POS 282--Introduction to American Law
In class today, Thursday 10/29, I distributed one handout, the next case brief assignment, which is due next Thursday, and which is reproduced below. Then we talked about the Butler case, both the majority and the dissenting opinions. I also went over the 1971 U.S. Supreme Court case of Harris v. N.Y., in which a majority of the Court confirmed the majority decision in Butler. In addition to starting work on the Flaherty case brief, the assignment is to read through p. 145 of the text, which has the textbook discussion about Conflict of Laws.
Assignment due Thursday, November 5, 2009
The assignment is to do a Case Brief of the case of Flaherty v. Allstate Insurance, 2003 ME 72, 822 A.2d 1159. The case can be found on the website of the Maine Supreme Court.
To access the case, go to
http://www.courts.state.me.us/opinions/supreme/index.html
--select “2003 Opinions”
--select 2003 ME 72, Flaherty v. Allstate Insurance
Do not brief the final issue (Part IV) of the decision, but brief the other issues.
Follow the format from the Sample Briefs that I’ve distributed. Note especially that the Facts, Issues, and Holding are copied and pasted. Whatever you put into the Fact section should appear exactly in your Issue and Holding sections as well. Your Issue and Holding sections should be identical, except that the issue is a question, and the Holding is the answer to that question. Your briefs will be evaluated on the format, as well as the specific content.
Please make two copies of your brief, one to hand in at the beginning of class, and the other for you to have during class for our discussion.
You may e-mail me if you have questions about the brief. The more time that I have to answer our questions, the more likely it is that I can be helpful.
If you cannot be in class on Thursday 11/5, you should still e-mail me your brief by the beginning of class time. If you do that, you will not have any grade deducted from your grade for the brief. If you do not, you should still contact me as soon as possible to see what options are available to you. (Generally, I do not want to accept assignments after we have discussed them in class). See the Syllabus for the class rules regarding late papers.
IMPORTANT: If you e-mail your brief to me, I will reply to confirm that I have received your assignment. If I do not reply, then I have not received the assignment.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
October 27, 2009
POS 282--Introduction to American Law
In class today, Tuesday 10/27, I distributed one handout, the federal statute in which Congress authorized the U.S. Attorney General to change the classification of prohibited drugs. We spent most of the class period going over the case of Gonzalez v. Raich, the medical marijuana case. We discussed it mainly in terms of the power relations shown in the decision: federal power v. state power; judicial v. legislative v. executive power; and also governmental power v. individual rights. The assignment for Thursday 10/29 is to read and prepare to discuss through p. 140 of the text.
In class today, Tuesday 10/27, I distributed one handout, the federal statute in which Congress authorized the U.S. Attorney General to change the classification of prohibited drugs. We spent most of the class period going over the case of Gonzalez v. Raich, the medical marijuana case. We discussed it mainly in terms of the power relations shown in the decision: federal power v. state power; judicial v. legislative v. executive power; and also governmental power v. individual rights. The assignment for Thursday 10/29 is to read and prepare to discuss through p. 140 of the text.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
October 22, 2009
POS 282--Introduction to American Law
In class today, Thursday 10/22, I returned the exams, and we went over them. At the end of class, we also talked a little about some of the distribution of power issues in our political system. The assignment for Tuesday 10/27 is to read and prepare to discuss through p. 130 of the text.
In class today, Thursday 10/22, I returned the exams, and we went over them. At the end of class, we also talked a little about some of the distribution of power issues in our political system. The assignment for Tuesday 10/27 is to read and prepare to discuss through p. 130 of the text.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
October 20, 2009
POS 282--Introduction to American Law
In class today, Tuesday 10/20, we had Test #1. I will return that test on Thursday, and we will go over it. The additional assignment for Thursday 10/22 is to read in the text and prepare to discuss pp. 108-125.
