Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons^™

The Flimsy Yardstick: How Many Employees Does It Take To Defeat A Title Vii Discrimination Claim?, Jacqueline Louise Williams

Cardozo Law Review

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law on July 2, 1964. The legislative history of the Act provides an extraordinary glimpse at one of the most heavily debated pieces of legislation in our country's history. It also chronicles one of the longest debates that Congress has ever endured. Seeking to define the scope of the legislation, a reticent administration and a divided Democratic party struggled with the bill in hopes of coming to an agreement on what some would come to call "silver writes." The Act's supporters were persuaded that it answered "a moral question in the …

The Good Polity Today Constituting Law And Society After The Cold War, Graham Walker

Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law

The article explores the challenges of constructing a just and livable political society in the post-Cold War era, focusing on the tension between the global aspiration for liberal democracy and the resurgence of ethnic, religious, and moral claims. It examines how these competing forces shape political reconstruction and the search for a "good polity," emphasizing the need to learn from contemporary experiences and theoretical reflections.

Constitutional Reform And Social Difference In New Zealand, Jack H. Nagel

Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law

The article examines New Zealand's transition to a mixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral system, emphasizing its innovative approach to ensuring representation for the Maori minority. It argues that the MMP system, combined with dual constituencies (MMP-DC), offers a unique solution to the challenges of representing minority groups in plural societies, providing both descriptive and substantive representation without marginalization. The analysis highlights the historical and political processes that led to this system, which could serve as a model for other democracies facing similar challenges.

Bondage, Freedom & (And) The Constitution: The New Slavery Scholarship And Its Impact On Law And Legal Historiography, E. Nathaniel Gates

Cardozo Law Review

Twenty or so Africans, the first to arrive in British North America, were put ashore at Jamestown in 1619. Within seventy years, their labor, and that of the thousands who followed in their shackled train, had become the mainstay of the colonial economy. Once established by law, the perpetual bondage of Africans and African-American Creoles, in tandem with the notion of freedom it served to highlight and underscore, exerted a profound and lasting influence upon the economic, moral, and political life of the early European settler population and its creolized descendants.

The Ten Precepts Of American Slavery Jurisprudence: Chief Justice Roger Taney's Defense And Justice Thurgood Marshall's Condemnation Of The Precept Of Black Inferiority, A. Leon Higginbotham Jr.

Cardozo Law Review

Approximately twenty-five years ago, a group of thoughtful scholars, under the tutelage of Stanley Katz and Owen Fiss, met at the University of Chicago to discuss slavery law. Stanley Katz has previously noted that the conference generated extraordinary academic inquiries, as well as many books and articles. In this Article, I will describe briefly the intellectual journey I have traveled which was, in no small part, shaped by the conference and the interrelationships I have had since then, with so many scholars, as we have tried to get better insights into the interrelated issues of bondage, freedom, and the Constitution.

The Origins Of The Law Of Slavery In British North America, William M. Wiecek

Cardozo Law Review

In American experience, slavery originally appeared as a response to economic need. Subsequently, racism emerged as a justification for slavery, required as a response to the inherent contradictions of slavery. First there was slavery, then racism, then a fatal fusion of the two.

The Slavery Of Emancipation, Guyora Binder

Cardozo Law Review

The Thirteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution commands that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist." What has been the effect of this command?

It will serve my present purpose to offer the following toosimple answer to this complex question: the Thirteenth Amendment secured little more than the manumission of slaves already practically freed by the friction of war. It guaranteed, in Confederate General Robert Richardson's now well-known phrase, "nothing but freedom."

Supposing this answer to be true, a further question presents itself: Did the Thirteenth Amendment's effect fulfill its command? Did universal manumission abolish slavery?

