The United States Legal System

The United States Legal System

The United States Legal System an introduction fourth edition Margaret Z. Johns Rex R. Perschbacher Carolina Academic Press Durham, North Carolina

Copyright 2016 Margaret Z. Johns and Rex R. Perschbacher All Rights Reserved eisbn 978-1-5310-0237-4 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Johns, Margaret Z. Perschbacher, Rex R., 1946- Title: The United States legal system : an introduction / Margaret Z. Johns and Rex R. Perschbacher. Description: Fourth Edition. Durham, North Carolina : Carolina Academic Press, [2016] Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2016027856 ISBN 9781611638608 (alk. paper) Subjects: LCSH: Law--United States. Classification: LCC KF385.J64 2016 DDC 349.73--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016027856 Carolina Academic Press, LLC 700 Kent Street Durham, North Carolina 27701 Phone (919) 489-7486 Fax (919) 493-5668 www.cap-press.com Printed in the United States of America

Contents Acknowledgments ix Chapter 1 Introduction to United States Legal Education 3 1.1 The History of Legal Education 3 1.1.1 The Apprenticeship System 3 1.1.2 The Academic Model 5 1.2 The Nature of Legal Education 9 1.2.1 Langdell s Harvard Model 10 1.2.2 Practical Professional Training 12 1.2.3 Late Twentieth-Century Developments 16 1.2.4 Early Twenty-First-Century Developments 20 1.3 Legal Education Today 22 1.3.1 The Academic Context of Legal Education 22 1.3.2 Skills and Clinical Instruction 23 1.3.3 Teaching Values and Ethics in Law School 24 1.3.4 Tuition Costs and Law School Rankings 31 1.4 Discussion Questions 34 Chapter 2 Introduction to the United States Legal Profession 37 2.1 The Regulation of Lawyers 37 2.2 The Number of Lawyers 42 2.3 The Gender and Racial Diversity of the Bar 45 2.3.1 Gender Diversity 45 2.3.2 Racial Diversity 47 2.4 The Settings in Which Lawyers Practice 53 2.4.1 Historical Overview 53 2.4.2 Sole Practitioners and Small Firms 55 2.4.3 Middle-Sized and Large Firms 57 2.4.3(a) Middle-Sized Firms 57 2.4.3(b) Large Firms 59 2.4.4 In-House Counsel 63 v

vi CONTENTS 2.4.5 Lawyers for the Government 66 2.4.5(a) Lawyers in the Judiciary 67 2.4.5(b) Lawyers for Local Governments 69 2.4.5(c) Lawyers for State Governments 69 2.4.5(d) Lawyers for the Federal Government 70 2.4.5(e) Making Ends Meet in Public Service 70 2.4.6 Public Interest Lawyers 72 2.4.6(a) The Historical Antecedents 72 2.4.6(b) Lawyers for the Poor 73 2.4.6(c) Advocates for Group Legal Rights 77 Chapter 3 Introduction to the United States Legal System 81 3.1 Multiple Sovereignties 82 3.1.1 Federalism 82 3.1.2 Substantive Law Areas of the Multiple Sovereigns 85 3.2 The Federal Government 87 3.2.1 United States Constitution 88 3.2.2 The Three Branches of Government 89 3.2.2(a) The Legislative Branch 89 3.2.2(b) The Executive Branch 90 3.2.2(c) The Judicial Branch 91 3.2.2(d) Separation of Powers 102 3.3 The State Governments 105 3.3.1 State Court Structure 105 3.3.2 Parallels and Contrasts to the Federal System 110 3.3.3 Areas of State Law 111 3.3.4 Continuing Evolution of the Common Law 113 3.4 Two Features of the United States Judicial Process 115 3.4.1 The Doctrine of Stare Decisis 115 3.4.2 The Merger of Law and Equity 118 3.5 The Overlap and Complexities 120 3.6 Discussion Questions 125 Chapter 4 Introduction to Statutes and Statutory Interpretation 129 4.1 Approaches to Statutory Interpretation 130 4.1.1 The Literal Rule 130 4.1.2 The Golden Rule 131 4.1.3 The Social Purpose Approach 131 4.2 Canons of Construction 132 4.2.1 Plain Meaning 132

CONTENTS vii United States v. Locke 133 Notes and Questions 135 Dissent to United States v. Locke 138 Notes and Questions 141 4.2.2 Ejusdem Generis ( Of the Same Kind ) 142 4.2.3 Noscitur a Sociis ( It Is Known by Its Companions ) 142 4.2.4 Expressio Unius ( The Mention of One Thing Excludes Other Things ) 143 4.2.5 Narrow Construction of Penal Statutes 143 4.2.6 Broad Construction of Remedial Statutes 143 4.2.7 Specific Statutes Take Precedence Over General Statutes 144 Strawberry v. Albright 144 Notes and Questions 145 4.2.8 Dueling Canons 146 4.3 Legislative Intent 147 4.3.1 The Legislative Process 147 4.3.2 Legislative History 149 Wisconsin Public Intervenor v. Mortier 149 Notes and Questions 153 Concurring Opinion in Wisconsin Public Intervenor v. Mortier 155 Notes and Questions 158 4.4 The Retroactivity Problem 163 Martin v. Hadix 166 Notes and Questions 171 Chapter 5 Introduction to Cases and Case Analysis 177 5.1 Reading Cases 177 5.2 Evolution of the Common Law 180 Sidwell v. McVay 180 Notes and Questions 182 Mirand v. City of New York 183 Notes and Questions 187 Regents of the University of California v. Superior Court of Los Angeles County 188 Notes and Questions 199 5.3 Stare Decisis 200 5.4 The Retroactivity Problem 201 Douglas v. Ostermeier 203 Notes and Questions 212

viii CONTENTS Chapter 6 Putting It All Together 217 Obergefell v. Hodges 217 Notes and Questions 247 Glossary 249 Index 257

Acknowledgments I wish to thank Margaret, the wonderful students at King Hall, and my wife and colleague, Debbie, for her help and support. Rex R. Perschbacher Teaching Introduction to Law is a wonderful experience thanks to the terrific first-year students at King Hall. I shall always be grateful to them. I also want to thank Rex for all his work in developing this course and these materials and making the project a pleasure. Many thanks to the folks at Carolina Academic Press who are always so professional and supportive. And finally my thanks to my friends and family, especially Bob and Daisy. Margaret Z. Johns ix