment against her will. The District Court denied the application. An appeal was filed to the Supreme Court, and in September 1988, the Supreme Court denied the appeal, without giving its reasons. When Yael was three years old, she died. The following judgment sets forth the reasons for the aforesaid decision of the Supreme Court, and discusses the right of …

Unfunded Mandates, Hidden Taxation, And The Tenth Amendment: On Public Choice, Public Interest, And Public Services, Edward A. Zelinsky

Articles

Few contemporary issues concern state and local policymakers as intensely as unfunded mandates. Mayors, county executives, city councilmen, and the professional associations representing them routinely argue that the federal and state governments have, in recent years, imposed at an accelerating rate expensive requirements on municipalities without granting corresponding funds for compliance, thereby irresponsibly straining the fiscal capacity of municipalities, hampering their ability to provide essential services, and improperly infringing upon the scope of local control. The complaints of municipal policymakers have provoked a variety of proposals for restraining unfunded mandates: obligatory disclosure of the projected costs of proposed mandates, requirements …

Three Lessons From Law And Literature, Richard H. Weisberg

Articles

The article explores the intersection of law and literature, emphasizing the narrative nature of legal discourse and the importance of "considerate communication" in legal practice. It critiques the dominance of economic analysis in law and advocates for a more nuanced understanding of language and ethics in legal education and practice. The author uses literary works, such as Herman Melville's Billy Budd Sailor, and historical examples, like the Vichy regime in France, to illustrate the ethical and practical implications of how legal language is used.

Parallel Universes: Nepa Lessons For The New Property, Michael E. Herz

Articles

No abstract provided.

Nonrefundable Retainers Revisited, Lester Brickman, Lawrence A. Cunningham

Articles

Amidst widespread public attention to fee abuses, a court recently held for the first time that nonrefundable retainers violate professional ethics. The court in In re Cooperman essentially adopted the argument of Professors Brickman and Cunningham that nonrefundable retainers are against public policy because they impair a client's right to discharge his attorney at any time without penalty. Because declaring such agreements unethical is tantamount, in the eyes of the practicing bar, to declaring them void, In re Cooperman has sparked a national outcry from those who profit from enforcing nonrefundable retainers. In this Article, Professors Brickman and Cunningham analyze …

1993 Cardozo Life (Fall), Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law

Cardozo Life Magazine

Two Cardozo Clinics Receive Major U.S. Grant, page 1

Heyman Center on Corporate Governance Appoints Director, Hosts National Conference, page 1

Faculty News, page 2

New University V.P. Named, page 2

Two Named to Cardozo Board of Directors, page 2

About Our New Look, page 2

3L Student Publishes in National Trial Lawyer , page 2

News from the Alumni Association, page 3

Class Actions, page 3

Goods and Services Auction: Fun and Fundraising, page 4

Third Floor Student Lounge Renovation Completed, page 4

It's Been a Busy Fall, page 4

Special Section, Clinical Programs, page 5

Cardozo Bet Tzedek …

Life As An Intrinsic Rather Than Instrumental Good: The “Spiritual” Case Against Euthanasia, J. David Bleich

Articles

No abstract provided.

Constitutional Review By The Executive In Foreign Affairs And War Powers: A Consequence Of Rational Choice In The Separation Of Powers, John O. Mcginnis

Articles

No abstract provided.

Modern Corporate Theory: Public Utility Or Private Part? A Comment On Professor Wolfe's Paper, Charles M. Yablon

Articles

The article critiques the current state of corporate law theory, particularly the "nexus of contracts" model, for being overly simplistic and failing to provide a realistic or normatively satisfying account of corporate behavior. It argues that while critiques of this model exist, there is no substantial alternative theory, and the field remains mired in incremental debates that lack depth or practical relevance. The author suggests that corporate law scholarship should adopt a more practical, lawyerly approach, focusing on policy arguments and real-world implications rather than theoretical abstractions.

Table Of Contents - Cardozo Law Review, Volume 15, Issues 1-2

Cardozo Law Review

This issue of the Cardozo Law Review explores a variety of topics related to executive branch interpretation of the law, including discussions on judicial opinions, the autonomy of executive interpretation, and the role of the Attorney General’s Office. Key contributions address constitutional interpretation, the separation of powers, and the concept of a unitary executive. Notable sections include keynote remarks from Attorney General William P. Barr, in-depth analyses by scholars such as Thomas W. Merrill and David A. Strauss, and commentary on the implications of executive autonomy. The issue concludes with notes on legal protections for domestic violence victims and the …

Executive Autonomy, Judicial Authority And The Rule Of Law: Reflections On Constitutional Interpretation And The Separation Of Powers, Michel Rosenfeld

Cardozo Law Review

The United States Constitution is remarkably silent on the subject of ultimate responsibility for constitutional interpretation, despite its elaborate prescriptions for a scheme of separation of powers that interweaves elements of independence and of interdependence among the distinct branches of the federal government. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that there have been several disputes between the President and the Supreme Court concerning the scope of executive autonomy in constitutional interpretation. In recent years, moreover, the conflict between judicial authority and executive autonomy has been exacerbated by efforts to legitimize presidential interpretations of the Constitution that are inconsistent with Supreme Court …

A Stalwart At The Bar, Arthur Norman Field

Cardozo Law Review

The New York legal community that Jack Bums found upon his admission to the Bar in 1932 was not given to welcoming all comers. It was changing rapidly. To many leaders of the Bar the change was not a positive one.

