Can the Federal Government Legalize Marijuana?
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Poast new message in this thread
Date: May 8th, 2006 4:39 AM Author: Lilac public bath
Can it? You tell me.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5740552) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 4:41 AM Author: wonderful honey-headed parlor
Sure.
They can get an amendment to the Constitution that mandates legality.
They can also pull on funding strings to coerce states into doing it, which would be the equivalent of the feds legalizing pot.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5740562) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 4:44 AM Author: wonderful honey-headed parlor
"Can the federal government do it on its own?"
I suppose the president and Congress could pack the courts such that an interpretation arises that would permit it.
And beating the states with highway funding or something like that would be de facto legalization.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5740585) |
Date: May 8th, 2006 4:44 AM Author: Lilac public bath
Nice to see so many people have the guts to answer. Maybe it will give Charles Murray the courage to join in.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5740581) |
Date: May 8th, 2006 5:03 AM Author: Concupiscible school roast beef
So, IPgunner pwn3d Charles Murray because Murray refused to answer a question. Yet, on this very thread IPgunner has vanished when asked why he think the feds can't legalize weed.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5740642) |
Date: May 8th, 2006 1:49 PM Author: Lilac public bath
The federal government cannot legalize marijuana. They can't legalize it for the same reason that they can't legalize alcohol, tattoo parlors, pit bulls, dancing, and cigarette rolling papers - those are matters of state police powers, and each of those things is illegal somewhere in the US. The states get to decide what is and isn't legal within the scope of their powers under the tenth amendment.
In principle, there could be a constitutional amendment such that marijuana is legal and that no state shall give effect to any law making it illegal, but the federal government can't do that without state ratification. IE, the federal government can't do it.
The federal government couldn't compel the states to make it legal via the federal governement's spending powers either. They can't do it because in order to use the spending power, there has to be some demonstrated nexus between the spending and the sought-for state law. IE the federal government can make federal highway funds contingent on a 21 drinking age because there is a nexus between alcohol use and the federal interstate highways (ie young people drive across states lines where it is legal and then drive back home drunk, endagering other drivers etc. There was a SCOTUS case on this.) Also, even if it could, the states would still have to be on board. But like it said, it can't.
There might be ONE way marijuana could be made legal, but it would require a lot more than passing a statute, and has no precedent. Even then I'm not sure it would work. I merely offer it as an intellectual exercise for you to try to find it for extra credit.
Thanks to everyone who responded!
PS Charles Murray - you're still a coward.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5742180)
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Date: May 8th, 2006 2:20 PM Author: Ebony aphrodisiac locale
"some demonstrated nexus"
I thought we didn't believe in this nexus nonsense any more.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5742368) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 6:55 PM Author: geriatric glittery mexican sweet tailpipe
"They can't do it because in order to use the spending power, there has to be some demonstrated nexus between the spending and the sought-for state law. IE the federal government can make federal highway funds contingent on a 21 drinking age because there is a nexus between alcohol use and the federal interstate highways (ie young people drive across states lines where it is legal and then drive back home drunk, endagering other drivers etc. There was a SCOTUS case on this.) Also, even if it could, the states would still have to be on board. But like it said, it can't."
Couldn't the Congress rely on medical marijana laws already in place in several states? The nexus would be inefficiency caused by non-uniform treatment of MJ among the states.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5744101) |
Date: May 8th, 2006 3:38 PM Author: Lilac public bath
BUMP
So that I prolong the enjoyment of PWNING you all!
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5742906) |
Date: May 8th, 2006 3:49 PM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
Commerce power, obviously
Also, don't forget the spending power
And treaty power (treaty with Mexico that includes importing marijuana. allowing states to criminalize marijuana frustrates this foreign relations goal, thus, they may not).
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5742976) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 3:59 PM Author: Lilac public bath
LOL
The federal government needs to have another state actor involved to use the treaty power.
Also, the treaty power is STILL subject to the rest of the constitution (ie the 10th amendment.) IE you can't use the treaty power to make it legal to execute juveniles.
Why not just say 'constitutional amendment?' again, that requires more than just the federal govt.
Again, what can the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT do?
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5743019) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 4:00 PM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
Like I said, treaty with Meixco (10th Amendment is meaningless in foreign relations, go read up on the treaty power)
MISSOURI v. HOLLAND clearly holds that state sovereignty and the 10th amendment DO NOT restrict the treaty power
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5743030) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 4:03 PM Author: Lilac public bath
You're totally wrong about that. It is true that the SCOTUS has stretched the 10th amendment a bit (ie the migratory birds case, Holmes opinion if I'm not mistaken.)
