Examines the role of the friend of the court, ("amicus curiae"), by discussing the filing of a brief in a drug testing case currently under consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court. Explores the issue of drug testing for employment; suggests possible outcomes; and provides 10 discussion questions for use with students. (KO)

Presents five K-six lesson plans for law-related education. Mock trials by Gallagher and Michael R. Morris demonstrate a small claims court and apply concepts learned in the study of the constitution. Robey Alonzo and Steve Jenkins outline a brainstorming exercise while Katherine Zuzula offers exercises to help students understand immigration…

Discusses the juvenile justice system and the issues facing it. Provides a brief history of the development of the juvenile justice system. Points out that the quest for justice is influenced by cultural context and is not confined to the court system. Concludes that access to justice is an evolutionary process. (KO)

Educational disputes involving gifted students may be resolved via conferences with parties involved, mediation, due process, or court litigation. Students in programs or activities receiving federal support may file complaints with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. Suggestions are offered for becoming informed about…

Reports on an innovative use of voice mail to support students studying law through distance education. Advantages include cost effectiveness, minimal isolation, and means for spontaneity. Possible uses include covering developments in dynamic disciplines after cut-off time, extending "shelf-life" of printed materials, and providing…

Presents a lesson on American Indian tribal sovereignty. Discusses the concept of sovereignty as it developed in the United States. Describes three Supreme Court decisions that established (1) Indian tribes were sovereign before European contact and (2) some sovereign powers were restricted after the United States was established. Includes a chart…

Summarizes activities of the 105th Congress related to telecommunications. Includes discussions of a Senate measure to stop telephone "slamming," a new statute to prevent the alteration of electronic serial numbers of cellular telephones, bills related to Internet content restrictions, and a bill to open telecommunications satellite…

Discusses an integrated unit linking social studies, science, and language arts. Students get first-hand experience of legislative processes by writing and debating environmental-protection laws. (CCM)

Considers the religious rights of prison and jail inmates and discusses the role of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act that was passed in 1993 granting people greater rights to practice their religion. Proposes an instructional idea where students discuss the benefits and challenges of allowing inmates to practice their religions within an…

Briefly reviews the historical development of civil procedure (the rules that dictate how a civil case can proceed through the courts) and identifies some of its main components. Discusses procedures such as subject matter jurisdiction, personal jurisdiction, venue, discovery, motions practice, pleadings, pretrial conference, and trials. (MJP)

Provides an annotated list of resources for teaching about civil law. The materials include books, pamphlets, articles, curriculum guides, lesson plans, mock trials, videotapes, software, and simulations. Each annotation includes a contact number or address and purchase price where applicable. (MJP)

Presents a lesson in which students learn about the events that led to the court case "In re Gault" and recognize the importance of this case in establishing juvenile rights and court proceedings. Considers the unfairness of the court in denying Gerry Gault his due process rights. Provides two handouts. (CMK)

Provides a list of terms pertaining to the juvenile justice system, such as appeal and due process, that are used throughout this edition of "Update on Law-Related Education," in particular, with the teaching strategies "The Case of Gerry Gault" (SO 532 196) "Today's Juvenile Court" (SO 532 197), and "Using the Juvenile Justice Poster" (SO 532…

Objective: This study investigated the effect of child witness demeanor (defined as crying) on mock jurors' decisions in a simulated First-Degree rape trial. Method: One hundred and thirty-three undergraduates serving in the role of mock jurors read a trial summary in which the primary independent variable was the demeanor of the alleged child…

Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, student interest in school programs dealing with careers in law, public safety, and national security is on the rise. This article describes students' experiences at the Academy for Law and Public Safety at Butler High School in Butler, New Jersey. This vocational academy is one of a number of career…