January 23, 2018

POS 282 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN LAW
In class today, Tuesday 1/23, I distributed three handouts: the syllabus, the first case we'll be studying (Snow v. Bernstein), and some questions to guide your reading of the Snow case.
We went over the syllabus. We talked about arbitration, and how it can displace the rights that the court system is designed to protect. We went over citation form for Maine Supreme Court opinion, and the selection process for both Maine and federal judges. We went over the organization of the federal court system, and of the Maine state court system. We talked about the concept of a cause of action, and saw how the cause of action in Snow was legal malpractice, which is a form of negligence, which is a form of tort, which is a form of common law. We went through the first paragraph of the Snow opinion.
The assignment for Thursday 1/25 is read and re-read the Snow opinion, looking in particular for the exact issues addressed by the Court, and upon what authority the Court relies in resolving those issues.


POS 484 CRIMINAL DUE PROCESS
In class today, Tuesday 1/23, I distributed three handouts: the syllabus, the first case we'll be studying (U.S. v. Gabriel), and a list of U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and useful Supreme Court websites.
We went over the syllabus, and the line-up of Justices. We went over the organization of the federal court system, and the citation form for each level of court (F. Supp. 3rd; F.3d; U.S.). We discussed the hierarchy of laws involved in the Gabriel case (constitution; federal statue; federal regulation). And we started our discussion of Gabriel itself, looking at the Supreme Court precedent cited by this U.S. District Court regarding checkpoints and border patrol.
The assignment for Thursday 1/25 is to read the Gabriel opinion. looking in particular for the organization of the opinion, the exact issues addressed by the Court, and upon what authority the Court relies in resolving those issues.