“When Contraception Was a Crime”
Constitutional Law Professor Geoffrey Stone (University of Chicago) discusses the history of the legal battles in the US regarding contraception. The talk lasts 58:04 minutes. However, Professor Stone’s lecture runs approximately 30 minutes (the rest being questions from the audience) and was part of the Chicago’s Best Ideas lecture series.
This week, same-sex marriage dominated the news with the Supreme Court cases of United v. States v. Windsor and Hollingsworth v. Perry. The same-sex marriage debate is not unique to the United States, however. Across the pond, the topic is just as controversial. Recently, the British House of Commons approved gay marriage with the support of conservative Prime Minister David Cameron.
If you are passionate about gay rights, this episode (43 minutes) of the Moral Maze is a must. It is dry (*cough* British), but it is also the most intelligent debate about same-sex marriage that I have ever heard.
Finally, if you are interested in being part of the SLACE podcast next year. Aside from interviews and recorded events, the podcast will also include debates in this format. Students will encompass the panelists, who will question “experts” (probably mostly professors) advocating various positions. Ideally, there would be one of these debates per semester. Members of Moot Court would make ideal panelists.
United States v. Windsor: Oral Argument Audio
Today, the Supreme Court heard arguments in United States v. Windsor which will determine the constitutionality of DOMA. Here is a link to Oyez, which provides the full audio of the oral arguments synced with a searchable transcript. For wall-to-wall coverage and commentary on the case, check out the SCOUTSblog.
Hollingsworth v. Perry: Oral Argument Audio
Today, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Hollingsworth v. Perry which will determine the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8. Here is a link to Oyez, which provides the full audio of the oral arguments synced with a searchable transcript. For wall-to-wall coverage and commentary on the case, check out the SCOUTSblog.
More on Gideon: An “Unfunded Mandate”?
Fifty years later, the American legal profession has failed to answer “Gideon’s trumpet,” or so says Stephen Bright, visiting Yale Law professor and president of Southern Center for Human Rights. According to Bright, Gideon v. Wainwright represents essentially an unfunded mandate.
Following Attorney General Eric Holder’s statements that the nation’s public defense is “in a state of crisis,” NPR’s Talk of the Nation explored the state of the public defense system with Bright as well as Douglas Wilson, Colorado State public defender.
This discussion runs 30:16 minutes.
Yesterday was the fiftieth anniversary of the seminal decision as was discussed in yesterday’s blog post: Gideon Turns 50.