Law Commons^™

Designating Male Parents At Birth, Jeffrey A. Parness

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

In focusing on legal designations of male parentage as of the time of birth, this Essay first reviews the methods by which such designations currently are made. The difficulties raised by contemporary methods then will be explored, together with suggested reforms involving laws that could promote earlier, more complete, and more accurate designations of male parentage as of the time of a child's birth.

A Failure Of Communication: An Argument For The Closing Of The Nyse Floor, Gerald T. Nowak

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Part I of this Note describes and analyzes the stock exchange communication process as it has existed in the past and as it currently exists, paying particular attention to the role of the floor broker and the stock specialist.'" Part II examines certain alternatives, evaluating such systems as to their potential as a replacement for the physical exchanges. Part III suggests an SEC rule granting specific exemption from exchange reporting requirements to low-volume automated systems in the hope of spurring innovation in the business of trading securities.

Criminal Liability For Misconduct In Scientific Research, Susan M. Kuzma

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Article will explore our society's attitude to prosecuting scientific misconduct, the need to consider prosecution in such cases, and the utility of current statutes available for prosecution. To assist the reader in understanding the issues, this Article will provide some background information about misconduct in scientific research and will include a discussion of some specific incidents. These background materials provide a context for my argument that criminal sanctions should be available to punish scientific misconduct. Finally, I propose a federal criminal statute designed specifically for prosecuting scientific misconduct.

Federal Biotechnology Policy: The Perils Of Progress And The Risks Of Uncertainty, Al Gore

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Americans have a schizophrenic view of science and technology. Some of our greatest heroes have been technological pioneers- from the Wright brothers to Lindbergh to Chuck Yeager. Until recently, we expressed unmitigated adoration for the scientists and engineers who put man in space. Yet at the same time, many Americans are generally uneasy about the triumph of technology in their own lives. One does not have to be a Luddite to rail against computers every now and then.

In deciding how to allocate precious public resources in an era of limits, legislators must take public perceptions of science very seriously. …

Introduction: Legislative, Administrative, And Judicial Nonscience, Samuel D. Estep

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This symposium deals with the legal issues, or rather some of them, that are created by scientific research. Anyone remotely interested in scientific developments should be aware that even the existence of "new" scientific "facts," let alone the application of such discoveries to everyday activities, gives rise to a host of human value judgments that should be faced and resolved by society. Although these problems are often left in purgatory forever, it is the legal system, broadly defined, that attempts to resolve the conflict of interests (or the balancing of values) when a decision is made. Making this type of …

Scientific Responsibility And The Law, Harold P. Green

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Because public policy is implicated by scientific misconduct, the legal profession should be interested in overcoming this problem. This Article studies the scientific misconduct problem and provides a personal view of the legal dilemmas that confront those who report misconduct. Part I describes how the scientific community currently deals with alleged fraud. Scientists primarily rely on the peer review system and toothless guidelines. Part II illustrates the problems in the present system through a case study of an allegation of misconduct. The author represented a man who reported scientific misconduct; the National Institutes of Health (NIH) investigation took five and …

Earmarked Appropriations: The Debate Over The Method Of Federal Funding, Donald N. Langenberg

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

The report that follows is the product of the Committee's deliberations.

The associations which sponsored the Committee and to which its report was addressed are at this date still considering the recommendations of the report. The Association of American Universities has adopted a resolution reaffirming its position supporting the use of scientific merit for research funding decisions and opposing earmarked funding, and agreeing to a moratorium on earmarked funding while the Association supports the creation of federally-funded research facilities programs. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities have adopted or …

On The Human Body As Property: The Meaning Of Embodiment, Markets, And The Meaning Of Strangers, Thomas H. Murray

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

For as long as I can recall, newspapers have published brief items in which someone has calculated what the human body is "worth" on the open market. The value of the body-as reduced to its chemical components-was never more than a few dollars. A more accurate accounting, though, would include the market value of transplantable organs and tissues, as well as the potential bonanza to be had should a cell line cultured from that body prove valuable to the biotechnology industry. The bottom line could be anywhere from tens of thousands to perhaps millions of dollars.

Both moral and legal …

Federal Regulation Of Agricultural Biotechnologies, Thomas O. Mcgarity

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Part I of this Article describes some of the risks and benefits of newly emerging agricultural biotechnologies. After discussing, in Part II, the role of federal agencies in regulating agricultural biotechnologies, Part III of the Article proposes elements for an adequate regulatory regime. Part IV then measures the existing legal authorities, as implemented by the USDA and the EPA, against the ideal elements. Part V examines the willingness of these agencies to regulate. Finally, Part VI suggests changes that can be made in the current regulatory regime to bring about more effective regulation and to enhance public trust in regulatory …

Cable Television Rights Of Way: Technology Expands The Concept Of Public Forum, Lawrence E. Spong

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Note argues that the public forum analysis is the proper standard for evaluating a cable television company's claim of access to public rights of way. Part I discusses the constitutional basis for this standard. Part II examines the ideological justifications for the public forum doctrine and argues that public rights of way are public forums for cable television purposes. In addition, it explains the application of the public forum doctrine to cable access questions and the doctrine's advantages over other standards.

