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IN CLASS QUIZ #1: The reading by Katz in the required textbook discusses a number of cases involving impossible attempts. Based on your reading of Stephens v Abrahams please answer the following questions: 1) What were the facts giving rise to the case, 2) What was the defendant charged with, and 3) Did the court find him guilty? Why or why not? [4 points]
Jan 24
Part 2,
Feinberg p 87-88 (skip section 4) & 92 (Mill) - 108
Class will cover substantial
material not in the text
Meiwes, a German citizen, has freely admitted to dismembering another German man and eating his flesh. Indeed, Meiwes carefully preserved the killing on videotape and still had pieces of the body in his freezer when he was arrested. During much of the process of dismemberment, the victim reportedly remained conscious.
The obstacle to a murder charge is the fact that the evidence incontrovertibly shows that Meiwes's victim wanted to be eaten. Indeed, he had agreed to the arrangement over the Internet, answering an ad placed by Meiwes that specifically sought a person who wanted to be slaughtered and cannibalized.
In the U.S., the victim's consent is no defense to murder, and it would be easy to prosecute an American counterpart to
Meiwes. But in Germany, the victim's consent renders the crime a "killing on request" -- that is, an instance of illegal euthanasia. Unfortunately, this offense is punishable by a very modest sentence of from six months to five years of incarceration.
[Is it Always Torture to Dismember and Eat a Conscious Human Being?
Findlaw.com]
IN CLASS QUIZ #2:
In the reading for today, Feinberg discusses ‘the presumptive case for
liberty.’ Drawing from this section of the reading, your quiz will ask:
(1) what is the relationship between liberty and self-realization; and (2)
what are some of the ‘social benefits’ that are related to freedom? [4
points]
"the other
drug legalization movement" pharmaceutical companies make drugs
that have the same effect as illegal drugs; they make money, the rich
get access to the effect legally, while the poor are criminalized for
self-medicating.
The
Peace Drug: Rape-induced post-traumatic stress disorder had
destroyed Donna Kilgore's life. Then experimental therapy with MDMA, a
psychedelic drug better known as ecstasy, showed her a way out. Was it
a fluke -- or the future? (Washington Post, 25 Nov 2007)
Jan 31
Part 2, Prostitution (In re P; MacKinnon; Committee for
Prostitutes’ Rights)
IN CLASS QUIZ #3: Read the Findlaw.com column about the KKK and the NYPD. The quiz will ask you (1) what facts gave rise to this case and what was at issue here, (2) what were the two theories used by the court to uphold the law, and (3) why does the author of the column critique the court? [6 points]
IN CLASS QUIZ #4: Read Why
Driving While Black Matters. Examine Part III, where the author lists
six specific reasons. The quiz will ask you to review THREE of these
reasons as well as their definitionor explanation. This
material will also be on the test. [6 points]
WORKSHEET #1: Download a worksheet, then watch or read the transcript for “The Plea.” Your answers should be typed and are due March 13 at the start of class. DO NOT EMAIL IT TO ME – hardcopy only. Late worksheets will be marked down. [10 points]
Mar 15
TEST
2 remember
to be on time because no one will be admitted to take the final after the
first person has left
Mar 20
Part 5,
Treatment of Inmates - Gorman
Mar 22
Part 5,
Treatment of Inmates - Newman
The text for the first edition of Just
and Painfulis available online.
IN CLASS QUIZ #5: Read the discussion of spanking machines. Briefly describe (1) what they are (2) what some people see as the problem with whipping and (3) how the spanking machine could promote the administration of justice. [4 points]
Mar 27
Part 5: National Council of Churches on death penalty;
Nathanson, Reiman, van den Haag exchange; American Medical Association
A
talk by Dr Ron Huff on wrongful conviction that was part of a
distinguished lecture series that is available on Youtube in seven segments. Part
1 ~ Part 2 ~ Part
3 ~ Part 4 ~ Part
5 ~ Part 6 ~ Part
7.
As DNA testing frees increasing numbers of innocents from prison, Maryland and other states across the country are facing a politically sensitive and morally complex calculus: What is the value of a life unjustly spent behind bars?
"What's a prison rape worth?" asked Ronald Kuby, a New York lawyer who has worked on compensation cases. "What's missing your child's first day of school worth? Not being with your parents as they lay dying? Having your parents go to their graves with you branded a convict?"
("Putting A Price on Innocents' Lost Years" Washington Post, 4 Oct 2004, p A1)
WORKSHEET #2: Download the worksheet then follow the links to answer the questions. (Note, you will need to go to two different websites to complete the worksheet.) Your answers should be typed and are due April 3 at the start of class. DO NOT EMAIL IT TO ME – hardcopy only. Late worksheets will be marked down. [10 points]
IN CLASS QUIZ #6: Read Web Photos That Reveal Secrets. Your quiz will ask: (1) What is a geotag and what does it reveal, 2) what type of equipment produces geotags and what type of services, 3) what is “cybercasing” and 4) why isn’t “protecting your privacy is not just a matter of being aware and personally responsible” and what do you need to do? [6 points]
Apr 12
Part 6, Seagal
PLEASE NOTE: Professors
do not have regular office hours after the last class. Make sure to
get in touch before classes end if you have an important issues to
resolve. All back work should be turned in before the end of the last
class. The late penalty escalates sharply at this point; papers turned
in after the last day of class will be worth a maximum of 1 point.
Work turned in at the final exam will only be counted if you have made
prior arrangements with me.
remember
to be on time because no one will be admitted to take the final after the
first person has left
If you're graduating, congratulations.
Whether or not you are graduating, check
out the commencement address given by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple. He
discusses dropping out of college (he never graduated), getting fired from
Apple (a company he helped start) and dealing with cancer.
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