A full answer to …

The Fifteenth Amendment And "Political Rights", Akhil Reed Amar

Cardozo Law Review

Professor Xi Wang has offered us an altogether exemplary paper on black suffrage. Rather than trying to criticize it, I shall attempt to extend it by picking up where he left off. My main text is the Fifteenth Amendment. I would like to suggest that the best interpretation of the Fifteenth Amendment would read it as encompassing a cluster of political rights; the Amendment protects not only the right to vote, but also the right to hold office, the right to be voted for, the right to vote in a legislature, the right to serve on a jury, and even …

Black Suffrage And The Redefinition Of American Freedom, 1860-1870, Xi Wang

Cardozo Law Review

One of the most important outcomes of the Civil War was the establishment of a new constitutional order. Under this new order, African Americans, a people whose essential human rights had been denied under the old constitutional order, were constitutionally emancipated from slavery and recognized as American citizens. They received the privileges and immunities that white Americans had automatically assumed. Male black Americans also received the right to vote. This new order, as embraced by the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution, was a truly remarkable achievement of Reconstruction. What is additionally significant is that these Amendments became …

Comment On Donald Nieman's Paper, Randall Kennedy

Cardozo Law Review

I have two responses to Professor Neiman's paper. One emphasizes a point he makes. The other disagrees a bit with his reading of the promise of Reconstruction.

"Do Justice!": Variations Of A Thrice-Told Tale, Michael Herz

Articles

Although recent debates would suggest that narrative scholarship is brand new,4 lawyers, judges, and law professors, like all humankind, have always offered stories for illustration or support or to make a point in an indirect, and often more effective, way. Learned Hand's story about telling Justice Holmes to "do justice" is one widely-used example, offered by many writers in addition to Judge Bork and Professor Chayes. Its popularity is easy to understand. The story has a substantive message, pithily expressed, on a basic jurisprudential issue; it involves two members of the pantheon; and it crams a lot of human interest …

The Evidentiary Burden In Establishing An Article 3(A) Defense To Extradition In Light Of In Re The Requested Extradition Of James Joseph Smyth, A Case Of First Impression, Leslie A. Firtell

Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law

The note examines the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision in the case of James Joseph Smyth, which centered on the interpretation and application of Article 3a of the Supplementary Extradition Treaty between the US and the UK. The court overturned the lower court's ruling, holding that Smyth failed to meet the evidentiary burden required to establish a defense against extradition under Article 3a. The decision highlights the challenges of proving future mistreatment based on race, religion, nationality, or political opinions, emphasizing the need for individualized evidence rather than systemic concerns.

Making Equality Law More Effective: Lessons From The German Experience, Ninon Colneric

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

The article examines the evolution and effectiveness of equality law in Germany, particularly focusing on gender equality. It highlights the significant influence of European Community (EC) law on German legislation and discusses the challenges in implementing these laws to achieve substantial gender equality. The analysis reveals that while progress has been made, there are persistent issues in effectively enforcing these laws.

Equal Rights-Compatibility Of Family And Career-Legal Comparison: East Germany (Gdr) And Federal Republic Of Germany Today, Anita Grandke

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

The article examines the evolution of gender equality in East Germany from the post-WWII era through the 1990 unification with West Germany, highlighting how East Germany's progressive laws promoting women's rights were rolled back after unification, leading to significant setbacks for women in employment, family life, and legal protections.

Reach And Substance Of The Principle Of Equal Treatment In Social Security Law Under European Community And German Constitutional Law, Ursula Rust

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

The article examines the principle of equal treatment in social security law under European Community (EC) law and German constitutional law, highlighting their differences in scope and application. While both legal systems prohibit sex-based discrimination, EC law, primarily through Directive 79/7, applies narrowly to specific risks and allows significant exceptions, particularly for survivor and family benefits. In contrast, German constitutional law provides broader protections under the Basic Law, which directly binds the legislature and judiciary to ensure equal rights, though it also struggles with addressing indirect discrimination effectively.

The United Kingdom, The European Court Of Human Rights, And Constitutional Review, A. W. Bradley

Cardozo Law Review

The aim of this Article is to consider whether there is now in the United Kingdom the embryo of a procedure for constitutional review that results from the United Kingdom's adherence to the European Convention on Human Rights as well as the burgeoning case law being developed by the European Court of Human Rights. To the extent that such an embryo exists, I hope to show that this is a development which has not been directly willed by the United Kingdom Parliament, nor by successive United Kingdom governments. Assuming that this process deserves to be described as piecemeal constitution making, …

