A libel suit for which the ruling hung on determination of the plaintiffs as public or private figures is described in this paper. First, the paper describes the case, in which an Oregon newspaper reported that an antique dealer and the local bank president had systematically swindled a citizen out of several hundred thousand dollars, and for…

Argues for abortion rights and protection of intimate decisions and relationships. Describes the role and position of women in eighteenth century American society as a means of exposing the fallacy of the anti-abortion movement's insistence on adherence to constitutional text. Discusses the recent attempts to overturn the Roe v. Wade ruling. (PS)

To make democracy work, whatever relates to government or public business should be open to comprehensive scrutiny; conversely, whatever is related to individual citizens and their private lives should be protected from undesired exposure. This recognized need to balance privacy and the right to know reflects an inevitable conflict. Despite the…

Discusses the Supreme Court's findings affecting searches by schools in "New Jersey vs. T.L.O.," reviews earlier school search cases, and explores the factors and circumstances the courts have considered in applying the "reasonableness" standard for assessing when a school's need for maintaining order outweighs a student's…

The "Doe" court unanimously prescribed a constitutional right to protect confidential parent-child communications. This right both arises out of and buttresses the firmly established rights to family privacy and autonomy already enumerated by the Supreme Court. Available from San Diego Law Review Association, University of San Diego…

"FCC v. Pacifica Foundation," a 1978 case involving a radio broadcast considered to be indecent, was the first United States Supreme Court litigation using the right of privacy, or the right not to hear, as a rationale for broadcast regulation of programing. The issue of pornography best illustrates the judiciary's understanding of the…

An edited version of federal district court Judge William O. Bertelsman's opinion in "Bahr vs. Jenkins" reveals his thinking on the courts' self-restraint in cases affecting school administrators' authority when disciplining students. The opinion also discusses, in an informal style, the rights and responsibilities of parties in such…

In response to Professor Sacken, contends that a person's decision to conceive and bear a child is within the constitutionally protected zone of privacy. This would not prohibit a district from dismissing an unwed pregnant teacher, but would require evidence of immorality based on constitutionally acceptable criteria. (MLF)

The first of two parts of this document presents a statement from the American Society of Journalists and Authors which briefly traces the history of censorship from the fourth century B.C. to the present. The second part is a list of resources on censorship and censorship-related materials that are available from the following First Amendment…

The press and public should have access to pretrial discovery documents in civil litigation when matters of public concern are at issue. Recently, the Supreme Court expanded the public's First Amendment right of access to criminal proceedings, and based on that, some lower courts have granted access to civil trials. In its decisions establishing…

Examines potential threats to privacy posed by development of unified interaction systems in the home. Applicability of existing federal laws, constitutional provisions, and regulatory actions, and the possible technical and legislative actions that may be useful in curtailing possible privacy abuses in these systems are analyzed. (Author/MBR)

The right to form adult consensual intimate relationships is a fundamental personal freedom. A strong and effective university policy against sexual harassment and the recognition of faculty and students' right to privacy will, within the parameters of constitutional guarantees, serve both the university's and the individual's interest.…

A case in which California's constitutional right to privacy is used to protect confidential peer review files is analyzed, and the case's significance and possible ramifications for discovery requests of peer review files are discussed. (MSE)

Disagrees with Professor Donal M. Sacken's contention in Spring 1988 "Journal of Law and Education" that "Eckman" decision resulted in loss of school district autonomy. Agrees with jury that school board's dismissal of unmarried teacher, who became pregnant as a result of rape and chose to bear the child and raise him, was…

Examines the National Collegiate Athletic Association's drug testing program of student-athletes and relevant legal decisions. Concludes that each individual urinalysis search, not based on suspicion, is a violation of the student-athlete's privacy and is an unreasonable search in violation of the Fourth Amendment. (100 references) (MLF)