Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Law & Jurisprudence

Privacy Rights: Roe, Griswold, and Casey

Roe v. Wade Precedent: Griswold v. Connecticut

• Trimester Framework: Established in Roe v. Wade by Justice Blackmun (later modified).
• Griswold v. Connecticut (1965): Established a fundamental right to privacy derived from 'zones' in the Constitution (specifically citing Amendments 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, and 14).

Levels of Judicial Review

• Strict Scrutiny:
  • Requires a compelling government interest.
  • The law must be narrowly tailored to achieve that interest.
  • Burden of proof is on the government.
  • Statute is presumed unconstitutional.
  • Applied in cases involving fundamental rights (e.g., religion, race) or suspect classifications.
• Rational Basis Review:
  • Requires the government to show rational grounds for the law (legitimate government

The UK Court System

The County Court

Deals with civil matters such as:

• Claims for debt repayment
• Personal injury
• Breach of contract concerning goods or property
• Family issues
• Housing disputes (mortgage, council rent arrears, repossession)

Most County Court cases are between people and companies who believe that someone owes them money.

The Crown Court

Deals with more serious criminal cases (murder, rape, robbery) which are on appeal or referred from the Magistrate's Court.

• Deals with cases transferred from Magistrate's Courts
• Hears appeals against decisions of the Magistrate's Courts
• Deals with cases sent for sentence from Magistrate's Courts

Trials are heard by a judge and a 12-person jury.

There are 77 Crown Courts across England and Wales.

The Supreme Court

In... Continue reading "The UK Court System: A Comprehensive Guide" »

Same-Sex Marriage in Spain

Context

On June 30, 2005, the Spanish Parliament legalized same-sex marriage.

Mr. Astarloa, empowered by seventy-one Members of the People’s Party Parliamentary Group in Congress, appealed for the unconstitutionality of Law 13/2005, which amended the Civil Code regarding the right to marry.

Summary of the Appeal

The petitioners did not oppose same-sex marriage itself but challenged the legalization process. They alleged the violation of Articles 9.3, 10.2, 14, 32, 39.1, 39.2, 39.4, 53.1, and 167 of the Spanish Constitution (SC).

They argued that the challenged law contradicted Article 32, which they interpreted as defining marriage exclusively as a heterosexual institution.

Furthermore, they contended that Article 14 SC,... Continue reading "Spanish Same-Sex Marriage Legalization: Constitutional Court Ruling" »

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Techniques

a) Negotiation

In negotiation, each party presents their case and proposes their desired outcome. The goal is to reach a mutually agreeable solution. Parties manage their own issues, presenting their case and choosing what information to disclose or conceal during the negotiation process. Sometimes, direct communication between parties is difficult, which leads to other ADR methods.

b) Mediation

Mediation is used when parties are willing to reach an agreement but struggle to communicate directly. A neutral third-party mediator facilitates communication, helping the parties reach a resolution. The mediator does not make a ruling but guides the conversation. Mediation is considered successful when... Continue reading "Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Techniques" »

• Westminster Model: parliamentary sovereignty and supremacy of UK. Makes parliament the supreme legal authority, which can create or end any law
  • Fusion of powers: executive/legislative branches together; PM is head
• Backbenchers: rank and file MP’s of the majority party not part of the gov. or the opposition; sit in rows of benches behind their party’s spokesperson
• Shadow Cabinet: opposition; sits across the majority party; designated replacement
• Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990): conservative, moving away from corporatist interest groups and from welfare, wanted privatization/Thatcherism/Neoliberalism
  • Bully authoritarianism/austerity; no to labor unions, created social divides
  • Took Keynesianism to monetarism (many permanent changes)
• Whips: MP of the

Vocabulary Definitions

• Ability: n. a skill that enables beings to perform tasks. (syn. skill)
• Abuse: n. the act of exceeding use or consumption. (syn. misuse)
• Argument: n. a viewpoint supported by real evidence.
• Behavior: n. a conduct that characterizes living beings and organisms. (syn. conduct)
• Bullying: n. the act of hurting or frightening someone smaller or less powerful.
• Conflict: n. a disagreement, difference or quarrel among people. (ant. harmony)
• Debate: n. a formal discussion of an issue in a given context.
• Feeling: n. an emotion towards a person or thing. (syn. emotion)
• Incident: n. a given event, happening or situation.
• Judgment: n. a decision derived from a particular issue. (syn. conclusion)
• Lonely: adj. characterized by being alone, without

The Spanish Constitution: Supreme Law of Spain

The Spanish Constitution stands as the supreme law of the Spanish legal system, to which both authorities and citizens of Spain are subject.

Purpose and Core Principles

The development of a constitutional text primarily aims to define the functions of state powers and establish citizen guarantees. With the creation of the Spanish Constitution, Spain transitioned to a social and democratic state of law, advocating values such as freedom, justice, and equality. Furthermore, the Constitution entrenches the principle of national sovereignty, which resides in the people, and establishes a parliamentary monarchy as the form of government. The King serves as Head of State, and the division of powers, a fundamental... Continue reading "Spain's Supreme Law: The 1978 Constitution and Its Reform" »

Maintenance Call: Police see themselves as crime fighters, view calls as garbage, social work, or bs. Experts see maintenance calls as more important than crime fighting.

Traffic Enforcement: The most common form of order maintenance, it involves low-level yet significant friction between police and the public. Police often think of it as distasteful, given the dangerous aspects of the job.

Domestic Disturbance: Involving two or more people in an intimate relationship. One-third of these calls involve some form of violence.

DD: A response may include arrest, mediation, split parties, or referral to a social service agency. Cases are often dismissed.

Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment: A test of what worked to deter domestic violence from... Continue reading "Order Maintenance Calls: Importance, Challenges, and Strategies" »

Trademark Infringement Under the Trade Marks Ordinance 2001

The Trade Marks Ordinance 2001 outlines the legal framework for protecting intellectual property rights in Pakistan, specifically addressing trademark violations.

Infringement of Trade Marks

Sections 39 and 40 of the Ordinance define trademark infringement. Section 39 establishes a registered trademark as the proprietor's personal property. Any unauthorized use of the mark for trade in a manner similar to the registered goods or services constitutes infringement under Section 40. Displaying "registered goods" on packaging serves as a notice of prohibition (Section 41).

Action for Infringement

Section 46 grants the trademark proprietor the right to pursue legal action against infringement.... Continue reading "Trademark Infringement and Penalties Under Pakistani Law" »

Essential Phrasal Verbs

• Set off - Start a journey
• Hand over - Give something to someone officially
• Share out - Divide something between people
• Move out - Leave your home permanently for a new home
• Set up - Establish/start something
• Spring up - Appear or develop quickly
• Come up against - Be faced with or opposed by something
• Put up - Build or erect something

Crime and Legal Vocabulary

General Terms

• Curfew - Time when someone is not allowed to leave their home.
• Witnesses - People who saw something happen and can give evidence.
• Disorderly conduct - Violent or noisy behavior in public.

Court and Legal Proceedings

• Juries - Group of people who listen to court cases and decide on a punishment.
• Judge - A person in court who has the authority to decide a punishment.