Week2:ClassicalLegalThoughtandtheLochner

Era
TheTheoryofReasoning:Formalism
MAINPOINTS:
Lawasaselfcontainedspherethatisnottouchedbyexternalexperience
Usesscientificlegalreasoningtomakedeductions(Langdell)
Reasonbyanalogybydecidingtheimportantfactsofyourcaseandanalogizingtoanexistingcase
Applicationoflegalrules,notconcernedwithpolicy.Rulescomefromstatutesandprecedentwithcaselaw.
Thegoalsofformalismareto1)makethelawuniformandthereforemorefair,2)makelawpredictableand
transparent,3)totiedecisionmakershandsanddepoliticizethelaw,and4)tomakethelawaselfcontainedsystem.
READINGS:
WilliamWetmoreStory,ATreatiseontheLawofContractsNotUnderSeal
o Contractscannotexistwithoutconsideration;valuableconsiderationisalegalconsideration
emanatingfrominjuryorinconveniencetotheoneparty,orfromsomebenefittotheotherparty.
Kirkseyv.Kirksey&Hamerv.Sidway
o Thesearebothformalisticdecisions;theybothconsidersimplywhetherthesearecontractsornot,
andnotnecessarilyatthemoralconsequence.Theideaisthatthereisalegalruleandthefactsdoordonotsupport
thatlegalrule.
o Buttherulesareeasilymanipulated,whichiswhyalthoughsimilar,thecasescomeout
differently.
o InKirksey,awidowwenttolivewithherbrotherinlawuntilhekickedherout.Thecourtsaid
therewasnoconsideration,sohisoffertohouseherwasagratuity,notacontract.
o InHamer,unclespromisetonephewtopayhimifhedidnotdrinkorsmokewasacontractand
thenephewsabstinencefromthosebehaviorswasconsideration.
AnthonyKronman,TheLostLawyer
o Langdelldecidedtotreatlawasasocialscience.Casesarethedata.Wereasoninductivelyfrom
decidedcasestodeterminewhichrulestheyfallunder.Thenwereasoninductivelytodeterminewithsubprinciples
therulesfallunder.
o Langdellcritiquedthemailboxrule.Thefundamentalprincipleisthatacontractrequires
consideration.Inthiscase,theconsiderationisareciprocalpromise,containedintheletterofacceptanceyouhave
droppedinthemailbox.Apromiseisntapromiseuntilitiscommunicated.Thecommunicationisnt
communicateduntilitisreceived.
CassR.Sunstein,OnAnalogicalReasoning
o Acommonlawrulehasnooneauthoritativecanon.Youmustdecidewhichfactorsinthecase
decidedtheratiodecendi.Youtakethefactsofanewcaseandsaythat,insomeway,theyareanalogoustothefacts
intheoldcase.
o Decidingacasebecauseafteryouhavespottedthatanalogyisnotabouttheeffectsthedecision
willhaveintherealworld;itisaboutsayingonecasefitsintoareceivedbodyoflaw(thelawreports).
FrederickSchauer,Formalism
o Pointsinfavorofformalismarefairness,fairnotice,predictabilityandstability.
o Aweakpointofformalismisthatifprecedentsareunfairtheyarekeptincirculation.
TheTheoryofRights:ClassicLiberalism
MAINPOINTS:
Doesthelawsatisfyavalidpolicepower?
Isthisthepublicinfringingontheprivate?
Issomeoneslibertybeingchallenged?
Closertolibertarianism;lessregulation
Lawshoulddonothingmorethanprotectyourpropertyrightsandrighttocreatecontractswithanother.Iftheydo
more,thatlawcanbedeemedinvalidbydueprocess.
Theprivaterealmistherealmoffreedomwherethepublicsectoriscoercive;deprivesyouoffreedom
Governmentcanpreventyoufromdoinganaction,butitcannotmakeyouliableforyournonaction,otherwisethe
extentofourobligationstootherscouldbeunlimited
Naturalrightsasapartofeconomiclibertyhadadecidedlyconservativeorprobusinesstone
READINGS:
ChristopherTiedman,ATreatiseontheLimitationsofPolicePowerintheUnitedStates
o Fundamentalprincipleofbothhumanandnaturallaw:Sicuteretuo,utalienumnonlaedas,
meaninguseyourownpropertysoasnottoinjurethatofanother.

o Lawshoulddonothingmorethanprotectyourpropertyrightsandrighttocreatecontractswith
another.Iflawdoesmore,itcanbedeemedinvalidbydueprocess.
Lochnerv.NewYork
o Newtypeoflegislationandcharacterizeswayschoolsofthoughtwereforming
o Majorityopinion:Thereisaformalrighttocontractasoneseesfit,sincethebakersarecompetent
(theoretically).Ifemployerandemployeearesuijuristhentheyarenotwardsofthestateandhavetheabilityto
enterintoaprivatecontract,sothestateshouldnotlimittheirliberty.Courtisprotectingtherightsoftheemployer
andemployeetorelateonthetermsthattheyseefit.Undercontractlaw,thisisenforceable,andsinceitisinthe
privatesphereofthefreedomoftheindividualthelegislationcannotintervene.Thisisnotabouthealthandsafety;
thisisaboutempoweringtheemployees.
o Dissentsreasoning#1(Harlan):Thelaborlawisabouthealthandsafetyandthereisreasonable
evidencethatbakersneedthispolicepower.
o Dissentsreasoning#2(Holmes):Weshouldjustdefertothelegislationbecauseitisreallyjustan
economicpolicy(maybeasocialwelfareone,here).

Week3:SettingtheStageforRealism
MAINPOINTS:
Whatarethefunctionsofthelaw?
Whataretheconsequencesofthelaw?
Whatshouldthelawdo?Whatoughtitbe?
Howwouldabadmanlookatthislaw?
Istherereallyapublic/privatedistinction??Isitbettertolookatthroughfeasanceornonfeasance?
Whatisthebestoutcomeforsociety?
Realismcriticizesalmosteveryaspectofclassicallegalthought.
Lawsmustbelookedattheiractualconsequences;alegaldecisioniswhatitdoes.
Thelawandthejudgeshouldnotsimplyfollowprecedent;theyshouldlookatwhatmakessense
Badmanunderstandingoflaw
o Judgesshouldexplicitlyandselfconsciouslydothistoachievesocialadvantage.Thelawyerand
judgeofthefuturewillbepolicyanalysts,notprofessorsofblackletterlaw.Lawyerisessentiallyjustanodds
maker.
Inregardstoact/omissionorfeasance/nonfeasance,judgmentsshouldbedecidediftheoutcomeisgoodforsociety,
evenifitholdssomegroupstostrictliability.
READINGS:
OliverWendellHolmes,Jr.,ThePathoftheLaw
o Whenwestudylawwearenotstudyingamysterybutawellknownprofession.Wecatchan
echooftheinfinite,aglimpseofitsunfathomableprocess,ahintoftheuniversallaw.
o Thelawandthejudgeshouldnotsimplyfollowprecedent;theyshouldlookatwhatmakessense
itisrevoltingtohavenobetterreasontofollowlawthenitwaslaiddownlongago.
o OpposesLangdell;Thelifeofthelawisnotlogic,butexperience.Lawhasnonecessary
connectionwithmoralitybecausethedutytoobeythelawisnotmoral(badmantheory).
RobertHale,CoercionandDistributioninaSupposedlyNonCoerciveState
o Themarketeconomywasinfactanorganizedformofcoercionofpeoplewithoutpropertybythe
propertyowners.Halesbasicgoalwastoattacktheprevailingvisionofthemarketeconomyasasystemoffreeand
voluntaryexchange,andtherebytounderminetheclaimthatthelawshouldsimplyreflecttheresultsarrivedatina
neutralmarket.
MorrisRaphaelCohen,PropertyofSovereignty
o Hisargumentiswhenyoulookatit,propertyissovereignty;propertygivesyoucontrolover
people.
o Heconcludesthatinordertopreservethetruthofprivateproperty,wemustrealizethatitis
legitimateforthestatetoregulateit.
o Giveprivatepropertyenoughrightstomakesureweachievetheadvantaged,butrestricttherights
enoughtodiminishthedisadvantages.
PennsylvaniaCoalCo.v.Mahon
o Pennsylvaniapassesastatutemandatingthatthepillarsofcoalstayinthegroundastonotcause
thesurfacetosink.ItiscalledtheKohlerActanditsconstitutionalityisquestioned.
o AttheSupremeCourtlevel,Holmes(andthemajority)regardsthisasatakingsissuethatthe
statutetakescoalfromthecoalcompanybytakingapropertyinterest.Theonlywaythestatuteshoulddothisisif
theypaythecoalcompany.Thiscaseisoftenconsideredthefirstcaseinwhichthetakingsclauseistakenviadue
processtoapplytothestates.

