Judith S. Kaye in Her Own Words

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Author :
Publisher : SUNY Press
ISBN 13 : 1438474792
Total Pages : 538 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (384 download)

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Book Synopsis Judith S. Kaye in Her Own Words by : Judith S. Kaye

Download or read book Judith S. Kaye in Her Own Words written by Judith S. Kaye and published by SUNY Press. This book was released on 2019-06-01 with total page 538 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An autobiography and selected writings by the former Chief Judge of New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals. In 1983, Judith S. Kaye (1938–2016) became the first woman appointed to the Court of Appeals, New York’s highest court. Ten years later, she became the first woman to be appointed chief judge of the court, and by the time she retired, in 2008, she was the longest-serving chief judge in the court’s history. During her long career, she distinguished herself as a lawyer, jurist, reformer, mentor, and colleague, as well as a wife and mother. Bringing together Kaye’s own autobiography, completed shortly before her death, as well as selected judicial opinions, articles, and speeches, Judith S. Kaye in Her Own Words makes clear why she left such an enduring mark upon the court, the nation, and all who knew her. The first section of the book, Kaye’s memoir, focuses primarily on her years on the Court of Appeals, the inner workings of the court, and the challenges she faced, as chief judge, in managing a court system populated by hundreds of judges and thousands of employees. The second section, a carefully chosen selection of her written opinions (and occasional dissents), reveals how she guided the law in New York State for almost a quarter century with uncommon vision and humanity. Her decisions cover every facet of New York and federal law and have often been quoted and followed nationally. The final section of the book includes selections from her numerous articles and speeches, which cover the field, from common law jurisprudence to commercial law to constitutional analysis, all with an eye to the future and, above all, how the law can best affect the everyday lives of people who come to court—willingly or unwillingly—including, not least, those most in need of the law. BACK FLAP “Judith Kaye was one of the most admired judges in the nation— and a wonderful, real, often funny person as well. This collection captures the full range of the judge and the woman, and it serves as a great reminder of her enduring legacy.” — Jeffrey Toobin “An extraordinary woman, jurist, and leader who had a striking impact on the law and the administration of justice in New York State and beyond. This collection is more than a simple record of a remarkable life. It is a treasure—not only for those of us who knew and admired Judith but for all who may seek to understand and appreciate the profound impact she had on the law, the legal profession, and the administration of justice.” — from the Foreword by Honorable Janet DiFiore

The Judges of the New York Court of Appeals

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780823227631
Total Pages : 1046 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (276 download)

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Book Synopsis The Judges of the New York Court of Appeals by : Judith S. Kaye

Download or read book The Judges of the New York Court of Appeals written by Judith S. Kaye and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 1046 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This book fills a major gap in the literature of the law and of American history.

The Law Book

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Author :
Publisher : Union Square & Co.
ISBN 13 : 1454901691
Total Pages : 1262 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (549 download)

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Book Synopsis The Law Book by : Michael H. Roffer

Download or read book The Law Book written by Michael H. Roffer and published by Union Square & Co.. This book was released on 2015-11-03 with total page 1262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Which was the last country to abolish slavery? Which is the only amendment to the U.S. Constitution ever to be repealed? How did King Henry II of England provide a procedural blueprint for criminal law? These are just a few of the thought-provoking questions addressed in this beautifully illustrated book. Join author Michael H. Roffer as he explores 250 of the most fundamental, far-reaching, and often-controversial cases, laws, and trials that have profoundly changed our world—for good or bad. Offering authoritative context to ancient documents as well as today’s hot-button issues, The Law Book presents a comprehensive look at the rules by which we live our lives. It covers such diverse topics as the Code of Hammurabi, the Ten Commandments, the Trial of Socrates, the Bill of Rights, women’s suffrage, the insanity defense, and more. Roffer takes us around the globe to ancient Rome and medieval England before transporting us forward to contemporary accounts that tackle everything from civil rights, surrogacy, and assisted suicide to the 2000 U.S. presidential election, Google Books, and the fight for marriage equality. Organized chronologically, the entries each consist of a short essay and a stunning full-color image, while the “Notes and Further Reading” section provides resources for more in-depth study. Justice may be blind, but this collection brings the rich history of the law to light.

