Abstract The paper provides research that supports the thesis that federal courthouse doors should remain closed to those on death row, to ensure finality is reached on all issues unlikely to succeed in the courthouse. The paper discusses how if criminal offenders have access to adequate counsel during their preliminary hearings, there is no reason to assume they require additional petitions at the federal or the state level.
From the Paper "In the U.S. the issue of equality before the law has always been one of primary importance. This is evidenced by the fact that all citizens, even those accused of federal crimes warranting death penalty, have an opportunity to appeal with new information (Snyder, 1998). All criminals regardless of their crimes however, are provided equal opportunity and access to counsel and legal advisors, even if court appointed. There are those however, that argue federalism concerns arise under "equal protection rationale" (Snyder, 1998:2211). Under this theory, legal researchers note that forcing state representatives to provide counsel and additional appeals may decrease the federal governments "intrusion on state power" (Snyder, 1998:2211). This suggests death row inmates who have additional counsel at the state level will "have fewer habeas petitions" as those petitioning will have significant time and support to substantiate and pursue any claims they have about their case (Snyder, 1998:2212)."
Abstract This paper examines the historic architecture of the Kimball, Minnesota courthouse building. It describes the sense of history through the preservation of historical features such as the stage, the bell tower, tin ceilings and carriage door bricks. The paper provides a description of the exterior and interior of the building and provides the social purpose for this site.
From the Paper "Settled long ago by courageous pioneers, Kimball, Minnesota still maintains its small town feel. Today courageous pioneers are fighting to preserve a historic showpiece, the traditional City Hall. The 92-year old City Hall stands proudly in the middle of downtown representing Kimball's heritage. Many small towns are losing their historic buildings to age and lack of the building's ability to meet the community's needs. In fact, the Kimball building is starting to deteriorate and its fate lies in the hands of the people. Following is an analysis of the exterior and interior of the building."
Abstract The writer of this detailed paper debates the question whether the Ten Commandments should be visibly displayed in U.S. courthouses as well as the growing conflict between religious and political institutions regarding this matter. This paper also contains detailed information about recent court cases relating to this particular issue. The writer states and explains why posting the Ten Commandments in a courthouse does not establish religion but does violate the interpretation that church and state should be kept strictly separate.
Topics covered in this report include:
Part 1: Issue Selection
Part 2: Interest Groups
Part 3: Republican v. Democrat v. Libertarian
Part 4: Timeline
Part 5: Local Officials
Part 6: Argument/Speech
Bibliography
From the Paper "Democrats of course come out on the opposite end of this issue. Most Democrats are of the opinion that when the Constitution laid out its restrictions on the interaction of government and religion, that included posting religious artifacts, symbols and statements on government property. The fact that the Ten Commandments are Christian in nature, and can be found in the courts, leads Liberals to the conclusion that it is a government act that promotes Christianity."
Abstract In this essay, the writer introduces, discusses and analyzes the book "Courtroom 302: A Year Behind the Scenes in an American Criminal Courthouse" by Steve Bogira. The writer notes that "Courtroom 302" is a detailed and disturbing look into the criminal justice system in America. The writer points out that the author spent one year observing the activity in a particular courthouse in Chicago and that the result is an intimate portrayal of the people who populate the courts of America, from criminals to prosecutors and beyond. The writer concludes that the criminal justice system is failing many Americans, and that is what makes this book so troublesome and so memorable.
From the Paper "It is clear the author researched this book with depth and detail. Not only did he spend a year inside Courtroom 302, he interviewed hundreds of participants in the courtroom drama, including Judge Daniel Locallo, the presiding judge in the courtroom, numerous times. His notes on each chapter indicate he also used published sources as background for his own exhaustive research and interview process. The book is well written and compelling, but it is also well researched and defended. The author clearly understands his subject and his experience in the courtroom. He brings this understanding to the reader, to make the entire experience more interesting and enlightening."
"Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this book is the implications it holds for every courtroom across America. First, Chicago may be the busiest felony courthouse in the nation, but there are hundreds more just like it all across the country, filled with petty criminals to the worst habituals."
Abstract This paper presents the most relevant arguments and interpretations regarding the First Amendment, specifically the free exercise and establishment clauses concerning religion. In doing so, the paper addresses the concept of captive audiences, especially those involved in government arenas, with regard to the infringements posed by either prohibiting or permitting religious displays in courthouses, by the court system. It then asserts not only the historical importance of this separation to democracy, but also provides specific facts regarding the incorrect nature of many of the assertions of the Christian right in today's battle regarding religion in schools.
From the Paper "These rulings have seemingly affirmed the Supreme Court's stance on behaviors in public schools which could be interpreted as the government endorsement of a religious practice; the Court has traditionally upheld the right of individuals to freely practice their religion but only in situations in which it does not coerce or force others to participate in their religious displays as well. Public school events are, the Court has ruled, an environment in which the use of public property for religious activities can be interpreted as governmental support for religion and, therefore, such activity is to be prohibited. By association, the public nature of the courthouse appears to closely associate with the rulings regarding religion in a public school."