o Holmesessentiallychangesthedefinitionofpolicepower.Therearesomepolicepowercases
whereyoudontneedtoworryaboutcompensationandthatismostofthem.Butthereareothercasesinwhich
compensationisnecessaryforregulation.ForHolmes,thisisarightthepropertyownersspecificallybargained
over,whichmakesthestateretracting(andreassigning)thecoalcompanysrighttooextreme.Whenastateis
taking100%ofaninterestthatistoofar.
o Inthedissent,Brandeissaysbyallowinghousestocrashtotheground,thereisadangertopublic
healthandsafety.Thestateshouldbeallowedtointerferetopreventthis.ThisislikeLochnerandBrandeisdissent
islikeHarlansdissentinLochner.
Millerv.Schoene
o Twodifferenttypesoftrees;cedarandapple.Afungusmovesbackandforthbetweenthetwo
trees,butdoesnotaffectthecedar.Itonlyaffectstheapples.ThecourtofVirginiadecidesthatbecausetheapple
treesaremuchmorevaluablethanthecedartrees,thecedartreesshouldbecutdown.

Week4:TheRealistAttackandtheFunctionalApproach

F.Cohen:
o TranscendentalNonsense:Creatingconceptslikerights,corporations,andpropertyandthen
appealingtothemtojustifylegaldecisionsisnonsense.Thesethingsareabstractsconstructedbythelaw.
Therefore,appealingtothemtodecidecasesiscircular.Courtsdonotseethecircularitybecausetheythinkthe
conceptsarereal.
o EliminatingMetaphysics:Judgesconsiderpolicyandmorality,notimpossiblemetaphysical
dilemmas,indecidingcases.Dontletmetaphysicalconceptsdriveyou.Makesuretheystickwithmoraland
policyreasons.Legalconceptsarenotnonsense.Legalconceptswithoutpolicyandmoralsarenonsense.
o Functionalism:Aconceptiswhatitdoes.Acorporationisaprocess,complex,pattern,or
arrangementofthingsthatrealpeopledo.FunctionalMethod:Definingconceptssolelybasedonhumanexperience
andoperation.Athingiswhatitdoes.(thisisCohensmantra)
o NewAreaforResearch:Figureoutwhatjudgesareactuallydecidingcasesthroughstatistical
analysisandsociology.Afterwards,decidehowjudgesshoulddecidecases.Thisisanearlyprecursortosocio
legalstudies.Wantslawtobemorelikemathandphysics.
o CohensKeyIdea:
To justify or criticize legal rules in purely legal terms is always to argue in a
vicious circle. (p. 114)
The distribution of income depends on the relative power of coercion which the
different members of the community can exert against one another.
Private property is the source of all coercion
When the government enforces private property rights of capitalists, it oppresses
labour:
Unless X sells his labour for wages, X will not be able to eat.
KarlLlewellyn:
o LawinFlux:Thelawisnotasetofstaticprinciples.Itisjudgecreated.Indeterminacy.Lookat
intermediateprinciples.
o LawasaMeanstoSocialEnds:Everypartofthelawmustbejudgedforitspurposeandits
effect.(Exampleoffunctionalism)
o SocietyinFlux:Societychangesfasterthanthelaw.Therefore,atanygivenmoment,somepart
ofthelawwillrequirerevision.
o TemporaryDivorceofOughtandIs:Whatcourtsareactuallydoingvs.whatcourtsoughttobe
doing.PrematureconsiderationofOughtmakesitdifficulttoresolveIsquestions.F.Cohensvisionofstatistical
analysisofjudicialopinions.
o DistrustTraditionalRulesandConcepts:Theydonotdescribewhatcourtsaredoing.
o Confabulation:
Opinionsareposthocrationalizationsthatmakedecisionsplausible.

 Inmanycases,multiplerightoutcomesarejustifiable.Whatmakesthejudgego
onewayratherthantheother?Youcanusecanonsofconstructiontoarguestatutoryinterpretationboth
ways
Example:AstatutecannotgobeyonditstextorToeffectitspurposea
statutemaybeimplementedbeyonditstext.

Cases:

o Soldanov.ODaniels:HappyJack'sisacrossthestreetfromCircleInn.Amanisthreatenedat
HappyJack's.AgoodSamaritanaskstousethephoneatCircleInntocallthepolice.TheCircleInnrefusestolet
himcall.ThemanatHappyJack'sgetsshotanddies.
Doesabusinessincurliabilityifitdeniesuseofitstelephonetoagood
Samaritanwhowantstocallthepoliceinanemergency?
Changingpublicpolicyandsentiments:TheNoDutytoActrulehasbeen
roundlycriticized.Courtshaveincreasinglyaddedexceptionstotherulebyrecognizingspecial
relationships.Thelegislaturerecognizestheimportanceofcitizenactioninreducingcrimeandthe
importanceofthetelephoneinsummoningaid.
o Straussv.BelleRealty:AmassiveblackoutiscausedbyConsolidatedEdisonsgross
negligence.Straussfallsdownthestairsinacommonareaofapartmentbuilding.CEhasacontractwithStrauss
forhisapartmentbuthasacontractwiththebuildingownerforthecommonareas.
DidCEoweadutytoStraussthoughithadnocontractwithhim?
OrbitofDuty:Thecourtsmustlimitlegalrightsandwrongstoacontrollable
degree.AhasacontractwithB.AcanowedutiestoCifAknowsorcanreasonablyforeseethatthe
subjectofthecontractisintendedforC'suse.Dutiesextendtoknownthirdparties,limitedanddefined
peopleorgroups.
o Thetenantsofthebuildingarenotadefinedgroup.Guestsandtenantscomeandgo.With
respecttoCE,Straussisthesameasarandompersonoffthestreet.
o Illustratesthevalueofformalisticcutoffpointslimitingtortliability.

Week5:RealismandthecrisisofLegitimacy.
Terms:
Whatarethedangersofmightmakesright?
Canyoureallytakemoralityoutoflaw?
Whatisthebasisofjusticewithoutasetsystemofmorals?
PositiveLaw:Lawthatisonthebooks;thathavebeenpromulgatedbyauthorities.Commonlawisnotpositivelaw.
- LegalPositivism:Positivelawisallthereistolaw
- SeparabilityThesis:lawandmoralityhavenonecessaryconditiontheyaretwoseparatethings.
- CommandTheory(BenthamsStudentAustin):Lawsarecommandsfromthesovereignbackedby
threats.
- HLAHartsRuleTheory:Rulesofrecognitionneednothreats.(Likeifsomethingispassedbyboth
housesandsignedbythePresidentitislaw.)
- NaturalLaw:GobacktoPlatoandThomisits(FollowersofThomasAquinas.Wediscoverthrough
reasonaswellasexperiencethathumanbeingspursuecertainendsweallseeasgood.(ietencommandments)
CriticalPart:directedagainstlegalpositivismPositivelawthatisinconsistent
withnaturallawisnotreallylaw.
Constructivepart:thosewhoworktodiscernwhattheactuallawis.
- LegalMoralism:Itspropertolegislatemorality.
- NaturalRightsTheory(Alsoclassicalliberalism):Hobbes/Kant/Locke/Rousseau
SocialContractTheorygiveupcertainrightsthatwereavailableinthenatural
statetoenjoytheluxuriesofagovernment.
-

ClassicalLegalThought=NATURALRIGHTSTHEORY+FORMALISM
Naturalism:Oppositeofsupernaturalism.Rejecttheideathatanythingcanorshouldbeexplained

