Suchergebnisse

In 1973, Roe v. Wade constitutionalized a woman's right to an abortion. But, while Roe removed most legal obstacles to abortion, it did not address the limited availability of abortion services in the nation. The case examined here, Ragsdale v. Turnock, revolved around an Illinois statute that imposed far‐reaching restrictions on abortion clinics, the site of most U.S. abortions since Roe. The crucial role of clinics in providing abortion services explains why the dispute represented by Ragsdale had the potential for an enormous impact on legalized abortion in the United States. Because of the number of women affected, the Ragsdale litigation could have led to the most significant judicial ruling since Roe. The suit resulted in a settlement in which plaintiffs secured the right to a legal clinic abortion during the first 18 weeks of pregnancy. Although the case was settled to the satisfaction of pro‐choice advocates, a similar law today might well survive constitutional scrutiny.

This study predicts state supreme court judges' votes on claims based on a right to privacy by estimating an integrated model that incorporates contextual, attitudinal, and legal variables, including U.S. Supreme Court precedent. Consistent with previous research on judicial decision making, the results suggest that judges' rulings are influenced by various extralegal factors, both individual and contextual. But politics do not entirely overwhelm the role of law. U.S. Supreme Court precedent—when it exists—substantially constrains judges' responses to privacy claims in the states.

The 2005 Workshop for Department Chairs was dedicated to discussing
the legal issues that face department chairs. Themes included sexual
and racial harassment, tenure, and hiring. APSA's Departmental
Services Committee (DSC) sponsored the workshop and Edie N.
Goldenberg (University of Michigan), a member of the DSC, moderated
the panel. American University Counsel Hisham Khalid, Loyola
University Chicago's Susan Gluck Mezey, and retired Wheaton College
President Dale Rogers Marshall were also part of the panel. The
Workshop drew 75 attendees to hear the four presentations and to
consider how to deal with legal issues. The 2006 Workshop for
Department Chairs is "Planning for Assessment & Accountability
Issues"—more information will follow in the coming months.