Constitutional Law Commons^™

Religious Visitation Constraints On The Noncustodial Parent: The Need For National Application Of A Uniform Compelling Interest Test, Kevin S. Smith

Indiana Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Title Ix Tug-Of-War And Intercollegiate Athletics In The 1990'S: Nonrevenue Men's Teams Join Women Athletes In The Scramble For Survival, Susan M. Shook

Indiana Law Journal

No abstract provided.

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.

Missouri V. Jenkins And The De Facto Abandonment Of Court-Enforced Desegregation, Bradley W. Joondeph

Washington Law Review

It has been forty-three years since the Supreme Court decided Brown v. Board of Education. In this Article, the author argues that the Court's recent decision, Missouri v. Jenkins, presages the end of court-enforced school desegregation. In addition, Jenkins shows that the Court is unwilling to confront its doctrinal principles in the area, preferring instead to base its decisions on relatively narrow, case-specific grounds. Jenkins therefore reveals that the Court will end this important era in our constitutional history quietly, gradually and without articulating its justifications. The author also contends that the reasons for curtailing desegregation remedies proffered …

Spousal Incompetency And The Charter, Hamish Stewart

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

This article considers the effect of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms on the rule of spousal incompetency in criminal proceedings. The rule is arguably under-inclusive, in that it is not available to protect opposite-sex couples who are not legally married or same-sex couples; on the other hand, the rule is arguably offensive to the modem conception of marriage. The Charter arguments for each of these positions are considered, and it is submitted that the Charter requires the rule of spousal incompetency, whatever it is, to apply equally to legally married couples, to cohabitants, and to same-sex couples. A …

The Canadian Charter And Public International Law: Redefining The State's Power To Deport Aliens, Daniela Bassan

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

This article considers the relationship between international and domestic law in deportation proceedings. The argument is made that, generally, Canadian law should be interpreted consistently with Canada's obligations at international law, as reflected in conventions and custom. More specifically, the article proposes that Canada's obligation at international law to protect the family and the child be recognized in Canadian law as one of the principles of fundamental justice under section 7 of the Charter. The protection of the family is engaged by the deportation of domiciled aliens because, by definition, these deportees have been in Canada for a long period …

The Standard Of Review For The Voluntariness Of A Confession On Direct Appeal In Federal Court, Peter B. Rutledge

Scholarly Works

Section I of this Comment reviews the Supreme Court's jurisprudence on confessions, provides a close reading of Miller v. Finton, 474 U.S. 104 (1985), and reviews the division among the federal circuits over the standard of review for voluntariness determinations on direct appeal. Section II analyzes the literature on standards of review and focuses on two vexing problems in this field-the application of law to fact (hereinafter "mixed questions") and the constitutional fact doctrine. These two issues frame the analysis of voluntariness determinations. Section III analyzes these determinations and defends the application of de novo review in cases on …

Federalism And Liberalism, Mark Tushnet

Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law

The article explores the role of federalism within the context of John Rawls' political liberalism, arguing that while federal systems are inherently unstable and tend toward centralization, certain institutional designs and a formalist legal culture can slow this drift. Federalism is particularly suited to societies with reinforcing pluralist differences, offering a framework that allows diverse groups to coexist while maintaining stability.

The German Duality Of State And Society, David Abraham

Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law

The article argues that the United States should consider supplementing its property-based negative rights regime with citizenship-based positive rights, drawing on the German constitutional model. It contends that negative rights, which focus on freedom from state interference, are insufficient in addressing systemic inequality and fostering meaningful participation in a democratic society. In contrast, Germany's constitutional framework, rooted in a communitarian ethos, emphasizes positive rights and duties, ensuring that rights are not only protected but also effectively realized through state action. This approach, the article suggests, offers a more equitable and inclusive vision of rights and citizenship.

The Mixed Constitution After Liberalism, Graham Walker

Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law

The article proposes a mixed constitution as a solution to the ideological conflict between liberal and illiberal values, particularly in post-communist nations. It argues that a mixed constitution, combining elements of both ideologies, can provide a balanced approach that avoids the extremes of either system, fostering stability and justice.

