For most people, law and the courts are veiled in mystery. Even though the law is made by legislators elected by the public and interpreted by judges chosen directly or indirectly by the public, and even though great strides have been made in making the law and its special language more understandable to people, the general public is still often…

A study used a communication perspective to examine the extent to which the civilian/military First Amendment dichotomy is warranted and to add to First Amendment theory the subject of the First Amendment rights of servicemembers. The study was limited to the freedoms of speech, press, assembly, petition, and association. It did not include…

Article is a transcript of a press conference held March 19, 1969 by Dr. Kenneth B. Clark and Mr. Aryeh Neier.

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…

In a two year period the Congress enacted a series of laws which had a profound effect on the Negro revolution. Discussed in this document are the cases which were brought to the Supreme Court to either challenge the constitutionality of these laws or to appeal for reversal of lower court decisions on the basis of the laws. Cited are cases based…

The discussion of copyright law presented here begins with a summary of a few basic aspects of American copyright law. It then goes on to discuss the particular application of this law to educational broadcasting by explaining first copyright law itself and then the historical doctrine of "fair use". "Fair use" is not mentioned in the copyright…

Reviews the 1977 Supreme Court decision in "Ingraham vs. Wright." The court held that the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the Eighth Amendment and the procedural due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment did not apply to corporal punishment in the public schools. (MD)

Analysis of the Supreme Court ruling on the SONY Betamax case regarding videotaping television programs for home use discusses major implications for schools, including what constitutes private home use and time-shifting. Ways educators can make time-shifted videotapes legally and implications for microcomputers and copying computer programs are…

A series of legal actions brought by Elmo Tatum charging the University of Nebraska with discriminatory policies is reviewed. The United States Supreme Court awarded the university damages because of the "frivolous" nature of Tatum's appeal, and the essay concludes that this may inaugurate a campaign against the flood of litigation. (MJL)

Reports on a United States District Court's 1983 findings and injunctions regarding segregation and desegregation in the higher education systems of the following States: Arkansas, Georgia, Virginia, Oklahoma, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Kentucky, West Virginia, Missouri, and Delaware. (GC)

Analyzing the United States Supreme Court decision in "Mueller v. Allen" declaring that certain forms of tuition tax credit are not unconstitutional, the author points out that school administrators should monitor legislative activities and be active in state policymaking or the future may hold larger tax credits and direct financial…

A federal court held that a state law requiring one minute of meditation or prayer in the public schools is legal. (IRT)

The Department of Education (Department) issued these final regulations to adjust the Department's civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for inflation. A CMP is defined in the statute as any penalty, fine, or other sanction that is: (1) for a specific monetary amount as provided by Federal law, or has a maximum amount provided for by Federal law; (2)…

The insurance coverage a district buys should protect the board as a corporate entity, but it should also provide errors and omissions'' protection for each member of the board as a private citizen and for each designated employee of the district. (Editor)

Discusses recent court cases that illustrate situations wherein exhaustion of administrative or State court remedies must be effected before plaintiffs can resort to Federal Courts. (JF)