April 28, 2014

POS 282 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN LAW
In class today, Monday 4/28, I distributed one handout, the Maine statutes regarding adoption, and gender-neutrality. I first emphasized one point from the case that we did last week (Land), the fact that the state Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court stand in different shoes regarding the ability to change or clarify the state's conflict of law rules. We then looked at the text of the Full Faith and Credit Clause, and how that clause has been interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court. We went over Finstuen v. Crutcher and the Maine adoption statute that I handed out. I also discussed a 5th Circuit case, Adar v. Smith, that allowed Louisiana to not issue a new birth certificate in circumstances very similar to those in the Oklahoma case. There is no class on Wednesday (Maine Day). The assignment for Friday 5/2 is to read in the text pp. 128-134 Robey v. Hiners. In addition, the class agreed that our exam #2 (Wednesday 5/7) will be from 9:00-9:50, and not starting at 8:00 as listed on the finals schedule.

POS 384 CIVIL LIBERTIES
In class today, Monday 4/28, we finished up our discussion of the Drake Reply Brief. I also clarified that the paper can take the form of either a side-by-side chart, or just a clash-by-clash narrative. I also reminded the class that our exam #2 will be on Wednesday 5/7 (finals week) but will not be a comprehensive final. The exam will not be two hours, but rather a class period (or up to an hour if needed). There is no class on Wednesday (Maine Day). The assignment for Friday 5/2 is to finish up your Drake papers, due at the beginning of class on Friday.



POS 359 THE CURRENT SUPREME COURT TERM
In class today, Monday 4/28, I handed back the exams, and we went over them. I then went over two cases which will be argued tomorrow, Riley v. California and U.S. v. Wurie. Both cases involve the right of police to search the contents of a cell phone incident to an arrest. There is no class on Wednesday (Maine Day). The assignment for Friday 5/2 is to show up for our last class.