Examining Pro Se Legal Defense
As core element of the Sixth Amendment is its guarantee of legal representation to citizens, while the Constitution simultaneously provides the right to pro se (“for onself”) defense. Navigation these ...
Recent Supreme Court Cases
In recent years, a number of high profile cases related to Sixth Amendment rights have come before the Supreme Court. As the Court comes to define a more refined set ...
Civil Liberties
History of the ACLU
In the early 20th century, a number of civil institutions emerged to help protect the rights of dissenters and minorities in the wake of the First World War. One of the leading groups, the National Civil Liberties Bureau came out in opposition to the Sedition Acts of 1918, and evolved into the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) to cover a broader array of...
Trial Law
The Due Process Clause
The Due Process Clause is a legal principle that has its origins in the Natural Law philosophy which preceded American Independence. Stemming from the Founders’ desire to enshrine protections against tyranny into the Constitution, the due process clause can be traced to the Magna Carta, which stated “no free man shall by…imprisoned…except...
Legal Cases
Right to Counsel
One of the pillars of the American Justice system is the right to legal representation, as enshrined in the Bill of Rights. As the modern legal system has matured, this basic right to counsel has been extended to lower level (state, local, district) as well as Federal courts, after several fundamental challenges. As Civil Rights and Liberties became a growing...
Supreme Court
Miranda v. Arizona Case
A landmark Supreme Court case, Miranda v. Arizona ruled that statements made by the accused under interrogation were only admissible as evidence when preceded with a right to consult an attorney. The 1966 decision followed the 1964 Escobedo v. Illinois ruling which limited law enforcement interrogation tactics, and established modern “Miranda Rights”. The...
Origins of the Bill of Rights Book Review
Review by: Legal Editor
Leading Claremont Professor Leonard Levy published Origins of the Bill of Rights as part of the Yale University legal book series. A traditional history,...
