Part 1: Reality at West Point
Read the article "Betrayal of Trust." Take notes on the following:

• Main Point
• Supporting details
• Relevance to our case

Part 2: Bickering's 3rd Memo

Read the text of senior partner Brandi Bickering's memo regarding precedent.

Then, use the following case summaries to answer the guiding questions she asks (loose leaf or typed, 20 points):

• VMI
• Goldberg

More Legal Research (Get used to it, 1st year associates!)

What piece of legislation made it requirement for
schools to offer athletic programs for young women?

First, this document contains information on the US federal court system. Know it -- this will help you in your project, and will be on your next test.

Part 1: Researching Similar Cases
Pick one person in your group to research each of the following topics:

• integration of minority groups (blacks, women, GLBT) into the military
• integration of women into other professions
• equal access of women to high school/college/professional sports

Sources:

• The Supreme Court website
• The American Bar Association
• The Wall Street Journal
• The American Civil Liberties Union
• The New York Times
• OYEZ -- a site provided by IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law
• Cornell University's Law School Database
• FindLaw's Supreme Court Opinion

You must:

• Effectively cite your source (MLA format) -- you may use this in your final project
• Summarize your source's connection to the case
• Include at least one specific reference to a relevant law or precedence

Part 2: Bickering's 3rd Memo

Read the text of senior partner Brandi Bickering's memo regarding precedent.

Then, use the following case summaries to answer the guiding questions she asks (loose leaf or typed, 20 points):

• VMI
• Goldberg

You're 1st Year Associates. Do some Research!

John Wayne as a Green Beret... was his
portrayal what Lt. Connolly could expect?

Tonight, use one of the databases available to our firm (Gale, NY Times, Brittanica) to research the following topics:

• the Green Berets
• their objectives within the U.S. Army
• the kinds of tasks they are called upon to perform

This is your first major assignment related to this case. You must:

• Effectively cite your source (MLA format)
• Prepare ~ 1 page of research on the topic above

"Paid Compensation"

• 20: Demonstrates mastery of topic
• 15: Demonstrates adequate understanding of topic
• 10 and below: Inadequate understanding of topic

Essay Prompt

Imagine that you are a Supreme Court Justice. You've just heard arguments in the case about the individual mandate provision of the Affordable Care Act. Now, you must write a decision in this case. Your decision must include:

• A summary of the issue in this case
• A statement saying whether you are ruling that the individual mandate to purchase insurance is Constitutional or Unconstitutional
• At least three specific precedents for your decision

5 paragraphs, 50 points, following the rubric distributed in class. Due Tuesday, 4/3/12.

Practice Law Test

Counselors,

Take a look at these practice law test questions. I would like you to go through the test questions and identify 15 that you do not know the answer to. Attempt to find the answers. Complete this on loose leaf paper.

Note -- there are questions in this document about old mock trial cases -- do not answer these. Pick law-related questions.

Good luck! I'll see you all tomorrow.

A Conversation on the Constitution: Freedom of Speech

Justice Breyer, the only active member of the Supreme Court
interviewed in the video.

You can find the video from today's class at the website for the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics.

If you need a copy of the worksheet, you can find it here.

The Roberts Court and the First Amendment

The 2011-2012 Supreme Court justices.

Yesterday, we examined some potential legal scenarios where the First Amendment would come into play. Today, you will have the opportunity of taking a closer look at some of the First Amendment cases the court will consider during the 2011-2012 term.

First, what rights are protected by the First Amendment?


How does a case reach the Supreme Court?


How does the Court rule on cases?


Today's work is due in a printed, stapled MS Word document at the start of tomorrow's class period.


Part 1: Last Year's Docket
Now, let's take a look at a great graphic from the New York Times: Major Rulings of the 2010-2011 Term. Complete the following in an MS Word document (10 points):

1. What patterns do you notice in the rulings for 2010-2011? Explain.
2. What does it mean when a justice recuses himself?
3. Which justice(s) seems to be the most conservative? Liberal? How can you tell?
4. Which justice(s) do you agree with most frequently? Explain.
5. Which cases examined by the Court appear to involve the First Amendment?

Part 2: This Year's First Amendment Cases (20 points)

When you're done, use the list of sources below to complete the following in your Word document.

Identify at least two court cases dealing with the First Amendment for the 2011-2012 term. Try to find cases that interest you. For each:

1. Record the case caption.
2. Record your source website.
3. Relate the case to the First Amendment. Include specific clauses.
4. Summarize the issue(s) at stake in the case.
5. Justify your interest in the case. Be specific.
6. If the case has already been decided, record the vote (5-4, 6-3, etc.). Record the majority opinion in the case. Explain whether or not you agree with the opinion, giving specific references to the case itself and the majority opinion.
7. If the case has not been decided, make a prediction for the way in which the Court will rule based on prior decisions. Include a reference to the material that justifies your response.

Sources:

• The Supreme Court website
• Reuters
• The American Bar Association
• The Wall Street Journal
• The American Civil Liberties Union
• CNN
• The New York Times
• Wired Magazine