- Pragmatism:Truthisusefulness.Democraticinstitutionsarejustifiedbecausetheyworkthebest.They
aremostlikelytoyieldathrivingsociety.
- BehaviorismtrulyscientificpsychologymustlimititselftoJUSTdatathatcanbeindependently
confirmed.
PURCELL:TheCrisisofDemocraticTheoryChapter9:CRISISINJURISPRUDENCE
- BRIEFSUMMARY:Thisarticlehighlightsthetension(calledthecrisisofjurisprudence)between
Realistsargumentsandnaturallawcriticsargumentsthatrealismleadstomoralrelativism,whichleadstofascism.
Mightmakesright.
- RoscoePound
Nooftheoriginalcriticsoflegalrealism.
PROBLEMwithRealismisthatitidentifiescompletelywithauthoritiescan
rationalizeNaziGermany.Realismasgiveitupphilosophy
- FullerNaturallawsupporter
Realismispointless,fatuous,selfdestructive,whollyderivative,andsterileas
anapproachtolegaltheory
Valueandbeingarenottwodifferentthings,buttwoaspectsofanintegral
reality.
Didntequaterelativismwithtotalitarianism,butsaiditwasnecessaryfirststep
towardruleofbruteforce
Faithandreasonanditspowertodiscerntheethicallygoodwerethenecessary
prerequisitesofdemocracy.Realism,hedeclared,deniedboth.
o TheCatholics
Catholics,throughtheirfaith,hadareadyjustificationfordemocracythat
didntsyncwithmostintellectualsbutwhichdidresembletheattitudesofthepublic,whichaccepted
democracyasanethicalgoodongroundsoftradition,faith,habit,etc.
o Dewey
Arguedthatphilosophicalabsolutismimpliedpoliticalauthoritarianism
Aslongaspeoplebelievedthatsomesuchsystemofsocialandmoraltruths
existed,thentherehadtobeanauthoritativegrouporinstitutionwhichcouldinterpretandapplyit.
Scienceisthemostreliablemethodofdevelopingknowledge.Science
flourishesbestinademocraticsocietythatpermitsfreedomofinquiryandtoleratesmultipleviewpoints.
Peopleactuallychooseamongcompetingvaluesfortheirsocialconsequences.
Communism,fascism,Nazism=absolutist;democracy=noinabsolutistand
relativelyfree
AntiabsolutismledtobittercondemnationsofCatholicChurchasallyof
fascism
Churchuseddogmastoorderasocietyinbehalfoftheinterestsofa
bureaucraticminority
intellectualconvictionthatallideasweretentativeandsubjecttoconstant
criticismcouldprizeafreeandflexiblesocialorder(thisisabroadsocialattitudethatpervadedthe
thinkingofcitizens)
Democracywasjustifiednobecauseanyonecouldproveordisprovecertain
ethicalpropositions,butbecausetheideaofanabsolutemoraldemonstrationwasitselfarational
impossibility.
Ifyoubelievegovernmentshouldreflectthewillofpeople,thatyoure
concedingthatitshouldreflectwhateverpeoplewantittoreflectratherthannaturallaw.
Democracyreflectsthescientificmethod,saidDewey
Notallagreed
o Smith
Peopleshouldtreatthewholeworld,heimplied,asahugelegislature.
Democracydoesnotrequire,orpermit,agreementonfundamentals
(withonecaveat:democratsmustagreenottoinsistonthepublicacceptanceoftheirprivatemoral
beliefs.
Deweyv.Smith
Dewey:logicalanalogybetweenscienceanddemocracy;
rational,scientificjustificationofhumanvalueswaspossible

 Smith:Worldashugelegislature;sufficientintellectual
justificationinthenegativeargumentagainstthelegitimacyofanyabsolutist,andtherefore
nondemocratic,society
-

Barzun

Absolutism=intellectualfailureandpoliticaldefeatDemocracyasan
atmosphereandanattitude.
Herring
Democracyisntasetofprinciples,butratherasetofproceduresfor
compromisingdiverseinterests

ConRealism

Pro/Con

Realismleadstofascism.(Relativismleadstototalitarianism)Wecan
rationalizetheNaziRegimeb/ctheywerevotedintopower.(Pound)
Itoversimplifiesbytryingtoisolatelawthatis,asopposedtotryingto
understandthefullscopeandnatureoflawinprocess,anaturethatincludednecessarilybothanisandan
ought(Fuller)
Realismwasdesignedtosuffocatereligion.P179(TheCatholics)
Uncriticalacceptancetoanumberofdubioussocialscienceconcepts(The
Catholics)
TheWealthyopposedtheNewDeal(aproductofrealism)becausetheysawit
asathreattotheirstrainedmethodofconstitutionalinterpretation.
Aslongastherearepeoplewhobelieveinmoraltruthswehavetohavea
systemthatcaninterpretandusethem.(Dewey)
- ProRealism:
RespondingtoPound:MightIS.Peopledecidewhichmighttheyprefer.Its
democracy.
Therealistsagreedinconcedingtheimportanceofmoralideasinanysociety,
thoughtheydisagreedonitsfoundations,whethernaturallaw,communitystandards,thescientificmethod,
orsimplehumanitariansentiment.
Someretrenched;mostacknowledgedsomeplacefornaturallawasauseful
complement(Llewellyn)
- ConPositivism
Doesnt(butneedsto)lookattheimportanceofethicalstandards.(Fuller)
ProNaturalism
Naturallaw,ontheotherhand,istheviewwhichdeniesthepossibilityofrigid
separationoftheisandtheought(Fuller)
- Democracy
Democracyisthusoriginallytheresultandnotthecauseofourdeepseated
desirefordiversity,freedom,andtolerance.(Barzun)
Democracysfirstdutyisthepreservationoftheconditionsthatpermitthis
tolerationofdisagreement.(Herring)
Mostsuccessfuldemocracieswerecomposedofwidelydivergentracial,ethnic,
andreligiouselementsAmericandemocracyworkedonprocessofpragmaticcompromise(Friedrich)
- ProcessTheoryEmerges:Thoughwemaydisagreeinoursubstantiveviews,wesharecertainbedrock
culturalvalueslikefreedom,toleration,andequality.Thesevaluesjustifyprocessesofdemocraticdecisionmaking.
Week6:ProcessTheory
MainTenants:ProcessTheorysoughttoadoptthepositiveaspectsofRealism(moralrelativismandinstrumentalism)while
simultaneouslypreservingtheprestigeofthecourts,explainingtheirlegitimacy,andprotectingthepeoplefromtheexcessesofan
unbridledjudiciary.
Doesthisfallwithinthedistributionofpower?
Isthisdecisionbestlefttothelegislature?
Whatiftheprocessdeliversanunjustresult?SeePlessyv.Ferguson
Shouldwepermitcourtstosuereasonedelaborationinlieuoftheestablishedlegalprocessincaseswhereagreatinjusticeisbeing
done?
1. HartandSacks:TheLegalProcess

a. TrackDependence:Societiesdeveloptheirownuniqueprocessforresolvingdisputes.These
proceduresareconsideredlegitimateintheculturethatgaverisetothem.
b. PrincipleofInstitutionalSettlement(PIS):Decisionsreachedbydulyacceptedprocedures
shouldbeconsideredbindinguntiltheyaredulychanged,becausethealternativeiscivilwar.Inamajorityrule
system,thoseintheminorityshouldyieldtothemajorityevenwhentheyknowtheyareright.
c. InstitutionalCompetence:Institutionsvaryintheirabilities.Thelegalprocessaimstochannel
decisionstotheinstitutionsbestabletomakethem.Thelegitimacyoflegaldecisionsstemsfromthespecial
competenceofthecourts.Whencourtsexceedtheircompetence,theirdecisionsloselegitimacy.
d. InstitutionalCompetence
d.i. Bestsettlementsdivertcontroversiestothemostcompetentinstitutionforthat
particularissue
d.ii. Thereareawholehostofproblemsthatthecourtsarenotcompetenttosolve
d.ii.1.

Gametheory
d.ii.1.a.

