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Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Commons™
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Articles 271 - 300 of 446
Full-Text Articles in Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility
Victims' Rights And The Constitution: Moving From Guaranteeing Participatory Rights To Benefiting The Prosecution Symposium: Thoughts On Death Penalty Issues 25 Years After Furman V. Georgia., Robert P. Mosteller
St. Mary's Law Journal
Supporters of victims’ rights can be broadly grouped into three categories according to their basic goals. One category seeks to guarantee participatory rights in a governmental process (“Participatory Rights”). A second category of support for the victims’ rights amendment comes from those who are animated by a pro-prosecution, anti-defendant perspective on criminal law and procedure (“Prosecutorial Benefit”). The third group supporting victims’ rights is comprised of those who demand greater protection and support for victims by the government (“Victim Protection and Aid”). The first serious attempt to amend the United States Constitution on behalf of crime victims happened in 1982. …
Clouded Judgment: The Implications Of Smith V. Merritt In The Realm Of Social Host Liability And Underage Drinking In Texas Perspective., Sabrina A. Hall
Clouded Judgment: The Implications Of Smith V. Merritt In The Realm Of Social Host Liability And Underage Drinking In Texas Perspective., Sabrina A. Hall
St. Mary's Law Journal
This Perspective evaluates the contradiction created by the Texas Supreme Court in Smith v. Merritt as well as its implications on social host liability in Texas. Smith creates serious ramifications regarding alcohol consumption and liability. In Smith, the Court held a social host is not liable for providing alcohol to a guest over the age of eighteen, regardless of whether the guest is under the minimum drinking age. Specifically, this Perspective critically analyzes the court’s holding, focusing on the inequities produced by permitting a social host to provide alcohol to individuals between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one without being …
Texas Groundwater: Reconciling The Rule Of Capture With Environmental And Community Demands Comment., Stephanie E. Hayes Lusk
Texas Groundwater: Reconciling The Rule Of Capture With Environmental And Community Demands Comment., Stephanie E. Hayes Lusk
St. Mary's Law Journal
In order to avert the depletion of water resources, many states have attempted to enact legislation aimed at promoting water conservation. Such legislation has been known to conflict with outdated principles of property ownership, namely the rule of capture. The rule of capture vests landowners with property rights in water located directly beneath their land. Texas categorizes water based on whether the water flows above or below the surface. Surface water is typically the property of the state, with property owners having no possessory interest in the surface water. Yet, the opposite is true for groundwater, where all rights to …
Juries Under Siege., Phil Hardberger
Juries Under Siege., Phil Hardberger
St. Mary's Law Journal
Beginning in the late 1980s, the Texas Supreme Court saw a slew of conservative judges elected to the bench. With this new Court, previous expansions of the law were stopped. Jury verdicts became highly suspect and were frequently overturned for a variety of reasons. Damages too did not go unnoticed. Juries’ assessments were wiped out by increasingly harsher standards. The ripple effect of the Court’s conservative philosophy on the judicial process was substantial. Jury verdicts, few as they may be, are not subject to harsh scrutiny by conscientious appellate judges sworn to follow the Texas Supreme Court’s precedent. And the …
Indictments And Informations In Texas: The Conduct/Evidence Pleading Conundrum., Robert R. Barton
Indictments And Informations In Texas: The Conduct/Evidence Pleading Conundrum., Robert R. Barton
St. Mary's Law Journal
In the prosecution of a criminal case in Texas, the State’s primary pleading is an indictment or information. In an indictment or information, there are two basic rules for the charging of an offense. First, the defendant must be given adequate notice to prepare a defense and to plead the judgment from the trial of the case in bar to a subsequent prosecution for the same offense. Second, the State is not required to plead evidentiary matters. The simplicity of these rules exists more in their statement than in their application because circumstances exist which require the State to plead …
Hiv And Aids Test Results And The Duty To Warn Third Parties: A Proposal For Uniform Guidelines For Texas Professionals Comment., Tammy R. Wavle