Masthead, Volume 15 (1993-1994)

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

Jacob Burns, Simon J. Liebowitz

Cardozo Law Review

The demise of Mr. Jacob Bums is a great loss not only to his family but to his many friends. Folks who met him in the course of his manifold humanitarian activities were deeply impressed by his sincerity, kindness, and love for humanity. As a practicing lawyer his great ability served his clients well. Providing pro bono legal services to the poor was a way of life to him.

Jacob Burns The Man, Alfred A. Giardino

Cardozo Law Review

The richly earned tributes and eulogies for Jacob Burns are many. His professional accomplishments extended in diversified directions-business, the law, banking, the arts, and philanthropy.

In Appreciation Of Jack Burns, Frank J. Macchiarola

Cardozo Law Review

Jacob Burns was a good and gentle man. He did many fine and generous things in his lifetime, but the qualities that best describe him are the personal ones-good and gentle. The gentleness did not mean that he was unable to handle difficult matters or to exert the kind of strength that gave others solace. It meant that through these situations there was a contentment that always reassured the rest of us. The gentleness came from his concern for others and in the way he approached people. It was always thrilling for me to see Jack Burns in the company …

Jacob Burns And The Institute For Advanced Legal Studies, David G. Carlson

Cardozo Law Review

Jacob Burns lived a long and fabled life, which was obviously its own reward. Among the very many things that could be said, and the thing I would like to memorialize here, is the profound legacy Mr. Bums left behind at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where he served as chairman of the board for many years and as founder of the Jacob Bums Institute for Advanced Legal Studies. In his memory, I would like to say a little about the history of this endeavor and Mr. Burns's role in it.

Introduction, John O. Mcginnis

Cardozo Law Review

Executive branch interpretation of the law is a subject both timely and enduring. Just prior to the convening of this symposium, an election ended twelve years of Republican administration in which controversy over executive branch legal interpretation was greater than that in any period since the New Deal. Both Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush were committed to very different jurisprudential views from those which had predominated on the Supreme Court in the Warren and even Burger years. Therefore, it was not surprising that during their tenure the Department of Justice provided renewed justifications for both the autonomy and unitariness …

Attorney General's Remarks, Benjamin N. Cardozo School Of Law, November 15, 1992, William P. Barr

Cardozo Law Review

While the modem Attorney General is active in a broad array of policy decisions and legal matters, this evening we are concerned only with what was once the core of the Attorney General's duties: legal interpretation within the executive branch. First, I would like to trace the evolution of the office of Attorney General from part-time legal advisor for the new government to head of a major department involved in making policy across a broad range of subjects. Second, I want to discuss the Attorney General's role in interpreting the law, both in rendering legal advice to the executive branch …

The Merryman Power And The Dilemma Of Autonomous Executive Branch Interpretation, Michael Stokes Paulsen

Cardozo Law Review

Most everybody today concedes some degree of executive branch autonomy in the interpretation of federal law. The examples most frequently given of areas of executive interpretive autonomy involve situations where the President interprets the law incident to the exercise of those constitutional powers that are thought to be exclusively presidential (and thus unreviewable by the courts), such as the pardon and the veto. The President may grant a pardon (it is generally conceded) on legal grounds rejected by the courts. For example, he may issue a pardon based on his opinion that a conviction was unconstitutional, notwithstanding the judiciary's contrary …

Judicial Opinions As Binding Law And As Explanations For Judgments, Thomas W. Merrill

Cardozo Law Review

To what extent does the executive branch have autonomous powers of legal interpretation? The issue is often broadly framed in terms of two disparate understandings of the allocation of interpretative power: "judicial supremacy" and "departmentalism." In this paper, I shall speak of two different understandings of judicial opinions: the idea that judicial opinions (or at least the "holdings" of opinions) are legally binding on actors in the executive branch, and the idea that opinions are, from the perspective of executive actors, merely explanations for judicial judgments. I adopt this locution because it focuses more precisely on the core of the …

Presidential Interpretation Of The Constitution, David A. Strauss

Cardozo Law Review

May the executive branch disagree with the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Constitution, and act in accordance with its own view? We tend to associate this question with a few great constitutional crises. Disputes between President Jackson and the Supreme Court over the Bank of the United States; between President Lincoln and the Court over slavery; and between President Franklin Roosevelt and the Court over New Deal legislation, all produced memorable statements by presidents claiming a broad power to act independently from the Court's decisions. The school desegregation controversy was between the Court and some state governments, not the President, …

The Unitary Executive In A Unified Theory Of Constituional Law: The Problem Of Interpretation, Geoffrey P. Miller

Cardozo Law Review

Among theoretical issues in the area of federal separation of powers, the status of the Unitary Executive may be the most controversial: To what extent does the Constitution establish the President as a national chief executive with ultimate authority over activities of national administration? In this paper, I propose a model of the Unitary Executive which differs in some respects from prior work, including my own work on independent agencies, which I now view as incomplete. The model is grounded in a unified theory of constitutional law-i.e., a theory that includes issues both of rights and of structure within a …

Imposing Unified Executive Branch Statutory Interpretation, Michael Herz

Cardozo Law Review

Since the birth of the administrative state, the dominant legal debate about the fourth branch has concerned the powers of the other three to control it. In recent years, the particular focus has been on presidential oversight, in part as a result of the increasingly systematic efforts of every President since Richard Nixon to gain control of the federal bureaucracy. This enormous, and in general, illuminating literature has tended, I think, to overlook two aspects of the problem.