The Fugitive Slave Rescue Trial of Robert Morris

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Author :
Publisher : Lawbook Exchange, Limited
ISBN 13 : 9781616193928
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (939 download)

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Book Synopsis The Fugitive Slave Rescue Trial of Robert Morris by : John D. Gordan

Download or read book The Fugitive Slave Rescue Trial of Robert Morris written by John D. Gordan and published by Lawbook Exchange, Limited. This book was released on 2013 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Relying on extensive surviving original records, this book analyzes the November 1851 trial in the federal circuit court of Robert Morris, the second black admitted to practice in Massachusetts, for rescuing a fugitive slave from the custody of the U.S. marshal in the federal courtroom in Boston. It demonstrates that Justice Benjamin Robbins Curtis, a supporter of Daniel Webster and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 presiding under a recess appointment, made two critical rulings against Morris that were at odds with existing precedents. Finally, the book contextualizes Morris's trial among the other trials for this rescue, the prosecutions for the attempt to rescue Anthony Burns, another fugitive slave, in 1854, and the Supreme Court's decision in Dred Scott in 1857. "This 'small' book packs a large wallop. Gordan navigates the complexities of trial advocacy and trial procedure with unexcelled mastery. His analysis of the complex legal issues, including the power of the jury to rule on questions of law as well as fact, is persuasive. Gordan also throws a revisionist light on some of the major players - like John P. Hale who emerges from the wings as the real leader of the abolitionist bar; and Benjamin R. Curtis, whose manipulation of the law in the Morris trial illuminates his famous dissent in Dred Scott v. Sandford. A gem of a book." --R. Kent Newmyer, University of Connecticut School of Law "A wonderfully detailed exposition of the fugitive slave rescue trial of Robert Morris, John Gordan's work unearths a wealth of material about the events, the people, and the legal acumen of the lawyers and judges involved. It will enable scholars to evaluate a question central to our judicial system: What is the proper division of authority between judge and jury? The information contained in Gordan's book provides a much-needed historically accurate basis from which to answer that question." -- Maeva Marcus, Director, Institute for Constitutional History, The New-York Historical Society, and Research Professor of Law, The George Washington University Law School "John Gordan's extraordinary sleuthing of documents and sources and keen insights provide a highly readable and intriguing account of the slave rescue trial of Robert Morris in 1851. The book reveals new insights about Benjamin Robbins Curtis, presiding as Circuit Justice, and sheds important new light on the differing views of the rule of law and jury nullification in 19th century America." --Christian G. Fritz, Henry Weihofen Chair in Law and Professor of Law, University of New Mexico John D. Gordan, III, a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, clerked for the Honorable Inzer B. Wyatt, U.S. District Judge (S.D.N.Y.), from 1969 to 1971 and served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney (S.D.N.Y.) from 1971 to 1976. He was in private practice in New York City from 1976 to 2011.

A History of the Supreme Court

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Author :
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0199840555
Total Pages : 477 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (998 download)

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Book Synopsis A History of the Supreme Court by : the late Bernard Schwartz

Download or read book A History of the Supreme Court written by the late Bernard Schwartz and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 1995-02-23 with total page 477 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When the first Supreme Court convened in 1790, it was so ill-esteemed that its justices frequently resigned in favor of other pursuits. John Rutledge stepped down as Associate Justice to become a state judge in South Carolina; John Jay resigned as Chief Justice to run for Governor of New York; and Alexander Hamilton declined to replace Jay, pursuing a private law practice instead. As Bernard Schwartz shows in this landmark history, the Supreme Court has indeed travelled a long and interesting journey to its current preeminent place in American life. In A History of the Supreme Court, Schwartz provides the finest, most comprehensive one-volume narrative ever published of our highest court. With impeccable scholarship and a clear, engaging style, he tells the story of the justices and their jurisprudence--and the influence the Court has had on American politics and society. With a keen ability to explain complex legal issues for the nonspecialist, he takes us through both the great and the undistinguished Courts of our nation's history. He provides insight into our foremost justices, such as John Marshall (who established judicial review in Marbury v. Madison, an outstanding display of political calculation as well as fine jurisprudence), Roger Taney (whose legacy has been overshadowed by Dred Scott v. Sanford), Oliver Wendell Holmes, Louis Brandeis, Benjamin Cardozo, and others. He draws on evidence such as personal letters and interviews to show how the court has worked, weaving narrative details into deft discussions of the developments in constitutional law. Schwartz also examines the operations of the court: until 1935, it met in a small room under the Senate--so cramped that the judges had to put on their robes in full view of the spectators. But when the new building was finally opened, one justice called it "almost bombastically pretentious," and another asked, "What are we supposed to do, ride in on nine elephants?" He includes fascinating asides, on the debate in the first Court, for instance, over the use of English-style wigs and gowns (the decision: gowns, no wigs); and on the day Oliver Wendell Holmes announced his resignation--the same day that Earl Warren, as a California District Attorney, argued his first case before the Court. The author brings the story right up to the present day, offering balanced analyses of the pivotal Warren Court and the Rehnquist Court through 1992 (including, of course, the arrival of Clarence Thomas). In addition, he includes four special chapters on watershed cases: Dred Scott v. Sanford, Lochner v. New York, Brown v. Board of Education, and Roe v. Wade. Schwartz not only analyzes the impact of each of these epoch-making cases, he takes us behind the scenes, drawing on all available evidence to show how the justices debated the cases and how they settled on their opinions. Bernard Schwartz is one of the most highly regarded scholars of the Supreme Court, author of dozens of books on the law, and winner of the American Bar Association's Silver Gavel Award. In this remarkable account, he provides the definitive one-volume account of our nation's highest court.