Hiv And Aids Test Results And The Duty To Warn Third Parties: A Proposal For Uniform Guidelines For Texas Professionals Comment., Tammy R. Wavle
St. Mary's Law Journal
Professionals in Texas are increasingly faced with the issues of if and when they must disclose infection of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and if they may be held liable for failing to disclose a known infection. These professionals must deal with conflicting guidance from the courts and legislature. The source of confusion is the conflict between the common-law duty to warn identifiable third parties of the dangers posed to them and the Texas statute governing confidentiality of test results for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Act (CDPCA) mandates disclosure of positive test results …
So Long Sweetheart - State Farm Fire & (And) Casualty Co. V. Gandy Swings The Pendulum Further To The Right As The Latest In A Line Of Setbacks For Texas Plaintiffs., Timothy D. Howell
So Long Sweetheart - State Farm Fire & (And) Casualty Co. V. Gandy Swings The Pendulum Further To The Right As The Latest In A Line Of Setbacks For Texas Plaintiffs., Timothy D. Howell
St. Mary's Law Journal
Some legal commentators would analogize the description of the prisoner of The Pit and the Pendulum to modern tort law and policy. Like a pendulum, tort law is always in motion, swinging between two ideologies: those being the plaintiff-oriented rights of the 1970s-80s, and the tort-reforms which began in the mid-80s. This trend continued until the 1990s and the decision of State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Gandy where Texas plaintiffs began experiencing setbacks. The Gandy decision likely curtails the use of the “sweetheart deal” a practice, in which an insured defendant first settles with the plaintiff, then assigns …
Doing Justice: A Challenge For Catholic Law Schools Essay., Grace M. Walle
Doing Justice: A Challenge For Catholic Law Schools Essay., Grace M. Walle
St. Mary's Law Journal
The numerous allegations of misconduct against high-ranking United States political figures and the associated attorneys are disheartening, but even more disconcerting is the general public’s acquiescence to these ethical deviations. The common assumption that “all lawyers are crooks” fails to outrage anyone. The fact most, if not all, recent ethical violators attended law schools and began their political careers as lawyers prompts questions of the legal education process. Understanding what justice encompasses may begin in books and the classroom, but justice in legal practice requires far more. The aspiration of “doing justice” may stem from religious belief, but this goal …
Defining The Limits Of Federal Court Jurisdiction Over States In Bankruptcy Court., Patricia L. Barsalou
Defining The Limits Of Federal Court Jurisdiction Over States In Bankruptcy Court., Patricia L. Barsalou
St. Mary's Law Journal
Sovereign immunity jurisprudence has always been a confusing jumble of assumptions which seem incomprehensible. Despite the confusion, understanding sovereign immunity has become more important in the wake of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Seminole Tribe of Florida v. Florida. The constitutional issues raised in Seminole Tribe amount to a reinterpretation of the fundamental balance of power between federal and state governments and the power of Congress to affect that balance. Not all sovereign immunity is sovereign immunity. Many courts use the term to identify both the common-law doctrine and the “immunity” granted to the states through the Eleventh …
The Food And Drug Administration's Final Rule On Tobacco Advertising Is All Butt Final: Commercial Speech Doctrine Will Be Tested Once More Under A Stricter Central Hudson Analysis In The Aftermath Of 44 Liquormart, Inc. V. Rhode Island Comment., Joe R. Hinojosa
St. Mary's Law Journal
In 1996 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) promulgated regulations affecting the advertising, sale, and promotion of tobacco. President Clinton supported the FDA’s claim it has the power to regulate tobacco products not as drugs, but as medical delivery devices of nicotine. Meaning tobacco sellers, retailer, distributors, and manufacturers would be subject to strict rules concerning how and where tobacco products may be advertised, distributed, and promoted. Despite the FDA’s claims, these measures were oriented toward discouraging children from smoking. Opponents of the regulations claim the restrictions constitute blatant infringement of commercial speech. The FDA argues that while advertising is …
Professional Responsibility And The Litigator: A Comprehensive Guide To Texas Disciplinary Rules 3.01 Through 4.04., Barbara Hanson Nellermoe, Fidel Rodriguez Jr.
