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Articles 211 - 240 of 402
Full-Text Articles in State and Local Government Law
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 …
Voluntary Intoxication As A Mitigating Circumstance During The Death Penalty Sentencing Phase: A Proposal For Reform Comment., Jeffrey A. Walsh
Voluntary Intoxication As A Mitigating Circumstance During The Death Penalty Sentencing Phase: A Proposal For Reform Comment., Jeffrey A. Walsh
St. Mary's Law Journal
When the State of Texas seeks the death penalty against a defendant, the trial court conducts a sentencing proceeding under Article 37.071 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. This proceeding determines whether the defendant will receive the death penalty. During deliberation, the jury must consider all mitigating evidence. The defendant may claim his voluntary intoxication as a mitigating factor. Under Tex. Pen. Code § 8.04(b), the court instructs the jury to consider evidence of voluntary intoxication only if it rendered the defendant temporarily insane. Although Article 37.071 calls upon juries to consider “all” mitigating evidence, a Section 8.04 instruction …
Capital Punishment In Jewish Law And Its Application To The American Legal System: A Conceptual Overview Symposium: Thoughts On Death Penalty Issues 25 Years After Furman V. Georgia., Samuel J. Levine
St. Mary's Law Journal
In recent years, a growing body of scholarship has developed in the United States which applies concepts in Jewish law to unsettled, controversial and challenging areas of American legal thought. One area of Jewish legal thought that has found prominence in both American court opinions and American legal scholarship concerns the approach taken by Jewish law to capital punishment. In this Essay, Levine discusses the issue of the death penalty in Jewish law as it relates to the question of the death penalty in American law, a discussion that requires the rejection of simplistic conclusions and the confrontation of the …
Demystifying The Extraordinary Writ: Substantive And Procedural Requirements For The Issuance Of Mandamus., Charles W. Rocky Rhodes
Demystifying The Extraordinary Writ: Substantive And Procedural Requirements For The Issuance Of Mandamus., Charles W. Rocky Rhodes
St. Mary's Law Journal
In Walker v. Packer, the Texas Supreme Court attempted to harmonize Texas jurisprudence regarding the standards for issuing a writ of mandamus. The Walker court initially reiterated the maxim that mandamus will issue “only to correct a clear abuse of discretion or the violation of a duty imposed by law when there is no other adequate remedy by law.” The Court defined “clear abuse of discretion” as “a decision so arbitrary and unreasonable as to amount to a clear and prejudicial error of law.” The Court subsequently reaffirmed the “fundamental tenant” of mandamus practice stating the extraordinary writ is not …
Standards Of Review In Texas., W. Wendell Hall
Standards Of Review In Texas., W. Wendell Hall
St. Mary's Law Journal
This Article presents a substantial and comprehensive update of the standards of review applied by Texas appellate courts. It focuses on appellate standards for reviewing trial court rulings on pretrial, trial, and posttrial proceedings. Standards of review distribute power within the judicial branch by defining the relationship between trial and appellate courts. These standards “frame the issues, define the depth of review, assign power among judicial actors, and declare the proper materials to review.” Sometimes a trial court’s errors are so egregious and harmful that reversing the trial court is relatively simple. When the trial court’s error is only marginal …
Toward Permissive Appeal In Texas., Renee Forinash Mcelhaney
Toward Permissive Appeal In Texas., Renee Forinash Mcelhaney
St. Mary's Law Journal
A comparison of April Marketing & Distributing Corp. v. Diamond Shamrock Refining & Marketing Co. (“April Marketing”), which pended in federal court, and Barshop v. Medina County Underground Water Conservation District (“Barshop”), which pended in state court, illustrates the value of permissive appeal. Both cases had many early procedural similarities. Yet, the cases differ because the federal court allowed for a permissive appeal; the state court did not. The two cases later diverged procedurally, when the federal case was able to appeal the trial court’s interlocutory order denying motion for summary judgment. Lacking this option, the state case was forced …
The Role Of Variances In Determing Ripeness In Takings Claims Under Zoning Ordinances And Subdivision Regulations Of Texas Municipalities., John Mixon, Justin Waggoner
The Role Of Variances In Determing Ripeness In Takings Claims Under Zoning Ordinances And Subdivision Regulations Of Texas Municipalities., John Mixon, Justin Waggoner
St. Mary's Law Journal
Texas zoning law follows the national standards in creating boards of adjustment. Unlike most states, Texas does not allow its boards of adjustment to grant so-called “use” variances. A variance is essentially a legal waiver from compliance with certain land-use regulations which is granted to a landowner by a government entity in certain limited cases. There are two general types of variances: the area variance and the use variance. Use variance permits the property in question to be used in a manner totally different than that allowed by the ordinance. Whereas the area variance only modifies or relaxes the degree …
Texas Rule Of Civil Procedure 166a(I): A New Weapon For Texas Defendants Comment., Robert W. Clore
Texas Rule Of Civil Procedure 166a(I): A New Weapon For Texas Defendants Comment., Robert W. Clore
St. Mary's Law Journal