A People's History of the Supreme Court

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Author :
Publisher : Penguin
ISBN 13 : 1101503130
Total Pages : 609 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (15 download)

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Book Synopsis A People's History of the Supreme Court by : Peter Irons

Download or read book A People's History of the Supreme Court written by Peter Irons and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2006-07-25 with total page 609 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive history of the people and cases that have changed history, this is the definitive account of the nation's highest court featuring a forward by Howard Zinn Recent changes in the Supreme Court have placed the venerable institution at the forefront of current affairs, making this comprehensive and engaging work as timely as ever. In the tradition of Howard Zinn's classic A People's History of the United States, Peter Irons chronicles the decisions that have influenced virtually every aspect of our society, from the debates over judicial power to controversial rulings in the past regarding slavery, racial segregation, and abortion, as well as more current cases about school prayer, the Bush/Gore election results, and "enemy combatants." To understand key issues facing the supreme court and the current battle for the court's ideological makeup, there is no better guide than Peter Irons. This revised and updated edition includes a foreword by Howard Zinn. "A sophisticated narrative history of the Supreme Court . . . [Irons] breathes abundant life into old documents and reminds readers that today's fiercest arguments about rights are the continuation of the endless American conversation." -Publisher's Weekly (starred review)

Judges and Judging in the History of the Common Law and Civil Law

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Author :
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 1139505572
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (395 download)

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Book Synopsis Judges and Judging in the History of the Common Law and Civil Law by : Paul Brand

Download or read book Judges and Judging in the History of the Common Law and Civil Law written by Paul Brand and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2012-01-12 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this collection of essays, leading legal historians address significant topics in the history of judges and judging, with comparisons not only between British, American and Commonwealth experience, but also with the judiciary in civil law countries. It is not the law itself, but the process of law-making in courts that is the focus of inquiry. Contributors describe and analyse aspects of judicial activity, in the widest possible legal and social contexts, across two millennia. The essays cover English common law, continental customary law and ius commune, and aspects of the common law system in the British Empire. The volume is innovative in its approach to legal history. None of the essays offer straight doctrinal exegesis; none take refuge in old-fashioned judicial biography. The volume is a selection of the best papers from the 18th British Legal History Conference.

The Courts of the State of New York

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Publisher : Legare Street Press
ISBN 13 : 9781021521422
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (214 download)

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Book Synopsis The Courts of the State of New York by : Henry Wilson Scott

Download or read book The Courts of the State of New York written by Henry Wilson Scott and published by Legare Street Press. This book was released on 2023-07-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive history of the courts of New York State, from their earliest days to the present. In this engaging and accessible book, author Henry Wilson Scott traces the development of the state's court system and offers insights into its inner workings. With its wealth of information and engaging style, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the legal history of New York or the American judiciary more broadly. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The History of the New York Court of Appeals

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Publisher : Columbia University Press
ISBN 13 : 9780231509909
Total Pages : 868 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (99 download)

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Book Synopsis The History of the New York Court of Appeals by : Bernard S. Meyer

Download or read book The History of the New York Court of Appeals written by Bernard S. Meyer and published by Columbia University Press. This book was released on 2006-07-11 with total page 868 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From 1932 to 2003, the New York Court of Appeals-the highest court in the state- decided crucial cases pertaining to the social and legal issues of the day. The judges' rulings affected laws regarding motion picture censorship; obscenity, indecency, and immorality; religion; capital punishment; torts; the right to control personal medical care; and abortion. This comprehensive history completes a two volume series that began with The History of the New York Court of Appeals, 1847-1932. Each case is richly recounted and analyzed, detailing the decisions and dissenting opinions. Short biographies are provided for the judges who served during this period, and changes in the selection of judges, as well as the court's jurisdiction, are thoroughly explained. Particular to this volume, the authors provide the legal, social, and political contexts for these cases, showing how the law has evolved over time. They examine the court's view concerning its constitutional power to respond to an economic emergency during the Great Depression; they outline cases in which the judges ruled on the government's role in legislating morals and morality; and they focus on the evolution of the court's opinions regarding statutory interpretation, judicial federalism, censorship, constitutional reform, criminal law and capital punishment, rules of evidence, education, family law, and antitrust and labor law.