Professional Responsibility And The Litigator: A Comprehensive Guide To Texas Disciplinary Rules 3.01 Through 4.04., Barbara Hanson Nellermoe, Fidel Rodriguez Jr.
St. Mary's Law Journal
In 1991, the Texas Supreme Court addressed the issue of widespread discovery abuse. Technological advancements have brought new challenges to an attorney’s conduct in litigation and in the discovery process. The Texas Code of Professional Responsibility was repealed in 1990 and was replaced by Article 10, § 9 of the State Bar Rules (the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct). The Order of Adoption of the Texas Lawyer’ Creed states “the conduct of a lawyer should be characterized at all time by honest, candor, and fairness.” It is therefore mandatory for attorneys to refrain from engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, …
A Tortured Construction: The Illegal Immigration Reform And Immigrant Responsibility Act's Express Bar Denying Criminal Aliens Withholding Of Deportation Defies The Principles Of International Law Comment., Bobbie Marie Guerra
St. Mary's Law Journal
The United States has never fully complied with international agreements concerning refugee’s rights to not be returned to a country where he or she faces certain threats of torture. This lack of compliance by the United States is exacerbated by two conflicting interests: the growing insistence on keeping aliens outside the nation’s borders and protecting international refugees who endure gross violations of their human rights. The recent amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provide a contemporary example of the volatility and inconsistency of the United States’ immigration policy. In April 1996, Congress enacted the Antiterrorism and Effective Death …
Distinguishing Fong Yue Ting: Why The Inclusion Of Perjury As An Aggravated Felony Subjecting Legal Aliens To Deportation Under The Antiterrorism And Effective Death Penalty Act Violates The Eighth Amendment Comment., Gregory L. Ryan
St. Mary's Law Journal
Responding to the terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City, Congress spent several months researching and discussing the best ways to strengthen the United States’ ability to deter and punish terrorism. In 1996, Congress sent a bill to the President designed to make the country safer, and President Clinton signed the bill into law: The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA). The AEDPA mandates a foreign national convicted of perjury be deported. Tucked away in the middle of the AEDPA, strict sanctions are imposed on noncitizens who commit perjury or subordination of perjury. In an attempt to strengthen the …
Anti-Immigrant Backlash And The Role Of The Judiciary: A Proposal For Heightened Review Of Federal Laws Affecting Immigrants Comment., Valerie L. Barth
Anti-Immigrant Backlash And The Role Of The Judiciary: A Proposal For Heightened Review Of Federal Laws Affecting Immigrants Comment., Valerie L. Barth
St. Mary's Law Journal
The hostile environment in the United States toward immigrants, as indicated by the Welfare Reform Act and Proposition 187, calls for a more meaningful judicial review of laws affecting immigrants. Although subjecting the federal government’s actions regarding immigrants to heightened review might seem to be a radical step, this Comment will explain why such a move is necessary. Part II discusses historical justifications for subjecting state and federal laws affecting immigrants to different levels of scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause. Part III presents arguments for labeling immigrants a “suspect” class. Part IV considers the constitutionality of the Welfare Reform …
The Fourteenth Amendment And Title Ix: A Solution To Peer Sexual Harassment Comment., Connie C. Flores
The Fourteenth Amendment And Title Ix: A Solution To Peer Sexual Harassment Comment., Connie C. Flores
St. Mary's Law Journal
Despite the high occurrence of sexual harassment in schools, many school officials, who are aware of the abuse, do nothing to prevent it. Yet, some officials are beginning to recognize peer abuse is not acceptable due to the detrimental effects on students. As a result, many schools have implemented successful programs to prevent peer harassment. Furthermore, when schools have not responded adequately to the problem, student victims have turned to the courts, suing schools for failure to ensure an environment free from discrimination. Although victims have had little success in taking these cases to court, constitutional and statutory provisions exist …
The U.S. Attorney: Fateful Powers Limited Essay., Tom Rickhoff
The U.S. Attorney: Fateful Powers Limited Essay., Tom Rickhoff
