Monday, March 31, 2014

Bellringer March 31

       Racism was a major problem a long time ago. Personally, I do not think that it is near as big of a problem as it was in the past. There are some people out there who are racist, but it does not cause a major outrage or riot. Most people now know or are friends with different types of people. Some, even marry others of different color or religion.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Bellringer March 27

      I believe that they should serve for life if they are doing their job and are not having any problems. As far as the nominations and voting goes, I think they should leave to the experienced ones. The people may not know what their job is and may just vote for them, because they like them. Also, I believe that if they are there for their entire life, Congress should take a survey about each one and see if they are fulfilling their job. This should be done each year after 5 years.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Bellringer March 24

     There was a disease started in Guinea. This disease resulted in 59 out of 80 people dying. It is said that some of them were children. UNICEF ruled the illness or disease as Ebola. Health Officials have said they are offering free treatments for the sick ones with Ebola.

Friday, March 21, 2014

Supreme Court Cases

Religious

Cutter v. Wilkinson (2005)
     This case is about prisoners practicing their own religious beliefs. There is an act known as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. This act prohibited the federal government from imposing a substantial burden on prisoners' freedom of religion. Five prisoners in Ohio filed this suit. They stated that the officials of the prison violated the RLUIPA. Of course, they denied about doing so. The case resulted in the district court siding with the inmates.

School System

Grutter v. Bollinger
     Barbara Grutter alleged that her Equal Protection rights were violated when the University of Michigan Law School's attempted to gain a diverse student body resulted in the denial of her admission's application. The Supreme Court disagreed and held that institutions of higher education have a legitimate interest in promoting diversity.

Minority 

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
     The Supreme Court ruled that the government cannot restrict the spending of corporations for political campaigns, maintaining that it's their First Amendment right to support candidates as they choose. This decision upsets two previous precedents on the free-speech rights of corporations. President Obama expressed disapproval of the decision. He called it a win for Wall Street and Big Business.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Notes for March 20

-Inferior Courts were created by Congress and there are many different kinds.
-There are 677 judges and they handle more than 350,000 a year.
-There is 12 Judicial Districts in the United States.
-There is a total of 94 district courts.
-There are two little-known about multi-judge panels that play a key role in ongoing effects to combat terrorism.
-The district courts do not hear cases within original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
-A civil case has to do with money.
-Most decisions in the federal courts are final meaning they start and end there.
-Courts of Appeals were created to relieve the Supreme Court from hearing all appealed cases.
-Each one of the courts have 6-28 judges and one Supreme Court Justice.
-Court of International Trade only tries civil cases that arise out of the nation's customs and other trade related laws.

Bellringer March 20

I agree with Judicial Restraint.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Supreme Court Floors

Ground Floor 

Filing Room
- Each year, over 8000 petitions are sent in with the hopes that their cases are granted by the members of the Supreme Court.

Press Room 
-They visit this room on a day when the Supreme Court releases opinions.

First Floor

Robing Room
- Justices gather here approximately 10 minutes before entering the Courtroom.
- Here they also put on their robes and shake hands before proceeding to the Courtroom.

Courtroom
- There are four friezes reasons that ring the upper part of the Supreme Court Chamber.
- The four friezes are North, South, East, and West.

East and West Conference Rooms
- They are located just off the Supreme Court Chamber.
- The private rooms are utilized for the events of the Court as well as occasional television appearances.