Beststrategyincorporateswhat

otherpartiesaregoingtodo
d.ii.1.b.
headingtowardeachotheronthesidewalk

PolycentricProblem:Twopeople

d.ii.1.c.

The"best"strategyissubjectto

d.ii.1.d.
right,thenyoustillhavethesameproblem

Ifyoumoveleftandtheymove

whattheotherpersondoes

d.ii.1.e.

Can'tbesolvedbyproofsand

d.ii.1.f.

Someonemustmakeanexecutive

d.ii.1.g.

CourtsareNOTsuitedforthese

arguments

decision

managerialdecisions
e. FallacyoftheStaticPie:Thelawisn'tsimplyabout"whogetswhat."Societyisnotazerosum
game.Liketechnology,welldesignedinstitutionscanenlargethepie.
f. Problem
f.i. HartandSacks:decisionsdulyarrivedatarebinding
f.ii. King:moralresponsibilitytoobeyjustlaws,anddisobeyunjustlaws
f.iii. Unjustlawisacodethatanumericalorpowermajoritygroupdemandsthata
minoritygroupobeybutdoesnotmakebindingonitself
f.iv. Alawisunjustifitisinflictedontheminoritythat,asaresultofbeingdenied
therighttovote,hadnopartinenactingthedevisedlaw
LonFuller,TheFormsandLimitsofAdjudication
Inorderfortaskstobeinherentlysuitedtoadjudication,itmustbepossibletopreservethemeaningoftheaffectedpartys
participationthroughproofsandarguments.

a.polycentrictasksarenotsuitedforadjudicationandshouldbehandledbyadifferentformofsocialordering
example:usingadjudicationtoassignplayersonafootballteamtodifferentpositions

Case:Chevronv.NaturalResourceDefenseCouncil
SupremeCourtholds:CourtsmustdefertoadministrativeagencyinterpretationsoftheauthoritygrantedtothembyCongress(1)
wheretheintentofCongresswasambiguousand(2)wheretheinterpretationwasreasonableorpermissible.
1.

HerbertWexler:NeutralPrinciplesofConstitutionalLaw
a.i. Howcanwejustifyjudicialreviewassomethingotherthannakedpower?
Legaldecisionsarelegitimatewhentheyarebasedonneutralprinciples.
a.ii. Brownv.Boardwasan"unprincipleddecision."
a.ii.1.
TheCourtdecidedthecasebasedonempirical,
sociologicalstudies.
a.ii.2.
Really,thecaseinvolvedaconflictoverfundamental
values(thefreedomtoassociatevs.therighttoequalprotection).TheCourtshouldhave
articulatedaprincipledbasisforthedecisionthatwouldhelpresolvesimilarconflictsinthe
future.
WexlersNeutralPrinciples:
f.v. Manycases,especiallyConstitutionalones,involvecompetingvalueclaims.
Judgescannotrefrainfromtakingpositionsonsocialissues.
f.vi. Indeciding,theyshouldsupporttheirdecisionswithanadequatelygeneral,
neutral,principledexplanationthattranscendstheimmediateresult.
f.vii. Principleddecisionsperceiveandarticulateconflictsbetweenultimatevalues
andprovideguidanceforresolvingsimilarconflicts.
f.viii. Legalprinciplesshouldexpresssocietysvaluepreferences.

2.

Ely:TheAllureofInterpretivisminDemocracyandDistrust
a. Interpretivism:Judgesshouldenforceonlynormsthatareclearlystatedorimplicitinthe
Constitution.Thestatutesshouldnotbeinvalidatedunlesstheycontradictvaluesthatcanbefairlyinferredfromthe
Constitution.Interpretivismyieldsjudicialrestraint.
b. NonInterpretivism:Judgescanenforcenormsthatcannotbediscoveredwithoutlooking
beyondtheConstitution,yieldingactivismandpossiblytheimpositionofthesubstantivevaluesonthepeople.
c. TheWarrenCourt:TheCourtwasactivistbutdidnotmerelyimposeitsownvaluesonthe
people.Instead,itintervenedtofixthedemocraticprocess.
d. SubstantiveValuesv.ParticipationalValues:Thedemocraticprocessisthebestwayto
identifythesubstantivevaluesthatthepeoplecherishmostdeeply.Promotingparticipationalvaluesthereforehelps
thepeopleidentifytheirownsubstantivevalues.
e. Footnote#4oftheCarolineProductsCase:Normally,theCourtwillupholdstatutesthatare
rational.Mererationalitymaynotbeenough,andmoreexactingjudicialscrutinymaybenecessary,whendiscrete
minoritiesarecutoutofthedecisionmakingprocessorwhentheprocessitselfisantidemocratic.
f. CourtasReferee:TheSupremeCourtisanappointed,nondemocraticinstitution.Itshouldnt
makedecisionsaboutsubstantivevalues.Itsspecialcompetenceishelpingtomaintainthedemocraticprocessand
fixitwhenit'sbroken.Anantitrustapproachratherthanaregulatoryapproach.
KeyTerm:ReasonedElaboration:Opinionsshould(1)provide
reasonsfordecisions,(2)setforththosereasonsindetail,(3)exemplifythematuringofcollectivethought,and(4)
onConstitutionalmattersreflectexpresstheultimatesocialpreferencesofsocietytoday.

3.

Fuller:TheMoralitythatMakesLawPossible
a. KingRexandFullersCannons:Generality;Publicity;Prospectivity(nonretroactivity);
Clarity;Consistency(noncontradiction);Constancy;Feasibility;Congruence(betweenthewrittenrulesandthe
rulesasenforced).
b. InternalMoralityofLaw(Procedural)v.SubstantiveMorality:Thecannonsarelaws
internalmorality,meaningthatonecannotmakelawunlessonerespectsthem.Theinternalmoralityoflawislike

theprinciplesofcarpentry.Ifonedoesntrespecttheprinciplesofcarpentry,onesstructurewillfallapart.The
internalmoralityoflawisneutralwithrespecttosubstantivemorality,justastheprinciplesofcarpentryareneutral
withrespecttothestructureonewishestobuild.Onecansuccessfullymakelawsthatreflectavarietyof
substantiveviewpoints,justascarpentersmightchoosetobuildfurniture,houses,wagons,otherthings.
DefinitionofLaw:Theenterpriseofsubjectinghumanconducttothegovernanceofrules.
Note:Fullerscanonsasproceduralnaturallaw
1. Apowerfulsensethatwhatmakeslawdistinctiveisthatprocessisasimportantassubstance.
2. Aprogramforanalyzingprocessesandinstitutions,byexamininghowtheyworkandwhattheirdistinctive
institutionalcompetenciesare.
3. Aprogramforsmokingoutbadprocessesthosethatexcludediscreteandinsularminoritiesorgetmanipulatedby
powerholderstoentrenchtheirownpower.
4. Avocationforlawyerasarchitectsofsocialstructure
5. Ananalysisofwhat,specifically,theruleoflawconsistsofFullers8canons,togetherwithanunderstandingof
whyitmightbeagoodthing
WEEK7+8:ECON1(Brittany)
LawandEconNotes
Whatisthemostefficientoutcome?
Woulditmatterwhoyougrantedentitlementto?
Shouldcourtstakeintoaccountefficiencywhendecidinghowlawshouldbeapplied?
Isthecostbyathirdparty?
Doesitmakesomeonebetteroffwhilenotharmingsomeoneelse?
Critquestions:
Whataboutthingslikelove?
Isthisjustsomeoneacceptingtheircircumstances?
Howisthisdifferentintheoryandinpractice?
Wouldapersonpaythesamepricetobuythisitemassellit?
Polinksi:
Efficiency:relationshipbetweentheaggregatebenefitsofasituationandtheaggregatecostsofthesituation.Sizeofthepie
Equity:Distributionofincomeamongindividuals.Howpieissliced.
Isthereaconflict?Seedamexampleonpage278.
Ifincomecanbecostlesslyredistributed,thenthereisnoconflict.Inotherwords,ifthepie,nomatteritssize,canbeslicedanyway,
italwaysmakesmoresensetogrowthepie.
StandardassumptionsinEcon:
1) doesnottakeintoaccountthingslikeprotectionoflife.
2) Consumersovereigntyindividualsknowwhatisbestforthemselves;howmuchtoattachtoplaceonbenefitsand
costs.
3) ExogenouspreferencesPublicPolicydoesnoteffectvaluesindividualsplaceonbenefitsandcosts.
COASETHEOREM:
Theefficientsolutionwillhappennomatterwhogetsentitlementifzerotransactioncosts.Notethatequitablesolutionwillnotalways
happenhowever.Page281
ZeroTransCostsisunrealistic.IftherearepositiveTC,theefficientoutcomemaynotoccurundereverylegalrule.
Taxesredistributedpage284
ParetoEfficiencyandtheKaldorHicksTheory
Paretosuperior:changeinstatusquothatmakesatleastonepersonbetteroffandnooneworseoff.
ParetoOptimum(efficient)ifnomoreparetosuperiorpointscanbeestablished.
KaldorHickshassocietysaggregateutilitybeenmaximized?
Externalities
Costscangotononconsentingthirdparties.
Criticisms
SourGrapes:Individualsbecomecontentwithsituation;trickthemselvesintothinkingtheyneverreallywanteditinthefirstplace.
Doconsumerstreatopportunityincomeandrealizedincomeinterchangeably?Thinkthesicknessexample.