St. Mary's Law Journal
Nothing more separates the United States from some of history’s most ruthless and resourceful enemies, the Mexican drug syndicates, than an intermittent trickle of water. In spite of this crisis, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has languished without a presidentially-appointed leader since the Branch Davidian nightmare. Considering the historical influence of the U.S. Attorney’s office, the current situation in the Western District of Texas is somewhat surprising. At one time, U.S. Attorneys exercised almost total discretion as to how the federal government impacted the lives of the powerful as well as the powerless. One of the primary obstacles in restoring effective …
Of Ivory Columns And Glass Ceilings: The Impact Of The Supreme Court Of The United States On The Practice Of Women Attorneys In Law Firms Comment., Nancy L. Farrer
Of Ivory Columns And Glass Ceilings: The Impact Of The Supreme Court Of The United States On The Practice Of Women Attorneys In Law Firms Comment., Nancy L. Farrer
St. Mary's Law Journal
This Commentary examines the effect United States Supreme Court decisions on sex discrimination in the legal profession. Discrimination against women currently appears to be alive and well in the legal field. Decisions like Bradwell v. Illinois and In re Lockwood frustrated women attorneys for over a century, allowing states to determine women were unfit for occupations in areas like law. Hishon v. King & Spalding, and later, Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, applied Title VII protections to evaluations of potential law firm partners—a process previously closed and unassailable for most of the history of the legal profession. More recently, Harris v. …
The Antiterrorism Act, The Immigration Reform Act, And Ideological Regulation In The Immigration Laws: Important Lessons For Citizens And Noncitizens., Kevin R. Johnson
The Antiterrorism Act, The Immigration Reform Act, And Ideological Regulation In The Immigration Laws: Important Lessons For Citizens And Noncitizens., Kevin R. Johnson
St. Mary's Law Journal
This Article analyzes how the Antiterrorism Act and the Immigration Reform Act reflect a larger historical dynamic in the relationship between domestic subordination and immigration law. The U.S. government historically employed immigration laws in an effort to protect the established political and social order. History reveals a strong correlation between the severe treatment politically subversive U.S. citizens received and the constriction of the immigration laws. This Article argues the lack of constitutional protections for noncitizens helps to explain the recurrent backlash against them. The treatment of noncitizens suggests how far the government might go to suppress domestic political dissent by …
Title Iii Of The Violence Against Women Act: The Answer To Domestic Violence Or A Constitutional Time-Bomb Comment., Yvette J. Mabbun
Title Iii Of The Violence Against Women Act: The Answer To Domestic Violence Or A Constitutional Time-Bomb Comment., Yvette J. Mabbun
St. Mary's Law Journal
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was enacted in 1994 to combat the growing and widespread epidemic of domestic violence. Congressional committees assigned to study this epidemic found that violent attacks by men topped the list of dangers to an American woman’s health. In an attempt to raise society’s awareness of the problem of violence against women and to ameliorate the victimization of women, Congress enacted VAWA. Specifically, Title III of VAWA establishes a federal civil right for victims of violent, gender-motivated crimes. These provide victims with either injunctive or monetary compensation. Consequently, there have been questions about the constitutionality …
The Prospects For Challenging U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy In Light Of The World Court's Advisory Opinion On The Legality Of The Threat Or Use Of Such Weapons Comment., Stephen Gordon
St. Mary's Law Journal
In an opinion, the World Court concluded “the threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be contrary to the rules of international law,” the only exception being “in an extreme circumstance of self-defense, where survival of a State is at stake.” The Court’s opinion could read as prohibiting the most common ways the United States incorporated nuclear weapons into its defense strategy. First, it may prevent the United States from using such weapons again legally. Second, if the opinion does not render using nuclear weapons illegal in all circumstances, it might prohibit the United States from ever being the …
Immigration Reform: Seeking The Right Reasons., Lamar Smith, Edward R. Grant
