Courts Commons^™

Yates V. United States: A Case Study In Overcriminalization, Stephen F. Smith

Journal Articles

In Yates v. United States, the Supreme Court will decide whether tossing undersized fish overboard can be prosecuted under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002, a law aimed at preventing massive frauds of the sort that led to the collapse of Enron and sent shock waves throughout the economy. Although the legal issue is narrow, the case has far-reaching significance. The Yates prosecution is a case study in the dangers posed by “overcriminalization”: the existence of multitudinous, often overlapping criminal laws that are so poorly defined that they sweep within their ambit conduct far afield from their intended target.

The …

The Scope Of Precedent, Randy J. Kozel

Michigan Law Review

The scope of Supreme Court precedent is capacious. Justices of the Court commonly defer to sweeping rationales and elaborate doctrinal frameworks articulated by their predecessors. This practice infuses judicial precedent with the prescriptive power of enacted constitutional and statutory text. The lower federal courts follow suit, regularly abiding by the Supreme Court’s broad pronouncements. These phenomena cannot be explained by—and, indeed, oftentimes subvert—the classic distinction between binding holdings and dispensable dicta. This Article connects the scope of precedent with recurring and foundational debates about the proper ends of judicial interpretation. A precedent’s forward- looking effect should not depend on the …

The Trouble With Amicus Facts, Allison Orr Larsen

Faculty Publications

The number of amicus curiae briefs filed at the Supreme Court is at an all-time high. Most observers, and even some of the Justices, believe that the best of these briefs are filed to supplement the Court’s understanding of facts. Supreme Court decisions quite often turn on generalized facts about the way the world works (Do violent video games harm children? Is a partial birth abortion ever medically necessary?). To answer these questions, the Justices are hungry for more information than the parties and the record can provide. The consensus is that amicus briefs helpfully add factual expertise to the …

Speedy Trial As A Viable Challenge To Chronic Underfunding In Indigent-Defense Systems, Emily Rose

Michigan Law Review

Across the country, underresourced indigent-defense systems create delays in taking cases to trial at both the state and federal levels. Attempts to increase funding for indigent defense by bringing ineffective assistance of counsel claims have been thwarted by high procedural and substantive hurdles, and consequently these attempts have failed to bring significant change. This Note argues that, because ineffective assistance of counsel litigation is most likely a dead end for system-wide reform, indigent defenders should challenge the constitutionality of underfunding based on the Sixth Amendment guarantee of speedy trial. Existing speedy trial jurisprudence suggests that the overworking and furloughing of …

The Supreme Court Of Canada: Policy-Maker Of The Year, Benjamin Perrin

All Faculty Publications

Each year, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute for Public Policy recognizes a “Policy-Maker of the Year”. Past recipients have included former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney and Foreign Minister John Baird, who have had a tremendous impact on our country’s economic stability and international stature, respectively. One could argue that, while people in such positions are undoubtedly influential, there is another entity that is rarely acknowledged for its influence on policy, but in the last year has changed Canadian public policy in wide-reaching and long-lasting ways – the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC). This paper examines the Court’s 10 most significant …

The I.C.J.'S Decision In The Lockerbie Cases, Gerald P. Mcginley

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Top 10 U.S. Supreme Court Cases From The Last Term, Donald Roth

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"This list is ranked based on my perceptions of importance, newsworthiness, and the interests of this audience. Every Supreme Court case is significant. I just think these will be the most significant for a reading of in all things to know."

Posting about significant U.S. Supreme Court cases from the last term from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/top-10-u-s-supreme-court-cases-you-should-know-about/

5 U.S. Supreme Court Cases Every Christian Should Be Aware Of, Donald Roth

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

"What United Stated Supreme Court cases should Christians be aware of?"

Posting about the five United States Supreme Court cases of which all Christians should be aware from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.

http://inallthings.org/supreme-court-cases-christians-should-know-about/

Human Rights - Haitian Refugees - Haitian Refugees Housed At Guantanamo Bay Naval Base Held To Have No Valid Constitutional Or International Law Claims To Challenge Forced Repatriation By The U.S. Government. Haitian Refugee Center V. Baker, 953 F.2d 1498 (11th Cir. 1992), Cert. Denied, 112 S.Ct. 1245 (1992)., Jason A. Golden

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Brief Of Scholars Of The Constitutional Rights Of Children Susannah W. Pollvogt, Catherine E. Smith, And Tanya Washington As Amici Curiae In Support Of Plaintiffs-Appellants And Reversal: Robicheaux V. Caldwell, Catherine E. Smith, Tanya Washington, Susannah W. Pollvogt