Consumerscaremoreaboutrealizedincomethanopportunityincome;consumersgenerallyaskmoremoneytosellanentitlement
thantheywouldpayforit;shiftingentitlementsfromonepartytoanotherdrasticallyaltersoutcomes.
NosuchthingasZeroTransactionCosts.
Econdoesnotassignvaluetothingslikelove,whichwedontpayfor.Similarly,consumersmayopposethebuildingorcreationof
somethingtheywoulduseforabiggerpurpose.ThinkDisneyresortexample.
UnitedStatesv.CarrollTowing
Bargeemoorsbargeatapublicdock,anddepartsbarge(thisisduringWWII.Duringaparticularlyviolentstorm,thebargebecomes
unmoored,anddriftsawayfromthedock,intoanothertanker,andsinks(theothertankerisonlydamaged).TheU.S.wasthelawful
ownerofthegoodsinsidethebarge.Theaccidentcouldhavebeenavoidableifthebargeehadbeenpresent.However,itwouldbe
impracticaltokeephimthereatalltimes.
Judge:LearnedHand
Hand'ssolution:B<PLtodetermineliability.
B=burdenofpreventingharm.
P=probabilitythattheharmwilloccur.
L=lossintheevenofaharm.
IfB<PL,themeasuretopreventshouldbetaken.
IfB>PL,themeasuretopreventshouldnotbetaken.
(Note:Handsuggestediftherewasacustominthetrade,itshouldbedeferredtooverhisformula)
Escolav.CocaCola
AwomanstockingCocaColabottleshasonesmashinherhand.Itwasareusedbottle,andthusnotsentthroughthestresstesterthe
CocaColaCorp.putstheirnewbottlesthrough.TheB<PLformulaisadoptedtodetermineliability(againstCocaCola...theyhad
themachineryinplacetostresstesttheirbottles,butsimplydidn'tputitintoeffectwhendealingwithreusedbottles).
WEEK9:CriticalLegalStudies
Amovement,notastudy.Doesntofferprescription.Hardtodeterminewhatacritwouldsayaboutanyissuesincetheyareunitedon
negation,notasingleconstructiveidea.
Whohastherights?Isthatservingamoreinclusivesociety?Isrightstalkeffective?
Byassertingoneright,whatotherrightareyouinfringingupon?
Doesthislawreflecttheparadoxofcloseness?Individualismorcollectivism?
Howisthislawpolitical?
Howisthislawindeterminate?
Aretheresuchthingsaseasycases?Ifsoislawreallyindeterminate?
MainIdeas.
Thereisnodistinctionbetweenlawandpolitics.Judgesdecidecasesaccordingtotheirparticularpoliticalor
ideologicalviewsandusethelanguageoflawtomaketheirdecisionsappearinevitableornatural.
Talkofrightsisasflexibleastalkofreligion.Whenpeoplewantsomethingfromthelegalsystem,theyputtheir
requestinto'rights'.
FundamentalContradiction:Twovisionsofsociallifeforeveryprinciple,thereisacounterprinciple(notunlike
Hohfeld'sright/duty,orLlewellyn'sduelingcanons).Soweseeitinlaw:somelawsemphasizeindividualism,somealtruism.
Someemphasizeneed,somefear.
"Relationswithothersarebothnecessaryandincompatiblewithourfreedom."(p446)[Kennedy]
"Peopleliveinmutuallongingandjeopardy."(p449)[Unger]
AnalyticalIndeterminacy:Whenalawispassed,thereisoftencompromise;bothsidesthencanbefoundinthe
statute.
UnfreezingLegalReality
lawsdon'texistindependentofhumans(notamadvoiceinthesky).Legalinterestgroupsvyingforsupremacyona
singleissue.Whentheywin,theypassalaw.
Marx:traditionofdeadgenerationsweighingonthe'literal'.Wehavefreedomtodowhatwewant,sowhynot
rewritethings?
DifferencesbetweenRealistsandCLS:
Realists:Lookedtopolicytodeterminerights.

 CLS:Skepticalthatthereisacorrectlegalresult.Discussionofrightsisexclusionary.Policy,ethics,andrightsare
fundamentallyandanalyticallyindeterminate.Digthroughopinions,andyouwillseepoliticalphilosophiesandcreationof
policies.
Examples:
o Vokesv.ArthurMurray,Inc.,wherethewomanpaidforyearsuponyearsofdancinglessons.
ThejudgedecidedtoseethestudioaslyingtoMrs.Vokes.Thecourt,indoingso,acceptedthenormalframingof
contracts.However,thecourtcouldjustaseasilyhavesaidthatthelieswerepartofwhatVokespaidfor(i.e.that
theymadeherfeelbetter).Anyoftheothercategoriescouldbearguedeitherway.
o FiduciaryRelationshipsprotectingunagreeduponrelianceoverfreedomtonotcontract.
DifferencesbetweenCLSandCRT:
o Rights:Rightsareindeterminatebuthavenonanalyticvalue.Thoughtheymanynotresolve
legaldisputes,theassertionofrightswasanempoweringexperienceforminorities,andrightsareanimportantpart
ofminorityidentity.
o AssertionofRights:Oneneednotbelievethatrightsareanalyticallydeterminateandcanresolve
legaldisputesinordertoassertthem.Theassertionofrightsisawaytoarticulatenormativecommitments.
Extendingrightstominoritieswasarecognitionoftheirworthashumanbeings.
o CLSviewsrightsandindividualismasalienating:Fromtheperspectiveofawhitemale,rights
andindividualismcreateboundariesbetweenpeople,turningpotentialfriendshipsintoarmslengthtransactions.
o CRTviewsrightsandindividualismisempowering:Fromtheperspectiveofaminority,rights
andindividualismareempoweringbecausetheyforceotherstoacknowledgeandrespectoneshumanity.The
absenceofrightsmeansnonexistenceornonhumanity.
Articles
RobertGordon.Pdf429,pg423
Theordinarydiscoursesoflawcontributetocementingtheideathatlegalandsocialrealitiesarefrozen.
Dominationandsubordinationintheworkplaceareexplainedthus:
o Contractsoftheparties,andtheirpreferencesforresponsibilityv.leisure.(pdf431)
o Naturaldistributionofdifferentialtalents.
o Demandsofefficiencyinproduction
"Theclaimthatworkersinhealthdestroyingfactoriesvoluntarily"choose"inanypracticalsenseoftheterm,the
risksoftheworkplaceinreturnforawagepremium,isprobablynotbelievedsavethosefewexpensivelytrainedoutofthe
capacitytoreorganizewhatisgoingonaroundthem."
DuncanKennedy.
Rightsaresupposedto"trump"merepolicies.ButALLrightsdebatespitrightsagainstrights.Intheend,thereare
politicalargumentsaboutpolicyandnothingelse.(pg456)
o Whataboutsexualharassmentrighttobeoutsideahostileenvironment,orrighttospeech?
o Womanwantstoabort,butexhusbandwillingtoraisechildandwantstokeepit.
RobertoUnger.
TheFundamentalContradictionaspartofhumanpsychology.
PeterGabel.
"Theproblemwithlawwasnotitwasindeterminate...butthatitwasservingasalegitimatingvehicleforour
alienationfromoneanother."(pg473).Leavesusindifferenttoinjusticeweseearoundus.
Againsttheinhumanityofthesystem"asitreallywasandasitreallyfunctioned."
Lawbecamealegitimatingfactorforourseparationasindividualsasjusticeandrights.
Criticism:Schauer.
Lawisindeterinateonlyatthefringes.Therearemany'easycases'wherethelawisquitecertainanddefineable.
Example:ThePresidentmustbe35yearsold.Wemuststopatastopsignwhendriving.
Thelawaffectsourbehavior.Easyconstitutionalcasesdon'tevencomeup.
Whywouldmyuncertaintythatelephantsareboatsshakemyconfidencethatrowboatsareboats?Sotoowiththe
indeterminacyprinciple.Weirdcasesdon'tnegateeasycases.Languagemaybeimprecise,asinconstitutionalclauses,butit
certainlyisnotuseless.
Criticism:Carrington
Chargeofnihilism
Lawyeringrequiresconfidenceandcourage.Selfdoubtistheantithesisofthis.
Legalnihilistsarebestkeptfromteachingpositions.Asortoffaithisrequiredtopracticelaw.

