Reviews significant decisions of the lower federal courts in 1984 affecting the field of immigration, nationality law, and the rights of aliens. Decisions reviewed cover these topics: asylum and withholding of deportation; waivers of inadmissibility; suspension of deportation; adjustment of status; students; visas; deferred action; aliens' rights;…

Reviews immigration laws and Federal Court decisions of 1985 establishing precedents for immigration litigation. Focuses on decisions concerning asylum and deportation; agricultural workers; adjustment of immigrant status; and deferred action. Argues that the recent sharp increase in immigration litigation indicates a need for immigration reform…

This report discusses recent cases involving freedom of the press that have been heard before the Burger court of the United States Supreme Court. The report discerns a trend toward treating the press like an ordinary citizen; this is a reversal of the view of the Warren court that the First Amendment creates special rights for the press so that…

Reviews cases currently before the U.S. Supreme Court. Issues identified that are of importance to American educators include censorship, discrimination, busing, unions, and educational malpractice. (GC)

The Supreme Court has ruled that statistical evidence about the effects of an employer's policies can be used to prove discrimination in situations where a variety of imprecise criteria are used. The decision is applicable to faculty salary and tenure disputes. (MSE)

First Amendment students were unhappy to see Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart retire because his voting record demonstrated a favorable attitude toward freedom of speech and press. His replacement, Sandra Day O'Connor, was predicted to be a conservative or moderate who probably would vote consistently with Stewart in other areas, but her…

The current Supreme Court, usually opposing civil liberties, is far more conservative than the Warren Court of the 1960s, but is primarily concerned with maintaining the internal stability of the court. While Warren decisions have been narowed, outright reversals are unlikely, although replacement of justices may alter this trend. (KH)

Addresses the question of whether student prayer groups should be allowed to use school facilities. The Equal Access Act allows all noncurricular student groups to meet, whereas four federal appellate court decisions ban prayer groups on the basis that separation between church and state outweighs students' right to free speech. (WTH)

A recent United State Supreme Court ruling upheld a California law requiring employers to grant female employees up to four months of unpaid maternity leave and make reasonable efforts to reinstate them when they return to work. The decision and its implications are discussed. (MSE)

Investigates the expansion of student due process rights and the discipline issues resolved by the United States Supreme Court. Considers lower court interpretations of these decisions and issues currently being raised. Suggests that legal cases which have nothing to do with discipline have affected the way school personnel view discipline.…

While Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr.'s opinion in the Supreme Court's ruling on Allen Bakke vs. Regents of the University of California has set the ground rules for most student affirmative action programs, both critics and supporters remain unhappy about the status of affirmative action in higher education. (MSE)

Federal judge Pratt rejected a request to temporarily keep in effect a court order he dismissed last year, saying that the NAACP failed to prove they were likely to win their appeal, or that Black students would suffer "irreparable harm" because of the dismissal. (MLW)

Decisions of the federal courts on such issues as school desegregation and school prayer generally reflect a national consensus. But in this conservative era, legislative efforts to limit the tradition of judicial activism, as begun by the Warren court, threaten the principles of constitutional protections and the federal system of checks and…

In its most sweeping endorsement of affirmative action and the first ruling explicitly upholding affirmative action for women, the Supreme Court has upheld voluntary plans that help qualified women and members of minority groups gain jobs traditionally dominated by white men. (Author/MSE)

An overview of recent court decisions on prayer in public schools is followed by brief synopses of cases in nine areas concerning primary and secondary levels and four areas concerning higher education. Finally, law review articles on federal and state issues are summarized. (MD)