March 18, 2013

POS 282 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN LAW
In class today, Monday 3/18, I distributed one handout, the Maine statute regarding hindering apprehension. We went over the Mobbley case, and also talked about how the defense might make an argument for Ms. Mobbley's acquittal once the case is tried. On Wednesday we will review the Maine statute, both in terms of its operation, and whether it should provide the same kind of immunity that the New Mexico statute does. The additional assignment for Wednesday 3/20 is to read and prepare to discuss through p. 70 of the text.

POS 384 CIVIL LIBERTIES
In class today, Monday 3/18, I distributed one handout, the Maine constitutional provision regarding freedom of speech. We discussed the concept of prior restraint, and looked at how it might apply both to the words of the Maine constitution, and to the Alien and Sedition Act of 1798. We also looked at the Court's treatment of prior restraint in the Schenck opinion. I also went over the recent U.S. District Court case of in re National Security Letter, as well as the 1965 case of Freedmand v. Maryland, and the Pentagon Papers case. We will pick up with the remainder of the Schenck case on Wednesday. The additional assignment for Wednesday 3/20 is to read through p. 210 of the text.