 WhatCLScallslegalindetermincyisnothingmorethancasesthatarejudgmentcalls.Nothingismoreimportant
foralawyerthangoodjudgment
Byheapingscornonthelaw,thecritsare"morelikelytotraincrooksthanradicals"
Thecritshave"anethicaldutytodepartthelawschool,perhapstoseekaplaceelsewhereintheacademy."(More
KennedythanGabel)
Ifyoudon'tbelieveinthelaw,youwon'tdowellasalawyer.Whynotintimidatewitnessesorbribejudges?Why
notmakefrivolousarguments?
Week11:Feminism
Howwouldthesituationbedifferentifthepersonwasawoman.Likewise,ifgivenawoman,howwoulditbedifferentifaman?
Equalityfeminism(Williams):Concernsitselfwitheliminatinglawsthattreatwomenandmendifferently.
o Symmetry(Formalfeminism)Arethestandardsformenandwomenperfectlyequal?
Difference(orcultural/Assymetrical)feminism(West):therearedifferencesbetweenmenandwomenlaws
shouldrecognizethis.
Radicalfeminism(MacKinnon):Menareradicallydominantoverfemalesinallarenas.Mentakeit,womenare
forcedtogiveit.
o Howisthisviolating,burdeningthewoman?
o Callsforaradicalreorderingofsocietyinwhichmalesupremacyiseliminatedinallsocialand
economiccontexts.
o seektoabolishpatriarchybychallengingexistingsocialnormsandinstitutions,ratherthan
throughapurelypoliticalprocess.
Postmodernfeminism(Halley):
o Whatifthemanismorefeminine?
o Gayidentitytheory:
o Queertheory:Detachesmale/femalebodiesfrommasculinity/femininity.Challengingtheideathat
genderispartoftheselftheyaresociallyconstructedidentities.

FoundationsofFeminism
o Thefactofsexism
Men,throughouthistory,havedominatedsocietyandsubjugatedwomen
o Thefactofgenderbiasinthelaw
Theyvebeendeniedtherighttovoteandownproperty,theyvebeendenied
employment,theyvebeenrapedandbeatenbytheirhusbandswithimpunity,andsoonandsoon
o Thefactthatuntil40yearsago,#1and#2wereinvisible

Williams/West:Seekingthecommongroundbetweenequalityfeminists(symmetrists)anddifferencefeminists(asymmetrists)
Asymmetristsholdthatabolishingovertsexcategoriesdoesntautomaticallyalterthemalenessofourinstitutions
andlaws
Symmetristsandasymmetristsshareperceptionofaworldconstructedonamalemodel

Theessentialproblem:
o Inorderforwomentoparticipateinorganizationslikefiredepartments,policedepartments,and
themilitary,certainrequirements(e.g.,height,weight,orhowmuchyoucanlift)cantremainthesameforboth
genders.
Holdsthatlikeitornotmenandwomenaredifferent
o Thus,genderneutrallawsjustarentenoughtoallowwomentoparticipateequally.Womenneed
rulesthatmakesubstantialaccommodations.(Genderneutrallawsarentenough)
Theacceptancetheory
o Thelawshouldtakewhateverstepsarenecessarytoensurewomensequalacceptanceregardless
ofgenderdifferences.Sometimesthiswillrequiregenderneutrallaws,sometimesnot.E.gCareersv.childrearing.
GilligansInaDifferentVoice(JakeandAmy)
o Psychologistwhoexperimentedonthewaysboysandgirlsapproachmoralproblems
Chodorowstheory:
o Afemalechilddevelopshersenseofidentityas"continuous"withhercaretaker's,whileayoung
boydevelopsasenseofidentitythatisdistinguishedfromhiscaretaker's.Becauseofthegenderalignmentof
mothersandfemalechildren,younggirls"fuse"theirgrowingsenseofidentitywithasenseofsamenesswithand
attachmenttotheother,whilebecauseofthegenderdistinctionbetweenmothersandmalechildren,youngboys
"fuse"theirgrowingsenseofidentitywithasenseofdifferenceandseparationfromtheother.

BottomLine
o Focusoncommonalitiesbetweenwomenandmen(whichtendstooccurwhenyoureseeking
whatisdeniedtoyoubylawonthebasisofsex)vs.Focusondifferencesbetweenwomenandothergroups(which
tendstooccurwhenlegislation,whichconfersaneededbenefitonwomen,ischallengedonthegroundsthatit
excludesotherssimilarlysituated)

Mackinnon

1. Rejectsbothsymmetristandasymmetristapproachasfailingtofullyappreciatethefundamentalordering
oftheworldaccordingtomen(dominance)
1. Concealedisthatsubstantivewayinwhichmanhasbecomethemeasureofallthings.
2. Bothseektoconferonwomenwhatmenhave,whilenotacknowledgingthatwhatmenhavemay
notbethe
3. Womenhavebeensystematicallysilencedanddeniedtheopportunityforselfdetermination
2. Samenessstandardoftenhastheeffectofgivingmenthebenefitofthosefewthingswomenhistorically
had
1. Theygetpreferredbecauseoursocialorderalreadyadvantagesthembeforetheygetintocourt,
andthelawbythesamenessstandardisprohibitedfromtakingthatintoaccount
3. Differencedoctrinesaysthatbecausethereisnomantosetastandardfromwhichwomenstreatmentisa
deviation,thereisnosexdiscriminationhere,onlysexdifference.(really?)
4. OnJake&Amy
1. Womenvaluecarebecausemenhavevaluedusaccordingtothecarewegivethem
2. Womenthinkinrelationaltermsbecauseourexistenceisdefinedinrelationtomen
3. Further,whenyouarepowerless,youdontjustspeakdifferently.Alot,youdontspeak.
5. Iamcriticalofaffirmingwhatwehavebeen,whichnecessarilyiswhatwehavebeenpermitted
6. Silenceofthedeepkind:thesilenceofbeingpreventedfromhavinganythingtosay.
7. Undermalesupremacy,whilebeingtoldwegetitbothways,both(1)thespecialnessofthepedestal
and(2)anevenchanceattherace,theabilitytobeawomanandaperson,too,fewwomengetmuchbenefitof
either.
8. Thetaskofthedominanceapproachisnottomakerulesthatfitreality.
1. Itstaskisnottoformulateabstractstandardsthatwillproducedeterminateoutcomesin
particularcases.Itsprojectismoresubstantive,morejurisprudentialthanformulaic,whichiswhyitis
difficultforthemainstreamdiscoursetodignifyitasanapproachtodoctrineortoimagineitasaruleoflaw
atall.
Simplybytreatingthestatusquoasthestandard,itinvisiblyanduncriticallyacceptsthearrangementsunder
malesupremacy.
9. Thedominanceapproach,inthatitseestheinequalitiesofthesocialworldfromthestandpointofthe
subordinationofwomentomen,isfeminist.
1. Itenvisionsachangethatwouldmakepossibleasimpleequalchanceforthefirsttime.
10. Takeyourfootoffournecks,thenwewillhearinwhattonguewomenspeak.
WEST

