January 24, 2019

POS 282 INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN LAW
In class today, Thursday 1/24, I distributed 2 handouts: the Maine Constitution's Declaration of Rights, and the case brief template. We went through the Doe timeline, and went through the beginning of the Doe opinion with a fine-tooth comb. Along the way we went over Maine Supreme Court case citation form, and Maine statutory citation form. We went over de novo review for questions of law versus substantial evidence review for questions of fact. We started into the issues dealt with by the Court. We got through the first of the issues discussed in ¶13 of the opinion, which is where we'll pick up next Tuesday.
The assignment for Tuesday 1/29 is to re-read Doe with as much detail we we went over the case today. Also, using the case brief template try to put the Doe opinion into the format of the template (not handed in or graded, but do try your hand at it).



POS 359 THE CURRENT SUPREME COURT TERM
In class today, Thursday 1/24, we began going over the Gamble briefs. We looked at the structure and outline of the briefs, and how the federal government met each of Gamble's contentions. We got as far as ¶I(C)(1) of Gamble's argument, which is where we'll pick up on Tuesday.
The assignment for Tuesday 1/29 is to read and listen to the oral argument in Gamble. The preferred site to listen to the argument is
https://www.oyez.org/cases/2018/17-646
You will also need to have the transcript of the argument with you in class. You can get it from
https://www.supremecourt.gov
select oral_arguments
select argument transcripts
select argument session November 26-December 6
select Gamble, docket #17-646, 12/06/2018