October 17, 2013

POS 282 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN LAW
In class today, Thursday 10/17, I distributed two handouts: the Comment Key to the White case briefs, and an article about the how the Supreme Court came to vote in favor of retaining the death penalty. I returned the White case briefs, and we went over them. We then looked at the Maine statute regarding use of force in defense of property, exploring how the Brineys would have fared under Maine criminal law. I also went over the four mental states (mens rea) that define levels of culpability in Maine criminal law. I then gave the class a sample test, to better prepare for the open-book, open-note test we'll be having next Thursday 10/24. We reviewed proper citation form for both opinions and statutes. We began going over Suggs v. Norris, the estate contest case, getting as far as who the parties to the case are. The assignment for Tuesday 10/22 is to review both Suggs and Gregg (previously assigned) and to read and prepare to discuss the capital punishment article that I distributed.

POS 484 CRIMINAL DUE PROCESS
In class today, Thursday 10/17, we first went over a sample test, in preparation for the open-book, open-note exam that we'll have next Thursday, 10/24. We then went through the Mapp case, looking at all of the opinions and where they clashed. We started the Davis case, comparing the majority and dissent in terms of the suppression issue. We will continue with Davis on Tuesday, picking up with the retroactivity question. The assignment for Tuesday 10/22 is to read through p. 517 of the text.