Immigration Reform: Seeking The Right Reasons., Lamar Smith, Edward R. Grant
St. Mary's Law Journal
The legacy of immigration to the United States permeates the debate over current immigration policy. Because our self-definition as a nation is at stake in this debate, the issue of immigration arouses our deepest sentiments regarding the communities in which we live. We do not need to search far back in our history to find examples of imprudent law-making. Both the 1924 and 1925 immigration laws were motivated in large part by purposes which eventually undermined the principles on which they rested. These acts serve as prime examples of how employing erroneous reasons to enact even well-intentioned laws can be …
Abandoned Frozen Embryos And Texas Law Of Abandoned Personal Property: Should There Be A Connection Comment., Lynne M. Thomas
Abandoned Frozen Embryos And Texas Law Of Abandoned Personal Property: Should There Be A Connection Comment., Lynne M. Thomas
St. Mary's Law Journal
In vitro fertilization (“IVF”) has become almost commonplace in society. The widespread utilization of IVF and cryopreservation raises new questions with respect to ownership and disposition of embryos. This legal confusion may be addressed by either crafting specific regulations for that particular technology as its implications become apparent, or by applying current law. IVF first began in Great Britain, and the British Parliament passed a law mandating destruction of abandoned frozen embryos five years after cryopreservation. Destruction of the embryos potentially caused the loss of reproduction capability for those persons whose embryos were destroyed. While the number of abandoned frozen …
The Maquiladora Industry And Environmental Degradation In The United States-Mexico Borderlands Symposium - The Environment And The United States-Mexico Border., Edward J. Williams
The Maquiladora Industry And Environmental Degradation In The United States-Mexico Borderlands Symposium - The Environment And The United States-Mexico Border., Edward J. Williams
St. Mary's Law Journal
Periods of rapid industrial growth and environmental degradation in the United States-Mexico Borderlands have historically coincided with negative shifts in Mexico’s economy. The Mexican economic crisis of 1982 sparked burgeoning growth in the maquiladora industry, with plants in the Borderlands increasing at a rate of fifteen percent per year. Due to the Mexican economic crisis of the mid-1990s, renewed industrial expansion and environmental degradation is once again expected. The maquiladora program is frequently used to identify cooperative industrial efforts between the United States and Mexico. The term refers to an assembly process in which twin plants operate on opposite sides …
Private Enforcement Of Nafta Environmental Standards Through Transnational Mass Tort Litigation: The Role Of United States Courts In The Age Of Free Trade Symposium - The Environment And The United States-Mexico Border - Comment., Michael Sang H. Cho
St. Mary's Law Journal
Maquiladoras are manufacturing facilities along the United States-Mexico border operated by transnational corporations (TNCs). The arrival of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) meant TNCs are free to move capital and operations across the United States-Mexico border at will. Yet, the maquiladora workers are not free to travel or seek employment across the border. The NAFTA debate in the United States raised public awareness of environmental problems in the border region. Nevertheless, maquiladora workers have lived with environmental degradation long before the NAFTA environmental debate began. With the passage of NAFTA, increased trade and the burgeoning industries along the …
Free Trade Agreements And The Federal Courts: Emerging Issues., Robert P. Deyling
Free Trade Agreements And The Federal Courts: Emerging Issues., Robert P. Deyling
St. Mary's Law Journal
The United States and Canada, and more recently Mexico, have tried to resolve certain types of international trade disputes through a unique process. Under the United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) and its successor, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), disputing parties may choose binational panels to review disputes over antidumping and countervailing duty determinations. Binational panel review entirely replaces national judicial review for each case in which the parties choose the panel process. Panels are convened on a case-by-case basis from a list of trade experts submitted by disputing countries. Panels must follow relevant national trade law in …