Reducing Acid Rain In Eastern North America: The Scientific Basis For An Acid Rain Control Policy, Michael Oppenheimer

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Article presents the scientific basis for an effective acid rain control policy. Part I suggests that if a choice must be made, regulation should focus primarily on sulfur dioxide emissions rather than nitrogen oxide emissions because sulfur deposition is the major cause of watershed acidification. Part II explains the need for at least a fifty percent reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions to meet a "safe" deposition level. Part III specifies the geographical allocation of sulfur emission reductions necessary to attain target deposition levels in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. The Article concludes by demonstrating the need for …

Taking A Byte Out Of Abusive Agency Discretion: A Proposal For Disclosure In The Use Of Computer Models, John P. Barker

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Note examines the need for comprehensive requirements for the release of information pertaining to the use of computer-generated simulations used by federal administrative agencies or parties appearing before regulatory bodies. Part I of this Note defines computer models, identifies some of their current uses in administrative proceedings and describes the advantages of these models. Part II reviews the current requirements for documentation of computer models and the judicial review standards for agency findings. Part III examines the potential problems in the use of models and discusses the need for more adequate disclosure. Part IV describes several tests for verifying …

From Coitus To Commerce: Legal And Social Consequences Of Noncoital Reproduction, Joan Heifetz Hollinger

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This paper argues that there is an urgent need for the creation and clarification of a legal framework within which contemporary efforts to produce or procure children can take place. State legislatures should act now in order to avoid the kind of crisis that confronts Great Britain, where an infant girl, the product of a breached surrogacy contract, has been impounded by a British court. While the court ponders how to determine the legal parentage of this particular child, Parliament considers criminal penalties for those who arrange surrogacy contracts and general regulations to constrain IVF and ET research and practice. …

Addressing The Reprographic Revolution: Compensating Copyright Owners For Mass Infringement, Rosalind S. Kurz

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Article addresses the unique problems created by the reprographic revolution. Part I discusses recent legislative attempts to relieve the strain placed on existing copyright law by developing reprographic technologies. Using the recent Betamax case as an example, part II criticizes judicial efforts to apply traditional copyright doctrine to issues involving reprographic technologies. Finally, part III proposes a framework for devising, an enforcement scheme to protect copyright holders' rights without denying the public the many benefits offered by reprographic technologies. The Article outlines an approach tailored to meet the special problems associated with each of the three basic reprographic technologies: …

Teaching The Theories Of Evolution And Scientific Creationism In The Public Schools: The First Amendment Religion Clauses And Permissible Relief, J. Greg Whitehair

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Note explores the propriety of teaching the theory of evolution and the scientific creation model in public elementary and secondary schools. Part I discusses the powers of the state and its political subdivisions to set public school policy and curriculum content and the extent to which those powers are circumscribed by the religion clauses of the first amendment. Part I concludes that the religion clauses permit the teaching of evolutionary theory in public schools. Part II examines the variety of judicial and legislative relief potentially available to creationists where the teaching of evolution theory interferes with their religious beliefs …

Police Use Of Cctv Surveillance: Constitutional Implications And Proposed Regulations, Gary C. Robb

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This article evaluates the constitutionality of CCTV "searches." Part I discusses the present uses being made of closed circuit technology and evaluates the merits of the CCTV surveillance system. The critical policy trade-off is the system's effectiveness in combatting crime against the resulting loss of privacy to individual citizens.

Part II considers the constitutional implications of CCTV use in terms of three major doctrines: the Fourth Amendment prohibition against "unreasonable searches and seizures"; the constitutional right of privacy; and the First Amendment guarantees of free speech and association. This part briefly summarizes the state of the law concerning these constitutional …

Protection For Trade Secrets Under The Toxic Substances Control Act Of 1976, Paula R. Latovick

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This article will examine the protection provided by the Act and the measures the EPA has adopted for implementing the Act's provisions. The approach will be to focus on the different functional areas in which disclosure may take place. Part I examines the scheme for designating information as confidential and the mechanics of the reporting system under TSCA. Part II deals with disclosures of confidential information made while implementing the TSCA. Part III focuses on legal disclosures of information submitted as confidential. Finally, Part IV examines the measures taken within the EPA to guarantee the safety of confidential information, the …

Governmental Control Of Research In Positive Eugencis, I. Scott Bass

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This article examines the potential societal problems that would accompany the implementation of eugenics programs and considers possible mechanisms for dealing with these problems. Governmental control of research in positive eugenics is identified as a practical means of preempting the undesirable consequences of scientific advances. Since proposed government research controls would infringe upon academic freedom of inquiry, the constitutional issues raised by this clash are framed and analyzed.

Protection Of Privacy Of Computerized Records In The National Crime Information Center, Stuart R. Hemphill

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

The purpose of this article is to describe the social benefits and costs of the NCIC and to indicate the need for a program of operational controls to temper the system's impact on the balance between individual privacy and law enforcement needs. Various approaches which could be incorporated into a program of safeguards are introduced and briefly analyzed. Finally, the article discusses several overall design issues which should be considered in the construction of an adequate program of safeguards. Particular emphasis is placed on the NCCH file since it is the major source of the tensions underlying the issues addressed.