Differencefeminismorradicalfeminism?Insomeways,Westsupportsboth
FLTappliedtoabasicprobleminlegaltheory
o Theclassicversion
Theproblem:Whatareourfundamentalrights?
Classicalanswer:Rightsagainstinterferencewithourautonomy.
Backgroundassumption:autonomyisournormalcondition.
o Westscritique
Objection:Ournormalconditionincludesdecadesoftotaldependenceon
someoneelse
TheMartianpresentedwiththisviewoflawwouldneverguessthat
autonomousmanspentninemonthsupsidedowninanotherbeing,wasraisedbyherthroughcountless
hoursofcare,andislikelytorelyonbeingsagaininoldage
Autonomycouldnotexistwithoutcaregiving
Therefore,rightstoautonomyaremeaninglesswithoutrightsthatsupportour
caregivers

Halley
OncaleCase
Structuralmale/femalemodelreading:

TheMacKinnonbriefagainrevealsthestructuralambitions,the
totalism,ofthemale/femalemodelwhenitinsiststhathomoeroticismandhomosexualityhavenoindependence
ofitsterms.Thelatteraresubsumedintotheformer.

Moralisticfemalemodelreading

Wantstodesexualizetheworkplace,viewingtheOncalecaseasa
conflictbetweenavirtuousfeminineOncaleandhismorallydefective,testosteronepoisonedcoworkers.

Gayidentityreading

Oncaleengagedineroticconductwillinglyandthenwasstruckwitha
profounddesiretorefusethehomosexualpotentialthoseexperiencesrevealedinhim

Hisrepeatedassertionsofheterosexualityarejustaclosetdrama

Queerreading

Detachesmale/femalebodiesfrommasculinity/femininity

Casecanbereadmanydifferentwayswithmanydifferent
gender/sex/power/subordinationdynamics

Therulesmayhavebeendifferentontheoilrig

Whosevensubmittinghere?Isanyone?
o
SoundslikeCLS

Thesepossibilitiesexposetheoverlysettledandconvenientnatureof
themale/femalemodel

Howcanwemakeanyconcretedeterminationswithoutbeingableto
settlethishighlyfluidgender/sexualityquestions,whichcourtsaredubiouslycapableofdoing?

Thewantednessofthesexthathappenswillbeundecidable

TheConflict

Ifweaccepttheplaintiffsaccountatfacevalueinsexualharassment
cases,weopenthefloortoclaimsbasedongaypanicorhomophobia.

Butifweopeninquiriesintowhethertheadvanceswerewanted,we
endupinahopelessmorassofindeterminacy.

Queerreadingarethesecredibleassertionsaboutwhattheperpetratordid,andwhether
theplaintiffsreactionisreasonable.

Homosexualpanicisthoughttobeawayofpunishingsomeoneelse
fordesiresthatareproperlyonesown.

Feministlegaltheoryhastendedtominimizethatcomplexityofgender,power,and
sexuality

Feminismfocusedonthebadnessofwomenssexualpainatthehands
ofmenandcommittedtotheideathatwomenssexualsubordinationisthecorereasonforwomenssocial
subordinationhastrouble[acceptingsadism]

Whereasgay/queertheorylikeshowitrearrangesconventional
associationsofthefemininewithsubordinationandthemasculinewithpower

Ifsamesexsexualinjurycanbephantasmicandbasedasmuchondesireasits
opposite,whynotalsoitscrosssexcounterpart?

Hereweareneartheheartofthewomenssexualsubordination
feministsexualregulatoryproject,whichhasbeentochangethingssothatwomenarebelievedwhen
theyclaimsexualinjury.

WEEK12CriticalRaceTheory
MainTenants:Lawcanbeusedtocombatracism.Racistmentalstateisnotbigotry,butobliviousness.Notonlyislegalreasoning
notneutral,scholarshiponracecantbeneutral.CRTattemptstoinhabitandexpandthereformistcivilrightsscholarshipwiththe
emergentcritiqueofleftlegalscholarship.
IstheAfricanculturebeingrepresented?
Doesthelawtakeintoaccountraceandimplicationsdealingwithraceorisitcolorblind?
Wouldawhitepersonbetreateddifferently?
Doesthislawpunishminoritiesmore?

 Rights:Rightsarenotuseless.CLS'stalkofremovalofrightsisapositionnotoccupiedbythosewithoutrightsin
thefirstplace.Rightsareawayforminoritygroupstoestablishtheirexistenceonthesocialandculturalstage.Without
rights,thereisnoidentity.Rightsflowfromandhelpshapeidentity(culturalselfunderstandingsornarrativesabouttheself).
LawandSociety.Lawisthetoolofpowerfulgroupstomakepolicy.Theirpreferencesareimposedupon
society.Thelawthenshapessocietyandexpectations.
Intersectionality.Identityiscomposedofoverlappingsociallyconstructedroles.Viewsthatfocusononlyone
aspectofidentity(race,class,orgender)areincomplete.
LookingtotheBottom.Theexperienceoftheoppressedlendsnewmeaningtotheconceptofrightsonethat
extendsbeyondtherulesofprocessandformalequality.Normativeprioritiesareproducedbyexperience,notlogical
deduction.
Integrationism.Raceneutralityseenasoppositeofsegregation,trumpetedbywhiteliberals.Believesthatrace
consciousnessisracism.Exceptiongivenforaffirmativeaction.Today,conservativeintegrationistspreachcolorblindedness,
whileliberalintegrationistsadvocateeffectsorientedlimitedraceconsciousness.
RaceConsciousness.Helpsexposeheirarchy.Duelingideawithintegrationism.SupportedbyBlackNationalists.
Disagreesthatneutralbaselineforraceneverexisted.
WhitePrivilege.Privilegetoignoresupremacistsocietyanddenyonesroleinit
o Authenticminorityvoicesneedtospeakintheirownvoice.DifferentfromCLSbecauseit
believesinrightsrhetoric;ithasbeenausefultoolandcontinuestobesomethingtostrivefor
o SymbolicsubordinationreferstotheformaldenialofsocialandpoliticalequalitytoallBlacks
regardlessoftheiraccomplishments.
o MaterialsubordinationdiscriminationandexclusioneconomicallysubordinatedBlacks.
o BlackNationalism.Focusedmoreonpowerthanrights.Withpower,theblackcommunitycould
grantitselfrights.Beinggivenitmeanstheyneverhadthepowerofdetermination.
DifferencesbetweenCLSandCRT:
o Rights:Rightsareindeterminatebuthavenonanalyticvalue.Thoughtheymanynotresolve
legaldisputes,theassertionofrightswasanempoweringexperienceforminorities,andrightsareanimportantpart
ofminorityidentity.
o AssertionofRights:Oneneednotbelievethatrightsareanalyticallydeterminateandcanresolve
legaldisputesinordertoassertthem.Theassertionofrightsisawaytoarticulatenormativecommitments.
Extendingrightstominoritieswasarecognitionoftheirworthashumanbeings.
o CLSviewsrightsandindividualismasalienating:Fromtheperspectiveofawhitemale,rights
andindividualismcreateboundariesbetweenpeople,turningpotentialfriendshipsintoarmslengthtransactions.
o CRTviewsrightsandindividualismisempowering:Fromtheperspectiveofaminority,rights
andindividualismareempoweringbecausetheyforceotherstoacknowledgeandrespectoneshumanity.The
absenceofrightsmeansnonexistenceornonhumanity.
Articles