Adarand Constructors, Inc. V. Pena: The Lochnerization Of Affirmative Action Recent Development., Patricia A. Carlson
Adarand Constructors, Inc. V. Pena: The Lochnerization Of Affirmative Action Recent Development., Patricia A. Carlson
St. Mary's Law Journal
The Supreme Court’s decision in Adarand will lead to the invalidation of many federal programs because the decision requires strict scrutiny for all affirmative action programs, including federal programs. The Court ignores both constitutional strictures and American history by resorting to Lochner era rulings of striking down federal socio-economic regulations. Overturning the clear precedent of Fullilove undermines stare decisis by valuing the language of the Court’s decision over its meaning. The Court in Adarand presumes that the Constitution is color-blind. This presumption ignores the history leading up to the Reconstruction Amendments, the purpose of the Reconstruction Amendments, and the intentions …
Nafta And The Environment: A Proposal For Free Trade In Hazardous Waste Between The United States And Mexico Symposium - The Environment And The United States-Mexico Border., David W. Eaton
St. Mary's Law Journal
Over the past decade, the transboundary movement of hazardous waste has become an important issue. Because of its geographic proximity to the United States and its desire to attract foreign investment, Mexico has become one of the United States-owned maquiladoras’ favorite dumping grounds. The recent North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) may only exacerbate matters. Because the health and environmental risks associated with the inappropriate disposal of hazardous waste knows no boundaries, it is important NAFTA signatories jointly address waste issues. While NAFTA has had a positive impact on environmental protection in the United States and Mexico, the NAFTA debate …
The Anatomy Of Emtala: A Litigator's Guide., Alicia K. Dowdy, Gail N. Friend, Jennifer L. Rangel
The Anatomy Of Emtala: A Litigator's Guide., Alicia K. Dowdy, Gail N. Friend, Jennifer L. Rangel
St. Mary's Law Journal
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) prohibits hospitals from inappropriately transferring or refusing medical care to persons with emergency medical conditions. EMTALA was passed in response to the practice of “dumping” seriously ill patients from private hospitals into public ones, to ensure all patients receive medical treatment in emergency situations. Plaintiffs have attempted to pursue EMTALA claims against non-hospital defendants, but courts have consistently disallowed such claims under the statute. By limiting the scope of its coverage to hospitals, EMTALA creates a situation unique from ordinary medical malpractice. Although hospitals may be held liable for negligent credentialing …
A Fair Day's Pay For A Fair Day's Work: Time To Raise And Index The Minimum Wage., William P. Quigley
A Fair Day's Pay For A Fair Day's Work: Time To Raise And Index The Minimum Wage., William P. Quigley
St. Mary's Law Journal
Millions of people are working for a living but not receiving a living wage in return for their work. The value of the minimum wage continues to erode, with the Congressional Research Service estimating the minimum wage would have to rise to $6.75 per hour in 1996 to equal the purchasing power it represented in 1978. It is not in the common interest, nor in the interest of justice, for people to work full-time, yet remain mired in poverty. Reforming the minimum wage by raising it and indexing it for inflation is a critical step toward attaining Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s …
Intellectual Property Pirates: Congress Raises The Stakes In The Modern Battle To Protect Copyrights And Safeguard The United States Economy Comment., Timothy D. Howell
Intellectual Property Pirates: Congress Raises The Stakes In The Modern Battle To Protect Copyrights And Safeguard The United States Economy Comment., Timothy D. Howell
St. Mary's Law Journal
Intellectual property pirates menace the industry by hijacking audio recordings, movies, television broadcasts, and software—posing an economic threat and accounting for billions of dollars in losses annually. This Comment examines legislative attempts to combat information piracy through criminalization of copyright infringement—focusing on the proposed Criminal Copyright Improvement Act of 1995 (Improvement Act). The Improvement Act contemplates expansion of criminal copyright infringement law, attempting to close the legal “loophole” exposed by United States v. LaMacchia, and providing a more effective means for deterring copyright piracy. Part II of this Comment provides a historical overview of United States copyright laws and introduces …