Archive for March, 2008
Law School Innovation
Saturday, March 22nd, 2008Washington & Lee is the cutting edge of legal education in the USA. Dean Rodney A. Smolla and his colleagues are kicking third year law students out of the classroom and into the real world. This is a brilliant idea and it is likely to be a big success for all concerned.
Melendez-Diaz v. Mass
Friday, March 21st, 2008Here is another important confrontation clause case. Many states allow prosecutors to put into evidence the results of lab tests on suspected drugs without having to authenticate the report by a live witness. This is rather like allowing the prosecutor in a tax case to put on financial evidence without producing the accountant for cross-examination.
If [...]
Arizona v. Gant
Wednesday, March 12th, 2008Here’s a very interesting case about search & seizure law. The question presented: is it OK for cops to search a lawfully parked car after they have the suspect in custody?
For further study, have a look at the Arizona Supreme Court Decision in this case. Read the decision in Thornton v. US, which is the [...]
Loyalty Oaths are Wrong
Saturday, March 1st, 2008Here is a mind-numbing horror story about education. A teacher signed a state-required loyalty oath, adding the word “nonviolently” to her promise to defend the Constitution. A lawyer for the university said it was “clearly not acceptable” to change the wording of the loyalty oath.
OK friends, guess where this case took place. If you live [...]