When courts engage in educational policymaking through what is called "public law litigation," they set foot in unsettled territory. Framing the authors' work in legal studies literature, this article relays how one court engaged in a sweeping reform of special education in Chicago and teacher certification in the entire state of…

Ambiguity over the concepts of "parental capability" and "the child's best interests" in the Israeli adoption law, and a lack of sufficient professional knowledge can lead to bias in the professional decision-making process regarding child adoption. This study investigates the idea that judges do not use only legal…

The purpose of this article is to indicate some of the more useful materials and training programs for teaching about the judicial process. (KM)

Designed to assist the public in understanding the judicial system and judicial process in Alabama, this handbook (1) presents an overview of Alabama's courts and their jurisdictions, (2) identifies the officers of the courts and the contributions each makes to the judicial process, and (3) narrates in general terms the procedures most common to…

The Fatwa making process is a process used by an Islamic "mufti" (A Muslim legal expert) to issue a non-binding opinion or "fatwa" (judicial pronouncement in Islam) on the point of Islamic sharia law when a question is raised by a "mustafti" (The person who asks a mufti for a fatwa), the person who has asked for a…

As a supplement to the basic text, "Higher Education and the Law," this book briefly describes the American legal system for scholars, students, and administrators in the field of higher education who have had little or no legal training. The following topics are addressed: The United States Courts, the process of judicial review, reading and…

The interaction analysis scheme describes the adjustment of the legal system to change. It is a dynamic decision-making process interacting internally among the judicial and legislative subsystems, and, externally with the social environment in the policy-making process. (SE)

This material provides a program to instruct secondary-level students in the political, governmental, and legal process and to encourage active student participation in these processes. The materials draw heavily upon community cooperation as a base for practical learning. Part of a year-long curriculum program, this unit examines individual…

Designed for use in the high school curriculum, two lessons introduce students to contemporary issues surrounding the American jury system and to political, legal, and economic systems of other countries. Although intended for use with a filmstrip, cassette, computer software, and a computer instructional manual, activities in the teaching guide…

A guide for secondary school social studies teachers provides materials suitable for a 10-week course on law or individual lessons on specific topics which may be covered in the social studies curriculum. Material is organized according to topics. Topic I, "What Is Law?" contains lessons on defining law, reasons for writing laws, and the…

Designed for use in the junior high school curriculum, two lessons involve students in the structure and procedures of the jury system as it functions within the court system. Although intended for use with a slide program and computer software program, activities in the teaching guide can be used independently. For each lesson, background…

Student and teacher materials are included in this book on Minnesota laws which directly affect the lives of high school students. The laws are grouped into six broad categories insofar as they are related to major areas of a student's life, i.e., civil law, home, school, marriage, the criminal justice system, and alcohol and drug laws. After…

Dimensions and implications of the role of the federal courts in the formulation of educational policy are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the function of social scientists and social science data and techniques in the legal process. The document contains seven articles. Article I presents background information on the relationship between social…

In common law legal systems, the doctrine of precedent directs appellate judges to search out legal rules articulated in previous cases similar to the present case before making their decision. Although this principle is universally accepted, the extent to which legal rules determine decisions varies, since the rule element and judicial discretion…