Discusses the comparable worth theory, which holds that women should receive compensation equal to men's for work requiring similar skills, responsibility, and effort. Reviews the Supreme Court decision in County of Washington v. Gunther, which concerns Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and sex discrimination where jobs are unequal. (Author/RW)

Examines the Supreme Court's action in a racial discrimination case "Patterson v. McLean Credit Union"; the reexamining of "Runyon v. McCrary"; and the current interpretation by the Court of a major Reconstruction-era civil rights law. Perceives a distinct shift in the Court toward conservative interpretations of civil rights…

The United States Supreme Court recently rendered a decision in the "Collins v. City of Harker Heights" case, which addressed the liability of public entities for alleged "constitutional torts." Discusses the precursors of "Collins," analyzes the decision itself, and discusses the various elements that must be…

Reviews the Supreme Court's decision in "Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education" affirming court-ordered desegregation to remedy government-sanctioned desegregation. Discusses decision by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals that ended federal court supervision of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District's efforts to achieve…

Jesse Vail sued an Illinois board of education in federal court over a contract dispute. The court awarded Vail damages, the decision was upheld on appeal, and the U.S. Supreme Court will be reviewing the decision in 1984. (MD)

The ramifications of the judicial demand that the Federal Communications Commission "articulate with reasonable clarity its reasons for decision" are explored through recent court decisions. (JMF)

Analyzes California case ("Newdow v. U.S. Congress") involving Constit utional challenge to the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance wherein the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that the phrase violated the Establishment Clause requiring state-church separation. (Contains 11 references.) (PKP)

Observes that the bulk of the federal judiciary's business is handled by lower federal courts. Discusses the evolving structure and business of the federal judiciary, district courts, circuit courts of appeal, declining federal supervisory capacity due to rising case loads, and future problems likely to be faced by the federal judiciary. (DSK)

Describes the problem arising from the Supreme Court's divided opinion in the 1978 higher education affirmative-action case of "Regents of the University of California v. Bakke"; discusses the outcome of several affirmative-action cases since "Bakke"; speculates on future efforts to further student diversity in higher…

This guide identifies those 307 United States Supreme Court opinions between 1799 and 2001 that cited one or more federally recognized American Indian treaty. In total, there are 1,325 citation entries to 209 of these 375 recognized instruments. Two tables present these data: one ordered by ratified treaty number and one by Court case title.

Public school leaders often find themselves caught between groups with passionately held--but widely varying--views regarding the appropriate role for religion in public schools. Tensions are heightened by the growth of well-funded special interest groups inclined to litigate anywhere a test case arises. By reviewing the most recent judicial…

As the most unionized segment of the public sector workforce in the USA, teachers and their bargaining representatives wield significant power in the world of educational labour relations and beyond. Yet, just as the First Amendment's freedom of association clause affords unions the right to exist, its concomitant recognition that employees are…

In 2005, the United States Supreme Court rendered a closely divided opinion that extends the protections against discrimination provided by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to include a private cause of action for retaliation in "Jackson v. Birmingham Board of Education." Therefore, "whistleblowers," or employees who report allegedly…

Despite the creeping resegregation of public schools, recent court decisions have been involved in the lifting of court-ordered desegregation decrees, which could arguably cause further segregation. When dismissing desegregation decrees, lower courts have relied on three U.S. Supreme Court decisions during the 1990s that permitted a lower standard…

In 1964 the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark decision, in the case of the New York Times v. Sullivan, that was hailed as a tremendous victory for the news media. This decision changed the law of libel by introducing a fourth requirement of "actual malice" in addition to three previously accepted requirements--publication,…