In any case, that is irrelevant, because as I said the federal government needs to get another country involved to use the treaty power.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5743041) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 4:05 PM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
Under CURTISS-WRIGHT the president has "broad inherent autohirty" over foreign relations. Even under DAMES & MOORE a sole executive order, even with no other country involved can be Constitutional to the extent it enforces a foreign affairs purpose.
And as I have said, if there is a real treaty, the 10th Amendment is rendered meaningless. So what if another state actor is involved? Is generating a treaty that much more difficult that generating a law? Of course not. Plenty of drug producing countries would be willing to produce and sell it to us if we were willing to buy it.
As I said, TREATYPOWERPWN3D
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5743052) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 4:10 PM Author: Lilac public bath
Generating a treaty involves another country - treaties cannot be entered into that do not include another coutry.
The legality of marijuana INSIDE the US is not a part of the president's 'broad inherent authority' over FOREIGN RELATIONS.
What foreign affairs purpose is served by legalizing marijuana in the US?
Why didn't Clinton just execute an executive order legalizing abortion?
You are misinterpreting the executives foreign affairs power.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5743075) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 4:16 PM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
How COULD the Federal government legalize marijuna? That is the question you asked. I gave you an answer. If you want to add this absurd limitation that it can't involve another state actor, I gave you another alternative - executive order.
I don't have time to explain how the DRUG TRADE AFFECTS FORIEGN RELATIONS, but use your imagination.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5743108) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 4:22 PM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
How CAN the Federal government legalize marijuna? That is the question you asked. I gave you an answer. If you want to add this absurd limitation that it can't involve another state actor, I gave you another alternative - executive order.
I don't have time to explain how the DRUG TRADE AFFECTS FORIEGN RELATIONS, but use your imagination.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5743139) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 4:15 PM Author: Lilac public bath
And again, a treaty with mexico would involve another state actor.
You are very wrong that the treaty power nullifies the 10th amendment - in many cases we can't enter treaties because the federal government has no means to coerce the states to comply. Sometimes we enter them with disclaimers that we are not bound by certain provisions, because we can't comply with them, because the federal government can't force the states to comply.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5743107) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 4:30 PM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
"...and that but for the treaty the State would be free to regulate this subject by itself"
"No doubt the great body of private relations fall within the control of the State, but a treaty may override its power"
"It is not sufficient to rely upon the States. The reliance is vain, and were it otherwise, the question is whether the United States is forbidden to act. We are of the opinion that the treaty and statute must be upheld."
JUSTICEHOLMESPWN3D
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5743180) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 3:55 PM Author: Lilac public bath
Already addressed spending power - has to be nexus between the law and the federal funds. How exactly do you do it?
commerce power - definitely not. How can the government make something LEGAL via the commerce power?
To make it legal, it would have to have the power to override state laws making it illegal. Explain how they could do that using the commerce power or spending power.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5743002) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 3:59 PM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
Commerce power argument (the presence of a black market frustrates interstate commerce - clearly 'concerns' economic activity under LOPEZ and MORRISON)
Spending power argument (criminalizing marijuna leads to more crime and diverts resources from important national security objectives, thus if you dont decriminalize it, we restrict law enforcement funding)
Treat power (see above)
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5743023) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 4:13 PM Author: Lilac public bath
Explain how the commerce clause can be used to make some article of commerce legal (ie marijuana.) Feel free to draw an analogy to any other article of commerce that has been made legal this way.
I've addressed the spending power below.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5743095) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 4:01 PM Author: spectacular burgundy azn
wtf? are you saying that alcohol isn't legal because a few places in the US are dry? actually as far as I know even in dry places the only thing forbidden is the sale of alcohol not the possession
they don't even need an amendment to make it legal; they can do it by statute the same way they made it illegal
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5743033) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 4:07 PM Author: Lilac public bath
No, they can't make it legal by simply passing a statute, that is the whole point. The states can say it is illegal via their powers under the 10th amendment.
I'm saying the federal government can't MAKE it legal - even if they could pass a statute legalizing it (which they can't), they would not be able to coerce the states to make it legal.
The fed. govt. cant MAKE alcohol legal either - if a state wants to outlaw it, that is their choice.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5743056) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 4:22 PM Author: bisexual scarlet generalized bond
"commerce power - definitely not. How can the government make something LEGAL via the commerce power?"