Ideology Between Fiction And Fantasy, Slavoj Zizek

Cardozo Law Review

In his movie version of Franz Kafka's The Trial, Orson Welles accomplished an exemplary anti-obscurantist operation by way of reinterpreting the place and the function of the famous parable on "the door of the Law." In the film, we hear it twice: at the very beginning, it serves as a kind of prologue, read and accompanied by (faked) ancient engravings projected from lantern-slides; then, shortly before the end, it is told to Josef K., not by the priest (as in the novel), but by K.'s lawyer (played by Welles himself) who unexpectedly joins the priest and K. in the …

The Robinson-Patman Act Sections 2(D) And 2(E): Promotional Allowances And The Per Se Rule Of Illegality, Julian Chung

Cardozo Law Review

The Robinson-Patman Act (the "Act"), as part of the antitrust laws, was designed to prevent direct and indirect price discrimination. Specifically, the Act prohibits price discrimination through the use of certain types of discounts granted by sellers to select customers. Sections 2(d) and 2(e) of the Act attempt to further this prohibition by expressly regulating promotional allowances and services. Although Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") enforcement of the sections has declined, private litigation under sections 2(d) and 2(e) of the Robinson-Patman Act has recently been revived. Three recent suits involving the compact disc ("CD") market exemplify this trend. Retailers of CDs …

The Unconscious And The Law The Law And The Unconscious, Jorge Degregorio

Cardozo Law Review

The god Apollo, whose diverse gifts included the ability to interpret dreams, was recognized as the first author of the law, which was dictated through his oracle in Delphi. For his sacred person, dreams were laws and laws, dreams. Let us invent a story in order to fill in the missing pages of the myth:

Laws, as well as the power to decipher the soul's mysteries from dreams, were bestowed upon the Androgyns by the god. Once they acquired the power of law and of dream interpretation, they attempted to scale Olympus and sit on the gods' stage. Zeus, presiding …

Benjamin And The Faculty Of Mimesis, Jeneen Hobby

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

Beyond Reasonable Accommodation: The Availability And Structure Of A Cause Of Action For Workplace Harassment Under The Americans With Disabilities Act, Frank S. Ravitch

Cardozo Law Review

Employment discrimination law has undergone a metamorphosis in the last few years. New legislation and judicial interpretation of existing legislation have broadened the rights available to the victims of discrimination, and have created new duties with which employers must comply. The passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act added one of the largest pieces to the new employment discrimination puzzle. Because the ADA is still in the early stages of development, it is essential to define the bases for potential causes of action under the Act, and to delineate workable structures for analyzing those causes of action.

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 …

The Americans With Disabilities Act “Readily Achievable” Requirement For Barrier Removal: A Proposal For The Allocation Of Responsibility Between Landlord And Tenant, Karen E. Field

Cardozo Law Review

The Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") was enacted July 26, 1990. Title III of the ADA, which prohibits discrimination in privately owned places of public accommodation, became effective on January 26, 1992. Members of both the legal and business communities have expressed concern over the attendant costs of compliance with what is commonly referred to as the "barrier removal" requirement of Title III. This provision requires that-to insure that disabled individuals have complete access to goods and serviceslandlords and tenants must "remove architectural, and communication barriers that are structural in nature, in existing facilities ... where such removal is readily …

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.

Would Vince Lombardi Have Been Right If He Had Said: “When It Comes To Redistricting, Race Isn’T Everything, It’S The Only Thing”?, Bernard Grofman

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Rights Of Gays To Adopt Children: Fortifying The Defenses Against Societal Prejudice, Stephanie Landay

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

The article argues that the right of gays to adopt children is often denied due to societal prejudices and biases, which influence court decisions. It advocates for the adoption of the "nexus test" to ensure that decisions are based on the best interest of the child, free from discrimination. The article also emphasizes the need to classify gays as a suspect class to overturn discriminatory statutes.

A Date With Justice: Prostitution And The Decriminalization Debate, Margaret A. Baldwin

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

The article critiques the decriminalization of prostitution, arguing that it fails to address the systemic exploitation and violence faced by women in prostitution. The author contends that decriminalization would empower pimps, johns, and legal systems to further exploit women, as it legitimizes their power dynamics. The analysis emphasizes the need to prioritize the survival and empowerment of prostituted women over legal reforms that benefit their exploiters.

The Constitutional Judge: Master Or Slave Of The Constitution?, Dominique Rousseau

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

Transitional Constitutions, Arthur J. Jacobson

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

Reactionary Constitutional Identity, Ruti G. Teitel

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.