April 14, 2014

POS 282 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN LAW
In class today, Monday 4/14, we first went over some aspects of the Jeremiah T. case and assignment. We discussed the set-up (beginning) part of the case brief (through prior proceedings), which also laid out the kind of questions that need to be included in the substantive part of the brief (contentions, issues, facts, holding). We also talked about the issues that the Court did not resolve. We then started our discussion of Strunk v. Strunk, getting through the cause of action. We will pick up at that point on Wednesday. The assignment for Wednesday 4/16 is to continue working on your Jeremiah T. brief, and to review Strunk.


POS 384 CIVIL LIBERTIES
In class today, Monday 4/14, I distributed one handout, Maine laws regarding open carry (when carried in a "threatening manner") and concealed handguns, and we then discussed those statutes and contrasted them with New Jersey law. We then went back to the Drake case, going through the District Court's decision. We will pick up with paragraph 6 of the Statement on Wednesday (the Third Circuit opinion). The assignment for Wednesday 4/16 to to review both the remainder of the "Statement" of the case and Part I of the argument.


POS 359 THE CURRENT SUPREME COURT TERM
In class today, Monday 4/14, I first returned the Free Exercise papers. I then picked up with the campaign finance story starting with the infusion of soft money after the Buckley v. Valeo decision. We talked about the 2002 BRCA (McCain-Feingold) law. We went over 2003 McConnell v. FEC, 2006 Alito's appointment to the Court, 2007 FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life, 2008 Davis v. FEC, 2010 Citizen's United v. FEC, 2011 McComish v. Bennett, and 2012 Western Tradition . Montana. We will pick up with the story of the McCutcheon decision on Wednesday. The assignment for Wednesday 4/14 is to show up for class.