The Executive Power Of Constitutional Interpretation, Gary S. Lawson, Christopher D. Moore

Faculty Scholarship

It is emphatically the province and duty of the President to say what the law is, including the law embodied in the Federal Constitution. In the mid-1980s, a claim of this sort would have been received by the legal intelligentsia with some combination of bemusement and outrage. One would have heard, loudly and often, that it is the special province of the federal courts to declare the meaning of the Constitution, -Lnd that any attempt to question the judiciary's supreme interpretative role, especially in favor of an interpretative role for the President, was an attack on the rule of law …

A Feminist Revisit To The First-Year Curriculum, Anita Bernstein

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Constitutional Fictions And Meritocratic Success Stories, Robin West

Washington and Lee Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Jury Override: A Blend Of Politics And Death , Scott E. Erlich

American University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Tinkering With The Machinery Of Death: An Examination And Analysis Of State Indigent Defense Systems And Their Application To Death-Eligible Defendants, Michael D. Moore

William & Mary Law Review

No abstract provided.

Tortious Interference: The Limits Of Common Law Liability For Newsgathering, Sandra S. Baron, Hilary Lane, David A. Schulz

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

Media lawyers have recently been confronted with a relatively new source of litigation: the tort of intentional interference with contractual relations, which arises out of confidentiality agreements. In this Article, the authors identify the elements of tortious interference with contracts and examine the key issues presented when this tort is applied to newsgathering. The authors then consider a potential defense based on the First Amendment. In light of the public and constitutional interests at stake, the authors conclude that the breach of a confidentiality agreement should not sustain a tortious interference claim when the press is involved in newsgathering activity.

The Juvenile Curfew: Unconstitutional Imprisonment, Tona Trollinger

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

Faced with rising crime rates, many municipalities in recent years have enacted juvenile curfews. Professor Tona Trollinger uses an ordinance enacted in Dallas, Texas, as a framework for analyzing juvenile curfews. The author discusses various prudential and constitutional objections to these curfews, including both substantive and procedural due process challenges. The author concludes that the admittedly valid governmental objectives underlying such curfews do not override their constitutional infirmities.

Tainted Sources: First Amendment Rights And Journalistic Wrongs, Robert M. O'Neil

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

The issue of news organizations' potential liability for their newsgathering practices has garnered significant attention in several recent cases. Robert M. O'Neil discusses several such cases which have focused on the balance between the First Amendment interests at stake and the improper or possibly illegal manner in which the media obtained its information. The author concludes by suggesting principles to guide in balancing these interests

Media Misbehavior And The Wages Of Sin: The Constitutionality Of Consequential Damages For Publication Of Ill-Gotten Information, John J. Walsh, Steven J. Selby, Jodie L. Schaffer

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

Driven by competitive forces and enabled by technological advances such as hidden cameras, the media have become increasingly intrusive in their newsgathering techniques. Claims against the media for unlawful acts such as invasion of privacy, trespass, and fraud highlight the severe tension existing between the rights of the victims of media misconduct and the principles of the First Amendment. The authors contend that by acting unlawfully in their newsgathering, the media forfeit First Amendment protection. They emphasize that the newsworthiness of the information unlawfully obtained by the media should not be considered when determining liability, and conclude that the media …

Freedom To Speak Unintelligibly: The First Amendment Implications Of Government-Controlled Encryption, Jill M. Ryan

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

The emergence of the computer has revolutionized communications, allowing quick dissemination of information to large numbers of people. Information transmitted electronically is often safeguarded through a widely available method known as encryption, which renders the information unintelligible to anyone without the ability to decrypt the message. Law enforcement agencies argue that unregulated encryption hinders their ability to prevent crime by providing criminals with a method of communication that cannot be accessed by police departments and government agencies. Proponents of encryption argue that privacy, security, and constitutional concerns outweigh law enforcement's fears, guaranteeing the ability to communicate confidentially.