Dissent and the Supreme Court

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Publisher : Vintage
ISBN 13 : 110187063X
Total Pages : 545 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (18 download)

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Book Synopsis Dissent and the Supreme Court by : Melvin I. Urofsky

Download or read book Dissent and the Supreme Court written by Melvin I. Urofsky and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2015-10-13 with total page 545 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Highly illuminating ... for anyone interested in the Constitution, the Supreme Court, and the American democracy, lawyer and layperson alike." —The Los Angeles Review of Books In his major work, acclaimed historian and judicial authority Melvin Urofsky examines the great dissents throughout the Court’s long history. Constitutional dialogue is one of the ways in which we as a people reinvent and reinvigorate our democratic society. The Supreme Court has interpreted the meaning of the Constitution, acknowledged that the Court’s majority opinions have not always been right, and initiated a critical discourse about what a particular decision should mean before fashioning subsequent decisions—largely through the power of dissent. Urofsky shows how the practice grew slowly but steadily, beginning with the infamous and now overturned case of Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) during which Chief Justice Roger Taney’s opinion upheld slavery and ending with the present age of incivility, in which reasoned dialogue seems less and less possible. Dissent on the court and off, Urofsky argues in this major work, has been a crucial ingredient in keeping the Constitution alive and must continue to be so.

New York State Public Health Legal Manual

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (145 download)

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Book Synopsis New York State Public Health Legal Manual by : New York (State). Unified Court System

Download or read book New York State Public Health Legal Manual written by New York (State). Unified Court System and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

A History of the Tennessee Supreme Court

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Publisher : Univ. of Tennessee Press
ISBN 13 : 9781572331785
Total Pages : 484 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (317 download)

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Book Synopsis A History of the Tennessee Supreme Court by :

Download or read book A History of the Tennessee Supreme Court written by and published by Univ. of Tennessee Press. This book was released on 2002 with total page 484 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this first comprehensive history of the Tennessee Supreme Court, seven leading scholars explore the role played by the Court in the social, economic, and political life of the state. Charting the evolution and organization of the Court (and its predecessor, the Superior Court of Law and Equity), the authors also assess the work of the Court within the larger context of the legal history of the South. Arranged chronologically, this volume covers the period from statehood in 1796 through the judicial election of 1998 and traces the range of contentious issues the Court has faced, including slavery, Reconstruction, economic rights, the regulation of business, and race and gender relations. The authors also outline the Court's relationship with the Supreme Court of the United States and chronicle the achievements of the Court in public and private law, state constitutional law, property law, criminal justice, and family law. The central themes that emerge include the nature of federalism, the search for judicial independence, and the practice of judicial review. As the authors demonstrate, the work of the Tennessee Supreme Court highlights the importance of state courts to the federal system and illuminates the interplay between regionalism and national norms in shaping a state's legal culture. Indeed, as mediator of conflicts between traditional southern values and national economic and social trends, the Court has generally, if sometimes belatedly, adopted national legal standards. Further, while the Court has tended to defer to the state's legislative decision-making process, it has on occasion assumed a more activist role in order to assert individual rights for Tennessee's citizens. Sponsored by the Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society, this book is written for anyone interested in Tennessee history in general or legal history in particular. Appendixes include a comprehensive table of cases and biographical information about all the Court's judges. The Editor: James W. Ely Jr. is Milton R. Underwood Professor of Law and professor of history at Vanderbilt University. His books include The Chief Justiceship of Melville W. Fuller, 1888-1910 and The Guardian of Every Other Right: A Constitutional History of Property Rights. He is also the series editor of the six-volume Property Rights in American History.