Scholarly Articles

Amici are scholars and professors of family law and the law of equal protection. Amici submit this brief to respond directly to arguments advanced by the State of Louisiana that its laws prohibiting same-sex marriage2 are justified because they advance child welfare. Specifically, the State asserts that its laws advance child welfare by promoting Louisiana’s interest in: (1) linking children with their biological parents to prevent the social stigma associated with being “illegitimate” and (2) establishing the child as a member of an intact family resulting from the marriage of the mother and alleged father. These purported justifications express and …

The Extradition Proceedings Against General Augusto Pinochet: Is Justice Being Met Under International Law?, Anita C. Johnson

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

To Be Or Not To Be: The Forum Non Conveniens Performance Acted Out On Anglo-American Courtroom Stages, Alan Reed

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Mexico's Legal Revolution: An Appraisal Of Its Recent Constitutional Changes, 1988-1995, Jorge A. Vargas

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Reflections On Regional Human Rights Law, Gabriel M. Wilner

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

The Status Of The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights In National And International Law, Hurst Hannum

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Customary International Human Rights Law In Domestic Court Decisions, Gordon A. Christenson

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

The "Blank Stare Phenomenon": Proving Customary International Law In U.S. Courts, Paul L. Hoffman

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

How To Make Sense Of Supreme Court Standing Cases— – A Plea For The Right Kind Of Realism, Richard H. Fallon Jr.

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

No abstract provided.

Standing And The Role Of Federal Courts: Triple Error Decisions In Clapper V. Amnesty International Usa And City Of Los Angeles V. Lyons, Vicki C. Jackson

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

No abstract provided.

Does The Supreme Court Ignore Standing Problems To Reach The Merits? Evidence (Or Lack Thereof) From The Roberts Court, Heather Elliott

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

No abstract provided.

Governmental Sovereignty Actions, Ann Woolhandler

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

No abstract provided.

International Extradition Of Mexican Narcotics Traffickers: Prospects And Pitfalls For The New Millennium, Rishi Hingoraney

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Germany V. United States In The International Court Of Justice: An International Battle Over The Interpretation Of Article Thirty-Six Of The Vienna Convention On Consular Relations And Provisional Measures Orders, Stephanie Baker

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Democracy's Struggle Against Terrorism: The Powers Of Military Commanders To Decide Upon The Demolition Of Houses, The Imposition Of Curfews, Blockades, Encirclements And The Declaration Of An Area As A Closed Military Area, Emanuel Gross

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

The Confusing Standards For Discretionary Review In Washington And A Proposed Framework For Clarity, Judge Stephen Dwyer

Seattle University Law Review

It has now been more than thirty-five years since the Washington Rules of Appellate Procedure (RAP) became effective in 1976 and replaced all prior rules governing appellate procedure. One significant change that those rules made was to clearly describe and delineate a procedural mechanism for seeking interlocutory review of trial court decisions. The ultimate effect on practitioners is both obvious and unavoidable. Many lawyers, rather than stake out a clear position regarding the applicability of the various considerations governing discretionary review, simply argue that any and every consideration that is even arguably applicable is satisfied by the trial court’s determination. …

E-Books, Collusion, And Antitrust Policy: Protecting A Dominant Firm At The Cost Of Innovation, Nicholas Timchalk

Seattle University Law Review

Amazon’s main rival, Apple, went to great lengths and took major risks to enter the e-book market. Why did Apple simply choose not to compete on the merits of its product and brand equity (the iPad and iBookstore) as it does with its other products? Why did Apple decide not to continue to rely on its earlier success of situating its products differently in the market than other electronics and working hard to be different and cutting-edge with its e-book delivery? This Note argues that the combination of Amazon’s 90% market share, network externalities, and an innovative technology market creates …

The Politics Of Justice: Why Israel Signed The International Criminal Court Statute And What The Signature Means, Daniel A. Blumenthal

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

Remaking The Pen Mightier Than The Sword: An Evaluation Of The Growing Need For The International Protection Of Journalists, Dylan Howard

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

The Advisory Opinion On The Legality Of The Threat Or Use Of Nuclear Weapons, Stefaan Smis, Kim Van Der Borght

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.

The Opinion Of The Court Of Justice Regarding Accession To The European Convention For The Protection Of Human Rights And Fundamental Freedoms: Redirecting The Development Of Fundamental Rights Within The European Union, Alysa J. Ward

Georgia Journal of International & Comparative Law

No abstract provided.