In 1994, the …

The Substantial Burden Of Municipal Zoning: The Religious Freedom Restoration Act As A Means To Consistent Protection For Church-Sponsored Homeless Shelters And Soup Kitchens, Marc-Olivier Langlois

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

Despite the increase in poverty and homelessness in the United States, many municipalities are attempting to use zoning regulations to limit the spread of church-sponsored programs that minister to the poor. Although the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) suggests that courts should find churchsponsored programs exempt from the burdens of municipal zoning, recent decisions in federal courts demonstrate that church-sponsored homeless shelters and soup kitchens will receive the same inconsistent protection they received under traditional Free Exercise Clause analysis. This Note argues that enforcement of zoning regulations places a substantial burden on church-sponsored programs that minister to the …

The Conflict Between "Fair Housing" And Free Speech, Mary Caroline Lee

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

Under the Fair Housing Act and its 1988 amendments, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has the power to investigate alleged discrimination in public housing. The targets of these investigations are often neighborhood organizations and community groups voicing their opposition to the placement of public housing in their neighborhoods. The alleged discrimination can be nothing more than group meetings and the petitioning of local government officials. Mindful that such investigations have sometimes adversely affected the exercise of First Amendment rights, in 1994 HUD issued guidelines for handling fair housing complaints when such rights are at issue.

This Note will …

Vanity And Vexation: Shifting The Focus To Media Conduct, Jane E. Kirtley

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

Lawsuits brought by corporations against news organizations during the last few years demonstrate that it is no longer sufficient for the press to get its facts straight. With some industries literally fighting for their lives, a new legal climate has encourage litigation that deflects bad publicity by shifting the focus away from the traditional issue of accuracy to a critical examination of the news media's newsgathering techniques. Concerns about the reaction of courts to unorthodox reporting methods may prompt news organizations to censor themselves, but the author argues that facing the threat of mega-verdicts or contempt citations should be regarded …

Constitutional Civil Law, Albert Sidney Johnson

Mercer Law Review

During the 1995 survey period, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ("Eleventh Circuit" or "Court") was influenced by the Supreme Court of the United States (the "Supreme Court"), application of the effect of its earlier decisions, and a number of cases of first impression. The Court was required to modify its long-standing practices of pendent appellate jurisdiction and scope of review in cases involving qualified immunity defenses. The Supreme Court's refinement of the definition of "deliberate indifference' influenced several of the Court decisions relating to the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause of the Eighth Amendment. The …

David Shapiro's Adversary Statement On Federalism, Patrick E. Higginbotham

Michigan Law Review

A Review of David L. Shapiro, Federalism: A Dialogue

Words That Bind: Judicial Review And The Grounds Of Modern Constitutional Theory, John A. Drennan

Michigan Law Review

A Review of John Arthur, Words That Bind: Judicial Review and the Grounds of Modern Constitutional Theory

Constitutional Criminal Procedure, James P. Fleissner

Mercer Law Review

This Article surveys significant 1995 decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in the field commonly referred to as "Constitutional Criminal Procedure." The primary focus of this branch of criminal procedure is on the interpretation of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments to the Constitution. In selecting notable cases from 1995, the author looked for important interpretations of legal tests, rulings in cases of first impression, and opinions on close or controversial questions. I have endeavored to provide criminal practitioners with a useful "briefing" on recent significant developments in the Eleventh Circuit. Furthermore, I hope …

The Slavery Of Emancipation, Guyora Binder

Journal Articles

The Thirteenth Amendment abolishes the institution of slavery rather than freeing individual slaves. Yet it quickly came to stand for little more than granting universal rights to make labor contracts and to leave service. This article develops a distinction between abolishing an institution and reclassifying individuals within it. Drawing on the comparative history of slavery, it shows that the institution of slavery has generally included mechanisms for the manumission of slaves and their passage into a liminal status combining self-ownership with social subordination and relative isolation. A critical account of the Antelope litigation shows that proponents of mass manumission still …

Commerce Clause Restraints On State Business Development Incentives, Walter Hellerstein, Dan T. Coenen

Scholarly Works

In this Article, we explore the ill-defined distinction between the constitutional carrot and the unconstitutional stick in state tax, subsidy, and related cases. Part I examines the restraints that the Commerce Clause imposes on state tax incentives. It canvasses the general principles limiting discriminatory state taxation, explores the Court's decisions addressing state tax incentives, and proposes a framework of analysis for adjudicating the validity of such incentives. Part I concludes by considering the constitutionality of a variety of state tax incentives within our suggested framework and also under alternative approaches that courts might utilize. Part II examines the restraints that …

Federalism And The Protection Of Rights: The Modern Ninth Amendment's Spreading Confusion, Thomas B. Mcaffee

BYU Law Review

No abstract provided.