The Most Activist Supreme Court in History

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Publisher : University of Chicago Press
ISBN 13 : 0226428869
Total Pages : 394 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (264 download)

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Book Synopsis The Most Activist Supreme Court in History by : Thomas M. Keck

Download or read book The Most Activist Supreme Court in History written by Thomas M. Keck and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2010-02-15 with total page 394 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When conservatives took control of the federal judiciary in the 1980s, it was widely assumed that they would reverse the landmark rights-protecting precedents set by the Warren Court and replace them with a broad commitment to judicial restraint. Instead, the Supreme Court under Chief Justice William Rehnquist has reaffirmed most of those liberal decisions while creating its own brand of conservative judicial activism. Ranging from 1937 to the present, The Most Activist Supreme Court in History traces the legal and political forces that have shaped the modern Court. Thomas M. Keck argues that the tensions within modern conservatism have produced a court that exercises its own power quite actively, on behalf of both liberal and conservative ends. Despite the long-standing conservative commitment to restraint, the justices of the Rehnquist Court have stepped in to settle divisive political conflicts over abortion, affirmative action, gay rights, presidential elections, and much more. Keck focuses in particular on the role of Justices O'Connor and Kennedy, whose deciding votes have shaped this uncharacteristically activist Court.

The Judicial and Civil History of Connecticut

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 784 pages
Book Rating : 4.A/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis The Judicial and Civil History of Connecticut by : Dwight Loomis

Download or read book The Judicial and Civil History of Connecticut written by Dwight Loomis and published by . This book was released on 1895 with total page 784 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The History of the New York Court of Appeals, 1847-1932

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Author :
Publisher : Columbia University Press
ISBN 13 : 9780231059503
Total Pages : 382 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (595 download)

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Book Synopsis The History of the New York Court of Appeals, 1847-1932 by : Francis Bergan

Download or read book The History of the New York Court of Appeals, 1847-1932 written by Francis Bergan and published by Columbia University Press. This book was released on 1985 with total page 382 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From 1932 to 2003, the New York Court of Appeals-the highest court in the state- decided crucial cases pertaining to the social and legal issues of the day. The judges' rulings affected laws regarding motion picture censorship; obscenity, indecency, and immorality; religion; capital punishment; torts; the right to control personal medical care; and abortion. This comprehensive history completes a two volume series that began with The History of the New York Court of Appeals, 1847-1932. Each case is richly recounted and analyzed, detailing the decisions and dissenting opinions. Short biographies are provided for the judges who served during this period, and changes in the selection of judges, as well as the court's jurisdiction, are thoroughly explained. Particular to this volume, the authors provide the legal, social, and political contexts for these cases, showing how the law has evolved over time. They examine the court's view concerning its constitutional power to respond to an economic emergency during the Great Depression; they outline cases in which the judges ruled on the government's role in legislating morals and morality; and they focus on the evolution of the court's opinions regarding statutory interpretation, judicial federalism, censorship, constitutional reform, criminal law and capital punishment, rules of evidence, education, family law, and antitrust and labor law.

Opening Statements

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Author :
Publisher : SUNY Press
ISBN 13 : 1438446578
Total Pages : 270 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (384 download)

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Book Synopsis Opening Statements by : Albert M. Rosenblatt

Download or read book Opening Statements written by Albert M. Rosenblatt and published by SUNY Press. This book was released on 2013-06-20 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Explores the influence of Dutch law and jurisprudence in colonial America.

Trying Leviathan

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Publisher : Princeton University Press
ISBN 13 : 1400833981
Total Pages : 299 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (8 download)

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Book Synopsis Trying Leviathan by : D. Graham Burnett

Download or read book Trying Leviathan written by D. Graham Burnett and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2010-01-04 with total page 299 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Moby-Dick, Ishmael declares, "Be it known that, waiving all argument, I take the good old fashioned ground that a whale is a fish, and call upon holy Jonah to back me." Few readers today know just how much argument Ishmael is waiving aside. In fact, Melville's antihero here takes sides in one of the great controversies of the early nineteenth century--one that ultimately had to be resolved in the courts of New York City. In Trying Leviathan, D. Graham Burnett recovers the strange story of Maurice v. Judd, an 1818 trial that pitted the new sciences of taxonomy against the then-popular--and biblically sanctioned--view that the whale was a fish. The immediate dispute was mundane: whether whale oil was fish oil and therefore subject to state inspection. But the trial fueled a sensational public debate in which nothing less than the order of nature--and how we know it--was at stake. Burnett vividly recreates the trial, during which a parade of experts--pea-coated whalemen, pompous philosophers, Jacobin lawyers--took the witness stand, brandishing books, drawings, and anatomical reports, and telling tall tales from whaling voyages. Falling in the middle of the century between Linnaeus and Darwin, the trial dramatized a revolutionary period that saw radical transformations in the understanding of the natural world. Out went comfortable biblical categories, and in came new sorting methods based on the minutiae of interior anatomy--and louche details about the sexual behaviors of God's creatures. When leviathan breached in New York in 1818, this strange beast churned both the natural and social orders--and not everyone would survive.