This Comment analyzes the Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 166a(i) for a “no evidence” motion and discusses its likely application in Texas courts. Part II reviews summary judgment practice in federal and Texas state courts in order to determine the likely construction of the new rule. Part III discusses Rule 166a(i) and explores the role of litigation reform in shaping the no-evidence motion. This part also addresses the procedural shortcomings of the new rule and compares Rule 166a(i) with federal summary judgment practice. Part IV assesses whether Rule 166a(i) violates the Texas Constitution by denying citizens the right to a …
Tangible Or Intangible - Is That The Question - Conflict In The Texas Tax Classification System Of Computer Software Comment., Christine E. Reinhard
Tangible Or Intangible - Is That The Question - Conflict In The Texas Tax Classification System Of Computer Software Comment., Christine E. Reinhard
St. Mary's Law Journal
This Comment evaluates tax classification of computer software in Texas under recent statutory provisions and case law. The author focuses on whether computer software constitutes tangible or intangible property and whether computer software should be taxable or not. Determining property classification is not easy—the term “computer software” is difficult to define, and the multitude of different types of computer software further obscures the formation of a uniform definition. The Texas legislature’s ability to tax both tangible and intangible property makes classifying computer software as either type unnecessary. Texas can resolve the conflict in its tax classification system, wherein computer software …
Feminism And Defending Men On Death Row Symposium: Thoughts On Death Penalty Issues 25 Years After Furman V. Georgia., Phyllis L. Crocker
Feminism And Defending Men On Death Row Symposium: Thoughts On Death Penalty Issues 25 Years After Furman V. Georgia., Phyllis L. Crocker
St. Mary's Law Journal
In this Essay I explore the relationship between being a feminist and representing men on death row. It is appropriate to engage in this inquiry in considering how the law has developed in the twenty-five years since Furman v. Georgia. During that time both Furman and the advent of feminist legal theory have required a restructuring in the way we think about two fundamental legal questions: for death penalty jurisprudence, how and why we sentence individuals to death; and for feminist jurisprudence, how the law views crimes of violence against women. The relationship between these two developments becomes apparent when …
The React Security Belt: Stunning Prisoners And Human Rights Groups Into Questioning Whether Its Use Is Permissible Under The United States And Texas Constitutions Comment., Shelley A. Nieto Dahlberg
The React Security Belt: Stunning Prisoners And Human Rights Groups Into Questioning Whether Its Use Is Permissible Under The United States And Texas Constitutions Comment., Shelley A. Nieto Dahlberg
St. Mary's Law Journal
The Remote Electronically Activated Control Technology (REACT) belt infringes upon criminal defendants’ and prisoners’ fundamental rights; therefore, it cannot withstand judicial scrutiny under the United States and Texas Constitutions. This Comment attempts to address and answer issues regarding the REACT belt. The belt constitutes cruel and unusual punishment with the potential to deprive prisoners of their due process rights. The belt disrupts attorney-client communication and destroys a criminal defendant’s presumption of innocence. Furthermore, other alternatives provide effective means to prevent unruly prisoners from destroying the integrity of the courts. Part II of this Comment discusses how the belt works, and …
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 …
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 …
The Impending Wave Of Legal Malpractice Litigation - Predictions, Analysis, And Proposals For Change., Gary N. Schumann, Scott B. Herlihy
The Impending Wave Of Legal Malpractice Litigation - Predictions, Analysis, And Proposals For Change., Gary N. Schumann, Scott B. Herlihy
St. Mary's Law Journal
Attorneys tend to be viewed antithetically, at once both greedy and manipulative, but also respected and admired. Given this odd mixture of respect and disdain, attorneys are fortunate to have generally avoided being targets as potential defendants. Nevertheless, circumstances in Texas have changed, creating a new legal climate wherein attorneys may soon become defendants of choice. Attorneys in Texas are at a significantly greater risk of becoming the subject of a malpractice suit than they were in the past. Yet, simply because statistics indicate an increase in the number of malpractice claims, this does not mean more malpractice is being …
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. …
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 …
Writing In The Margins: Brennan, Marshall, And The Inherent Weaknesses Of Liberal Judicial Decision-Making Essay., Donna F. Coltharp
Writing In The Margins: Brennan, Marshall, And The Inherent Weaknesses Of Liberal Judicial Decision-Making Essay., Donna F. Coltharp
St. Mary's Law Journal
From 1967, when Thurgood Marshall took his seat as Supreme Court Justice, until 1990, when William Brennan, Jr. vacated his seat, the two Justices formed one of the most consistent liberal voting blocs in the history of the Court. Both Justices were judicial activists who labored in the tradition of Legal Realism. Although both Brennan and Marshall recognized the interpretation and application of the law as purposeful exercises, they differed in their approach to the task. Marshall, for instance, appealed to social consensus stating that his views were supported by society. Furthermore, Marshall strongly believed that the Constitution is a …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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, …
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 …
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 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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …