Constitutional Law Commons^™

Originalism And History, Justice John P. Stevens (Ret.)

Georgia Law Review

The notion that a jurisprudence of "original intent" will constrain the discretion of judges who seek to impose their own policy preferences on the law has often been attributed to a speech delivered by Edwin Meese, then-Attorney General of the United States, to an American Bar Association audience on July 9, 1985. In that speech the Attorney General was particularly critical of Supreme Court opinions relying on the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment as a basis for requiring the states to adhere to specific provisions of the Bill of Rights. "[N]owhere else [he said,] has the principle of …

Sacred Rain Arrow: Honoring The Native American Heritage Of The States While Balancing The Citizens' Constitutional Rights, Amelia Coates

American Indian Law Review

Many states’ histories and traditions are steeped heavily in Native American culture, which explains why tribal imagery and symbolism are prevalent in official state paraphernalia such as license plates, flags, and state seals. Problems arise for states using Native American artwork when a citizen takes offense to the religious implications of Native American depictions, and objects to having it displayed on any number of items. This Comment will examine the likely outcome of cases involving Establishment Clause and compelled speech claims arising from Native American images and propose a solution for balancing the constitutional rights of the citizens while still …

The Roles Of The Supreme Court Of The Republic Of Indonesia In Enforcement Of International Arbitral Awards In Indonesia, Mutiara Hikmah

Indonesia Law Review

Indonesia has been being a member of the 1958 New York Convention since 1981, namely upon issuance of the Presidential Decree No. 34 of 1981. Prior to taking into force of the Regulation of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia No. 1 of 1990 on Procedures for Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral awards, there were still constraints for the foreign business players in term of enforcement of arbitral awards in Indonesia. The Supreme Court as the highest judicial institution in Indonesia holds that international arbitral awards can not be enforced in Indonesia. After the Indonesian Supreme Court has issued …

Runtuhnya Institusi Mahkamah Agung (The Indonesian Supreme Court: A Study Of Institutional Collapse), Anugerah Rizki Akbari

Indonesia Law Review

Since the fall of Indonesian president Soeharto, a major focus of the reformers has been the corrupt and inefficient judicial system. Within the context of a history of the Supreme Court in post-independence Indonesia, Sebastiaan Pompe analyzes the cause of the judiciary’s failure over the past decades. This book provides an essential background for those seeking to understand why legal reform has been so slow and frustrating in the post-1998 period.

December 30, 2013: The Moral Universe, Bruce Ledewitz

Hallowed Secularism

Blog post, “The Moral Universe“ discusses politics, theology and the law in relation to religion and public life in the democratic United States of America.

An Opinion For The Ages, Bruce Ledewitz

Ledewitz Papers

Published scholarship collected from academic journals, law reviews, newspaper publications & online periodicals

December 25, 2013: The Future Of The Secular Outlook, Bruce Ledewitz

Hallowed Secularism

Blog post, “The Future of the Secular Outlook“ discusses politics, theology and the law in relation to religion and public life in the democratic United States of America.

Medtronic V. Boston Scientific: Allocating The Burden Of Proof In Declaratory Judgment Actions For Patent Non-Infringement, Brianna Strange

Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy Sidebar

This commentary previews an upcoming Supreme Court case, Medtronic, Inc. v. Boston Scientific Corporation, in which the Court will decide which party bears the burden of proof in a declaratory judgment action for patent non-infringement.

December 21, 2013: Donald Rumsfeld And The Banality Of Evil, Bruce Ledewitz

Hallowed Secularism

Blog post, “Donald Rumsfeld and the Banality of Evil“ discusses politics, theology and the law in relation to religion and public life in the democratic United States of America.

December 15, 2013: Self Actualization Is Sin, Bruce Ledewitz

Hallowed Secularism

Blog post, “Self Actualization Is Sin“ discusses politics, theology and the law in relation to religion and public life in the democratic United States of America.

The Incompatible Treatment Of Majorities In Election Law And Deliberative Democracy, James A. Gardner

Journal Articles

Deliberative democracy offers a distinctive and appealing conception of political life, but is it one that might be called into service to guide actual reform of existing election law? This possibility seems remote because election law and deliberative democracy are built around different priorities and theoretical premises. A foundational area of disagreement lies in the treatment of majorities. Election law is structured, at both the legislative and constitutional levels, so as to privilege majorities and systematically to magnify their power, whereas deliberative democracy aims at privileging minorities (or at least de-privileging majorities). The main purpose of the election law now …

At Home In The Outer Limits: Daimlerchrysler V. Bauman And The Bounds Of General Personal Jurisdiction, Todd W. Noelle

Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy Sidebar

This commentary previews an upcoming Supreme Court case, DaimlerChrysler v. Bauman, in which the Court may decide whether maintaining a wholly-owned subsidiary in a forum state can render a foreign parent corporation "essentially at home" in that state, thereby permitting the forum state to exercise general personal jurisdiction over the parent corporation.

December 8, 2013: President Obama In The Sweet Spo, Bruce Ledewitz

Hallowed Secularism

Blog post, “President Obama in the Sweet Spo“ discusses politics, theology and the law in relation to religion and public life in the democratic United States of America.

The Evolution Of Statesmanship In The United States: How The Democratization Of Civic Education And Presidential Selection Transformed The American Executive, Andrew Depasquale

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Business and Public Affairs at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Government by Andrew DePasquale on December 6, 2013.

Censorship 101, Sonja R. West

Popular Media

This article looks at censorship in the public school setting.

December 4, 2013: God Again, Or, Am I An Atheist?, Bruce Ledewitz

Hallowed Secularism

Blog post, “God Again, Or, Am I an Atheist?“ discusses politics, theology and the law in relation to religion and public life in the democratic United States of America.

Atlantic Marine V. J-Crew: The Future Of Forum-Selection Clauses In Federal Courts, Sarah Sheridan

Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy Sidebar

This commentary previews an upcoming Supreme Court case, Atlantic Marine v. J-Crew, in which the Court may clarify a circuit split regarding the enforceability of forum-selection clauses by deciding which procedure should govern the enforcement of these clauses and which party carries the burden of proof in these disputes.

Aiding The Enemy Or Promoting Democracy? Defining The Rights Of Journalists And Whistleblowers To Disclose National Security Information, Candice M. Kines

West Virginia Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Singapore Constitution: A Brief Introduction, Smu Apolitical

Student Publications

This primer seeks to provide an easy guide to those interested in finding out more about the Singapore Constitution. The Constitution provides for the structure of the government and the roles of the judiciary and the parliament. It also secures our fundamental liberties. Hence, some basic knowledge of the Constitution is useful for every citizen.

The primer starts by providing an introduction to the Singapore Constitution and explains the meaning of the concept of separation of powers among the executive, legislature and the judiciary. It also touches on the functions of the three entities, such as how laws are made …

The Illusory Eighth Amendment, John F. Stinneford

UF Law Faculty Publications

Although there is no obvious doctrinal connection between the Supreme Court’s Miranda jurisprudence and its Eighth Amendment excessive punishments jurisprudence, the two are deeply connected at the level of methodology. In both areas, the Supreme Court has been criticized for creating “prophylactic” rules that invalidate government actions because they create a mere risk of constitutional violation. In reality, however, both sets of rules deny constitutional protection to a far greater number of individuals with plausible claims of unconstitutional treatment than they protect.

This dysfunctional combination of over- and underprotection arises from the Supreme Court’s use of implementation rules as a …