Why not? Making pot legal everywhere -- and preempting any state or local laws to the contrary -- sure as hell would impact interstate commerce. How could this possibly not pass muster? Is there any case law saying that Congress doesn't have the CC power to regulate something by legalizing it, rather than criminalizing it?
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5743144) |
Date: May 8th, 2006 4:13 PM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
And last but not least, insofar as the Supreme Court is part of the Federal government, they can recognize a fundamental right to use marijuna.
SUBSTANTIVEDUEPROCESSPWN3D
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5743092) |
Date: May 8th, 2006 4:32 PM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
For those of you keeping score, we have:
1) Treaty power (or even executive order)
2) Spending power (restrict law enforcement funding unless states legalize marijuana)
3) Substantive due process
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5743190)
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Date: May 8th, 2006 7:07 PM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
IPGunner, do you have the "courage" (your phrase) to answer this thread?
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5744159) |
Date: May 8th, 2006 7:30 PM Author: beady-eyed police squad
With threads like this, is it even possible IPGunner is not schtick?
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5744334) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 7:43 PM Author: beady-eyed police squad
Time will tell if he's not really schtick.
It is pretty funny he won't come back and admit he got PWNED here, but to each his own.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5744425) |
Date: May 8th, 2006 8:14 PM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
IP, you post here 24/7 but suddenly vanish when you get PWN3D?
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5744644) |
Date: May 8th, 2006 9:41 PM Author: Lilac public bath
Ok, I'm back. Sheesh you guys are impatient. Some of us do have a life you know.
First of all let's get one thing straight:
If I say to you 'can Screech bench press 400 pounds', what do I mean?
I don't mean 'can he bench press 400 pounds if he can get help from unlimited other people.'
I don't mean 'can he bench press 400 pounds if he first lobbys to make it so a 'pound' weighs one gram.
I don't mean 'can he bench press 400 pounds if the laws of the universe change.'
What I DO mean is - CAN HE BENCH PRESS 400 POUNDS.
It is the same thing when I ask 'can the federal government legalize marijuana.'
I DON'T mean - can .... if they get the states to go along with a constitutional amendment.
I DONT mean - can .... if they convince all the states to just scrap all their laws making marijuana illegal'
I DONT mean can .... if they create a mind control device and make all of the state governments stop enforcing their marijuana laws.
Do you people do this in law school exams? If the question is
The supreme court interprets the constitution to read that it is illegal for any US citizen, in the US or abroad, to use torture against enemy combatants. The president wants to keep doing it. Can he? Provide analysis.
Do you then answer the question by saying 'the president can get congress to go along with a court packing plan to stock the SCOTUS with justices who will overrule that decision, or
the president could use the CIA to blackmail SCOTUS justices to get them to decide differently next time, or
the president could pay Bangladesh one billion dollars in exchange for entering into a treaty with the US making it legal to torture enemy combatants.
Do you?
If you answer exam questions this way, you are truly NOT prestigious.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745349)
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Date: May 8th, 2006 9:51 PM Author: Lilac public bath
Ok make a case that there is a fundamental right to smoke marijuana.
Can you make a case that there is a fundamental right to rape chickens? Or to rob banks? Or to boil your neighbor alive in battery acid?
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745420) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 9:49 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
is that true? I though Raich just said they could regulate it as criminal activity, even though criminal law is traditionally a purely state interest. I don't think Stevens was saying that the feds can force states to make it legal, though.
this is more of a dormant commerce clause question...
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745403) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:04 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
yea, I think the other side on the exam would go something like this:
But, one could argue that making certain activities illegal remains a soveriegn state interest which the federal government can't intefere with. Regulating federal criminal activity, as was allowed in Raich, seems very different from mandating that certain activity must be legal. for example, assuming roe v. wade is overturned, if congress passed a bill saying that abortion must be legal and cannot be made illegal, it is probable that the Supreme Court would reference the Lopez and Morrison cases, and view this as an interference with a body of law, criminal law, that is normally left to the states. The marijuania question could go either way, depending on who is on the court.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745524) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:19 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
there are also very good reasons why violence against women is a bad thing, but Morrison knocked that down, didn't it? Whats the distinction, one is economic but the other isn't? Anyway, the question is can the gov't make the activity LEGAL - not illegal. So I'm not sure the gov't interest is as strong there. Guns in school zones seems pretty bad too, you know, but Lopez shot down those extra penalties. You can't just say "but its REALLY BAD!" that doesn't work with scalia / thomas and now I assume roberts / alito.