KimberleCrenshaw.
o Racismdoesn'tsurvivebecauseallwhiteswanttomaintaintheirprivilegeattheexpenseof
blacks,butjustreinforcesidentificationwiththedominantgroup.Thegroupisdefinedasus,againsttheother.
o Now,culture,andnotrace,istoblameforalloftheblacks'poorqualities,asseenfromwhite
culture.Sowellsays:"[Cultureis]thesourceofselfimposedignorance,lackofdirection,poorworkattitudes."
Culturalinferioritylooksanawfullotlikeracialinferiority,thoughlegitimizedbybeingseenthroughwhiteculture,
whichblacksarebeingintegratedinto.
o JacquesDerridasaidwesternthoughtisorganizedinpolarities.
o Removalofbarriersdidn'timmediatelyhelpthosewhohadbeenmateriallysubordinated.
o GivingfullequalitysuggeststhatBlacksarenolongervictimsoftheupperclass.
GaryPeller.
o MalcolmX'sblacknationalismwasworriedmoreaboutthepowerdynamic.
o Integrationismwonout,butfundamentallycouldnotunderstandthefearofBlackNationalists
whowereafraidofintegration,callingitaslowdeathandgenocide.Thereasoningwasintegrationmeant
incorporationandassimilationintoafundamentallywhitesystemofeducationandlaw.
o Integrationismwouldalsosuppressculture,ascultureisintrinsicallytiedtorace.
o ThegoalofstruggletoMr.Xwastoachievelocalcontrol,toliberatecommunityinstitutionsfrom
outside,colonialrule.
o Integrationistdebatesaboutaffirmativeactionarealsoasubterfugeforwhitesupremacy.The
criticismofblacksasnototherwisequalifiedsuggestsagradingscaleestablishedbythewhitecommunity.(The
LSATcouldalsobeseeninthisway).

o Anobjectivereasonorknowledgecouldnotexist,becauseone'spositioninthesocialstructureof
racerelationsinfluencedthedefinitionsofthoseterms.
PatriciaWilliams.
o Emphasizingneedsoverrightsisawordgame.Itmakesaneedintoanewkindofright.
Reframingrightsasneedsoverlooksthattherehavebeenvocalizedblackneedsforalongtime.It'safailurein
politics.
o AtenetofCLSisthedisutilityofrightsinpoliticaladvancementthisistroubling.Itdiscounts
thevoiceandexperiencesofblacksinUSA.Rightsonlyseemsymbolicwhenyoureusedtohavingrights.Rights
arerecognitionofyourstatusasafullmemberofsociety.
o "Thebestwaytogivevoicetothosewhosevoicehadbeensuppressedwastoarguethattheyhad
novoice."
JuanPerea.
o Focusingonabinaryofracerelationsleavesoutotherminoritieswhichhavealsosufferedfrom
whiterule,andforcescategorizationofotherracesalongtheblackwhitespectrum.

RichardThompsonFord.
o Allpoliticsareidentities;allidentitiesarepolitical.Claimsmadeonbehalfofcanonicalidentities
arejustpoliticalclaims,likeclaimsmadeonbehalfoflaborunionsorgunownersoroilcompanies.
o Redandblue,rightandleft,aren'tthoughtfulpoliticalpositionstobedebatedanddiscussed,but
prepoliticalidentificationswithbundlesofpositionsanddogmas.Whenconfrontedwithasocialconflict,werun
backtothepositionsofourparty,makingsuretotaketheproperposition.It'swhatitsaysaboutus,nottheperson
withtheproblem,northemeritsofthesituation.Ouridentitiesdrivepolitics.
o Pushyourselfbeyondthis.Gowherethereisnoclearpositionofeitherparty.That'swhere
"enlightenment,fun,hopeandrealpoliticscanbegin."

IllustrativeCase:Georgiav.McCollum.
o Facts:WhitedefendantschargedwithbeatinganAfricanAmericancouple.
o Wantingtoshowraceasfactorintheassault,prosecutionmovedtoprohibitthedefensefrom
usingtheirperemptorychallengesinaraciallydiscriminatoryway.With20challenges,thedefensecouldremove
allAfricanAmericansfromthejury.
o Holding:DiscriminationviolatestheConstitutiononlywhenitisattributabletostateaction.The
courtrecognizedandallowedperemptorychallenges,andpublicwillattributeoutcometostate.Thedefensecanbe
seenasastateactorinthisway.Therighttoperemptorychallengesisnotconstitutionallyprotected.
o ScaliasDissent:TheCourtshowsitsevolutionaryjurisprudence,usingtheConstitutionto
promotegoodracerelations,sacrificingtheageoldrightofperemptorychallenges.

WEEK13:Wherewearenow
Whatdoesthetextsayandwhatdidthewordsmeanwhenthelawwaswritten?
RandyBarnettRestoringtheLostConstitution
Whenyoujoinanorganization,youagreetotherulesandrulemakingprocess
Ifyoudont,itsalsogenerallylowcosttoleave
E.g.shittyhomeownersassociationyoucanjustmovedowntheroadand
keepthesamefriends/asimilarlifestylewithouthavingtodealwithrulesthatyoudontlike
Youcantapplythistolargegeographicbasedjurisdictions
Youdhavetogiveupalottojustpackupandmovetoanothercountry
Therefore,itcannotbesaidthatoursystemisbasedonconsent
Rightsthereforecomeapriori;lawisjustifita)protectsrightsandb)doesntviolatepreexistingrights
Conclusion:SincewedontdirectlyconsenttotheUSgovernment,libertarianismshouldprevailthe
governmentisntentitledtoregulateourlivesinthewayanorganizationthatweconsentedtowouldbe
GeorgeandBradleyMarriageandtheLiberalImagination
Marriageisintrinsicallygood,sexisthephysicalmanifestationofthis
o Homosexualsexisbad
o Viewingsexasifithasapurpose(e.g.pleasure,havingchildren)isbad
Therefore,havingnonheterogenitalsexisbad

 Conclusion:Basically,thewholethingisaprettydubiousargumentreliantonthepremisethatheterosexual
marriage/sexisgood,ifyoudontbuythatthentherestoftheargumentfails
ScaliaCommonLawCourtsinaCivilLawSystem
Liberaljudgestrytomakethelawandthatsbad!
o Judgesaresupposedtobelikereferees
o Notlikelegislators!
Judgesaresupposedtoapplytheintentofthelegislature
o Useagunitmeansshooting,doesntmeantradingagunfordrugs
TheConstitutionissupposedtobeflexible,butliberalshavemadeitrigid
o Itsetsoutaspecificsetofrightsthatneedtobeprotected,butliberalskeepinventingnewrights
E.g.statelegislaturescannolongerstoppoorpeoplefromvotingorprohibit
pornography
Originalismatleasthasastationarytarget
o Oughttobechangesovertime,whiletherecanbemultipleunderstandingsofwhatthe
Constitutionmeans,atleastyourealwaysaimingforasingleidea
Whenchangegetspopularenough,weamendtheConstitution
o 19thamendment,womenvoting
Conclusion:ScaliawantstheSupremeCourttostopcreatingnewrights,becauseithurtsliberty.Ifyouneed
tocriticizehim,applyrealist/CLScritique,shiftingtheentitlementtakesrightsfromoneandgivesthemtosomebody
elseandthatsnotnecessarilybad.E.g.givingpeoplewhodontownlandtherighttovoteinallstatesabridgesthe
rightsofpeople/thestatestostopthemfromvoting,butitalsohelpsprotecttherightsofthepropertyless.
RonaldDworkinNaturalLawRevisited
Analogyofabookwheremultipleauthorseachwriteachapter
o Eachauthorwantstokeepthebookmovinginawaythatmakessense,butalsowantsthebookto
bethebestbookitcanbe
o Letssaythebookwouldlogicallygoinonedirection,butyouthinkitwouldbeabetterbookifit
wentinadifferentdirection.Atwhatpointwouldyoumakethechange,eventhoughitdoesntgelaswellwiththe
restofthebook?
Thisishowweshouldlookatthelawwedontwanttoevercompletelyabandonthewaylawhasworked,
howeverjudgesshouldalsostrivetomakethelawonethattheyagreewith
Conclusion:Lawshouldbeacombinationofwhatithasbeenandwhatwewantittobe.Subjecttothe
generalcritiqueofleftismi.e.itdoesnttelluswhattoactuallydo,judgesarejustbalancingtheirownpersonal
interestswithexistinginterestsratherthandoingwhatevertheywant.Probablyhowmostjudgesfunction.