In class today, Tuesday 10/20, we had Test #1. I will return that test on Thursday, and we will go over it. The additional assignment for Thursday 10/22 is to read in the text and prepare to discuss pp. 108-125.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
October 15, 2009
POS 282--Introduction to American Law
In class today, Thursday 10/15, I distributed one handout, the Maine statute regarding the use of force in defending your home. We then went over a practice test in preparation for the exam on Tuesday. We finished discussing Chapter 2 of the text, and I also went over one additional U.S. Supreme Court case that dealt with punitive damages, Philip Morris v. Williams, 549 U.S. 346 (2007). If for any reason you are unable to make it to the exam on Tuesday 10/20, please be sure to e-mail me as soon as possible to make alternative arrangements--if you do not get in touch right away, you may well lose your chance to make up the exam. Be sure to bring a #2 pencil with which to take the exam.
In class today, Thursday 10/15, I distributed one handout, the Maine statute regarding the use of force in defending your home. We then went over a practice test in preparation for the exam on Tuesday. We finished discussing Chapter 2 of the text, and I also went over one additional U.S. Supreme Court case that dealt with punitive damages, Philip Morris v. Williams, 549 U.S. 346 (2007). If for any reason you are unable to make it to the exam on Tuesday 10/20, please be sure to e-mail me as soon as possible to make alternative arrangements--if you do not get in touch right away, you may well lose your chance to make up the exam. Be sure to bring a #2 pencil with which to take the exam.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
October 8, 2009
POS 282--Introduction to American Law
In class today, Thursday 10/8, I first went over the upcoming class schedule. There is no class on Tuesday 10/13. On Thursday 10/15 we will finish going over Chapter 2 of the text, and I will also give you a practice exam to go over the types of questions that will be in the exam (it is not a study session). The exam will be on Tuesday 10/20, and will cover all of the textbook and classroom material covered so far this semester. It will be open book and open note. I will hand the exam back on Thursday 10/22, and we'll go over it at that time.
We started our discussion today by going over "duty to report" cases, and I talked about the Maine Superior Court case of Cilley v. Lane, 2009 WL 558273 (Me. Super.) We spent the rest of the class talking about Lawrence v. Texas from the textbook. The assignment for Thursday 10/15 is to finish reading and preparing to discuss the remainder of Chapter 2 of the text.
In class today, Thursday 10/8, I first went over the upcoming class schedule. There is no class on Tuesday 10/13. On Thursday 10/15 we will finish going over Chapter 2 of the text, and I will also give you a practice exam to go over the types of questions that will be in the exam (it is not a study session). The exam will be on Tuesday 10/20, and will cover all of the textbook and classroom material covered so far this semester. It will be open book and open note. I will hand the exam back on Thursday 10/22, and we'll go over it at that time.
We started our discussion today by going over "duty to report" cases, and I talked about the Maine Superior Court case of Cilley v. Lane, 2009 WL 558273 (Me. Super.) We spent the rest of the class talking about Lawrence v. Texas from the textbook. The assignment for Thursday 10/15 is to finish reading and preparing to discuss the remainder of Chapter 2 of the text.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
October 6, 2009
POS 282--Introduction to American Law
In class today, Tuesday 10/6, we began by finishing our discussion of Gregg v. Georgia. I then went over two case that will be argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in November, Sullivan v. Florida and Graham v. Florida, which both raise the question under the 8th Amendment of the imposition of life sentences for minors.
We discussed the Mobbley case on p. 77 and the Holland case on P. 79 of the text. The assignment for Thursday 10/8 is to read and prepare to discuss through p. 97 of the text.
In class today, Tuesday 10/6, we began by finishing our discussion of Gregg v. Georgia. I then went over two case that will be argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in November, Sullivan v. Florida and Graham v. Florida, which both raise the question under the 8th Amendment of the imposition of life sentences for minors.
We discussed the Mobbley case on p. 77 and the Holland case on P. 79 of the text. The assignment for Thursday 10/8 is to read and prepare to discuss through p. 97 of the text.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
October 1, 2009
POS 282--Introduction to American Law
In class today, Thursday 10/1, State Senator Richard Rosen addressed the class, and led a discussion of many issues that he deals with as a member of the Maine Legislature. That talk basically took the class period, so the assignment for next Tuesday 10/6 remains to read and prepare to discuss through p. 80 of the textbook.
In class today, Thursday 10/1, State Senator Richard Rosen addressed the class, and led a discussion of many issues that he deals with as a member of the Maine Legislature. That talk basically took the class period, so the assignment for next Tuesday 10/6 remains to read and prepare to discuss through p. 80 of the textbook.
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