This discussion of movie censorship outlines federal court cases involving controversial films which led to the development of the Motion Picture Association of America Code and Rating System. The Age-Classification System and the President's Commission on Obscenity and Pornography established in 1968 are described. (EJS)

Discusses events in a legal dispute sparked by an order of the Board of Education in the Island Trees School District, New York, to remove certain books from high school and junior high school libraries. Opinions of justices of the Supreme Court are noted. (EJS)

Uses a question-and-answer format to amplify the "Weber" decision and explain how the case affects an employer. Is particularly concerned with the role of quotas in affirmative action plans. (IRT)

Argues for a consistent approach to determining when Section 1983 litigation may follow state proceedings. Provides guidelines similar to those applied in habeas corpus proceedings for deciding when federal action will be barred. Available from UCLA Law Review, 405 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90024. (IRT)

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) has stated that school districts must continue to provide services to disabled students after expulsion even when behavior is not related to the child's disability. The OSERS opinion cites no legislative or judicial authority and directly contradicts…

A court decision that a pioneering New York law illegally preempted federal law by forcing publication of standardized test material protected by federal copyright could undermine greater disclosure in standardized testing, but quick changes in testing practice are not expected. (MSE)

A federal appeals court has given the Massachusetts Institute of Technology another chance to prove in court that the Overlap Group, of which MIT was a member, did not violate antitrust laws. The group of 23 colleges set common financial-aid awards for students admitted to more than one institution. (MSE)

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act purports to overrule the Supreme Court's decision in "Employment Division v. Smith." Discusses "Smith" and its rejection of the strict scrutiny test in challenges to facially neutral government actions that burden the exercise of religion. Analyzes the possible general effects of the act…

Courts in the Ninth Circuit are required to apply a four-factor balancing test when reviewing school districts' least restrictive environment (LRE) placement decisions for children with a disability. Discusses the Ninth Circuit's new LRE test, LRE tests previously announced in other circuits, and the fact that the Supreme Court has not addressed…

Unitary status in school desegregation occurs when the federal district court dissolves all injunctions and releases the school district from further court supervision. Reviews several lower court decisions of the late l980s and the recent Supreme Court's decisions in "Dowell" and "Pitts." (MLF)

Reviews the Supreme Court decisions on issues of interest to school districts. Also analyzes cases relevant to public schools that the Court declined to review. Summarizes a number of cases that the Court will hear in its term beginning October 1993 and that may have a major impact on school districts. An appendix lists the cases cited. (MLF)

Provides a brief background on the development of the concept of right-to-work statutes in the private sector under the National Labor Relations Act; reviews right-to-work statutes in public education and examines the status of fair-share agreements. (Contains 23 references.) (Author/PKP)

Describes facts and law leading to Third Circuit Court of Appeals decision to remand for trial a middle-school teacher's claim that suburban Philadelphia school district retaliated against her for advocating the raising of multicultural awareness, thus violating her First Amendment rights of free speech. Discusses implications for teachers and…

Discusses recent Third Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Pennsylvania case supporting claim that State College Area School District's anti-harassment policy violated two students' First Amendment right of free expression because it was overbroad. Draws lessons for public school officials. (PKP)

In 2001, a federal appeals court upheld the job termination of a counselor who requested being excused from counseling a lesbian client on relationship issues because homosexuality conflicted with the counselor's religious beliefs ("Bruff v. North Mississippi Health Services, Inc.," 2001). This article provides the facts of the case and the legal…