Abstract This paper looks at Victory Square Park, a corner of land bordered in between West Hastings and West Pender Street in Vancouver. It examines how the location was once famous for being Vancouver's provincial courthouse which was torn down between 1911 and 1916 and reopened on West Georgia Street in the building now known as the Art Gallery. It discusses how the area is historic in great part because of its location, how it contains the war memorial the Cenotaph and how it was once the heart of the city's financial and legal activity. The paper also includes photos of the Square.
From the Paper "However, the Square is famous for much more than the Cenotaph. It was once the heart of the city's financial and legal activity: the Vancouver curb exchange operated across the road on Hastings Street; the Inns of Court structure, a rather rustic looking building next to what was once called Courthouse Square, was the centre for adjutant legal services; the Oddfellows Hall (now called the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans Hall) was stationed south of the Inns of Court; most of the city's major banks were headquartered around the Square; the city's shopping district was positioned along nearby Hastings Street; to the south of the Square was the Central School (now Vancouver College); the city's main hospital stood nearby; and before the Courthouse's demolition major newspapers such as The Province, Sun and Dominion were set up around the periphery, though they no longer operate in this location today."
Abstract The paper argues that federal courthouse doors must remain open to state prisoners to safeguard their individual liberties and to provide an independent review forum for injustices. The paper discusses how federal courts can redress the wrongs that state appellate courts have ignored such as incompetent defense attorneys, prosecutorial misconduct, or jury rigging.
From the Paper "Federal courthouse doors must remain open to state prisoners, especially those sentenced to death. Attempts to limit judicial review of state convictions follow public sentiment. In 1996 amid the public's horror over the bombing of the Oklahoma federal building, law makers connected habeas corpus restrictions to their antiterrorism bill. These restrictions included a one year statute of limitations to file a federal habeas petition. It placed a high burden of proof on inmates in order to obtain a federal evidentiary hearing. A "gatekeeper" provision was included, consisting of a panel of three circuit judges to review second and subsequent habeas petitions which would be approved only if the petition relied on a new constitutional law or newly available evidence. The legislation requires a federal judge to defer to a state court's determination of legal questions unless there was an unreasonable application of establish federal law of the state court's decision (Weich, 2001)."
Abstract This paper discusses how Charles Darwin's theory of evolution has met with much controversy throughout history. The paper points out that the issue of whether an all-mighty God created the universe and people or whether people evolved from monkeys remains a heated topic. To illustrate this, the paper focuses on the Scopes Monkey Trial in 1925 in Dayton, Tennessee in the Rhea County Courthouse. John Scopes, a substitute biology teacher, was accused of breaking the Butler Act, prohibiting the teaching of the evolution theory in all the universities and public schools of Tennessee. The paper asserts that the trial went beyond being just the trying of a man who taught evolution against the law. It became a trial of religion vs. evolution. The paper concludes that, although Scopes lost the case, he won the public's favor.
From the Paper "Dayton Tennessee was a small town and many Daytonians viewed the Scopes trial as an opportunity to put their town on the map. Under normal circumstances, the law would not have been challenged but a plan was hatched out by George Rappleyea, a staunch evolutionist and local businessman in Rhea County, who saw the trial as a way to attract money and attention to the small town, helping to raise up its failing economy. During the trial, the normally quiet yet prosperous town became, for about two hot weeks in July, a fair of lemonade and hotdog stands, banners and monkey pennants, caged apes, hawkers of religious tracts and biology texts, Holy Rollers and evangelists, and hundreds of members of the press. Dayton was, however, a very religious community, and with nine churches in town, it was apparent why the people did not want evolution taught in the classrooms. H. L. Mencken, a writer who once visited the town said it was "full of charm and even some beauty" but also complained that because of its strong religious beliefs the town had "no bootleggers, no gambling, no place to dance, and that no fancy women." During the trial however, it was said that the town "was literally drunk on religious excitement." There was seating available in the courthouse for 700, but 300 more standees crammed in to watch Dayton's most historic event take place. Rappleyea's plan was coming into play and working just as he had hoped. Attention to the town was coming from all over as the trial began."
Abstract This paper discusses Alfredo Vea's novel, "Gods Go Begging" that presents many vignettes and interrelated stories in a strange canvas of the real and the imaginary, that force the reader to provide his own definition of the world in the wake of the war in Vietnam. The paper discusses the plots and characters of the book and what the reader can take away from the novel as a whole.
From the Paper "In their own way, these various characters are like characters in Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson: grotesques. But Anderson was not quite right in his belief that these various characters had become grotesques because they had seized upon some single and incomplete truth (Anderson, 23-24), but because of their inability to express themselves. (Cowley, Introduction," 14) In much the same way, Vea's characters in Gods Go Begging suffer from a similar inability to express themselves. Trying, failing, trying again, they often lash out against whatever is in their path, sometimes attacking the very things they love. (Vea, 312)"