Dood, I don't neccessarily disagree with your policy, but if Stevens dies and GWB puts Edith Jones or luttig on in his place, the law would get knocked down in a heart beat.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745618) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:27 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
I know, and he had a pretty interesting concurring opinion in Raich. But I'm pretty sure he'd be against a federal law making marijuina legal, just like he'd be against a federal law making abortion legal. I do think they would distinguish between making things illegal and madating that something is legal.
What about the Oregon assisted sucide case? Sure, he said (in dissent) that states couldn't make assisted sucide legal, some bullshit about history or whatever the fuck, but that history crap wouldn't apply to pot.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745668) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:04 PM Author: Lilac public bath
regulate does not mean legalize.
The federal government has never 'legalized' alcohol. It regulates it, but states are completely free to make it illegal if they want to. And in fact, some areas do.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745525) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:42 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
STATES RIGHTS! FEDERALISM! FUNDAMENTAL STATE INTEREST, except for suicide, cause that's just bad.
RIGHTWINGCR4ZI#SONSCOTUSPWN#D!!!1
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745745) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:47 PM Author: Lilac public bath
You seem to think that the supremacy clause means that the federal government can do whatever it wants and it will supercede state law, but you are very wrong.
It will supercede state law if it CAN supercede it - after scrutiny under the 10th amendment.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745777) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:58 PM Author: Naked hospital
hanging this whole argument on the 10th amendment seems fishy to me.
It is hardly ever gets mentioned in federal court cases. In fact, I never remember discussing it in conlaw, civ pro, federal criminal law, or fed courts.
So if that is all IPgunner has going for him, it's not much
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745869) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 11:17 PM Author: Naked hospital
right, but my point is that if they had been used as arguments by states early in the history of the republic, maybe the 10th would have been better defined by now.
nevertheless, it's a moot point, as they mean almost nothing currently.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5746010) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 11:19 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
Yea, the early states probably didn't respect the s.ct.
Kinda like the 13th. You gotta think that was supposed to mean a lot more than it has come to mean.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5746026) |
Date: May 8th, 2006 9:48 PM Author: Lilac public bath
Now I will address this:
For those of you keeping score, we have:
1) Treaty power (or even executive order)
2) Spending power (restrict law enforcement funding unless states legalize marijuana)
3) Substantive due process .
1) The treaty power requires that another country be involved. The US cannot enter use the treaty power unilaterally as a backdoor to create law.
2) To use the spending power, the government must show that it has an interest in the underlying law (ie legalizing marijunana) that has a nexus with the spending (ie federal highway funds.)
3) There is no colorable argument that there is a substantive due process right to use marijuana. If you can make one out, please do.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745399) |
Date: May 8th, 2006 10:06 PM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
Your endless qualifications are absurd. 50 years ago I'm not sure any legitimate Constitutional scholar would have argued that a woman has a fundamental right to abortion. Yet we have ROE. Do I think it is likely that the Court would find a fundamental right to marijuana? No.
CAN they? Absolutely, if a majority of justices followed the logic of ROE, GRISWOLD, etc. You would simply define the right as a fundamental right to eat, drink, or smoke mind altering substances in a peaceful manner. This is not all that far fetched.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745535) |
Date: May 8th, 2006 10:07 PM Author: crimson business firm
You're unbelievably dumb. As others have pointed out, the commerce power is all Congress needs to legalize marijuana. The power to regulate commerce isn't restricted to the power to ban certain items in commerce. Indeed, the whole idea of the dormant-commerce clause is that state's can't take certain steps to restrict commerce because there is a background presumption (without Congress even needing to say anything) that commerce is to affirmatively flow freely. A fortiori, Congress can expressly say that no state will make marijuana illegal.
Thanks for playing.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745544) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:13 PM Author: Lilac public bath
The only problem is that you need to come up with an argument that marijunana would qualify under the dormant commerce clause, and if you understand the dormant commerce clause, you would realize this is impossible.
Alcohol doesn't come under the dormant commerce clause, just to give you a head start in crafting your answer.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745570) |
Date: May 8th, 2006 10:13 PM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
Also, please address my spending power arguement as I have defined it, not as you imagine it.
1) Prevention of violent crime = important state interest
2) Congress produces a great deal of findings that there is a link between the criminalization of marijuna and violent crime.
3) Congress withholds law enforcement and homeland security funds on this basis = nexus
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745572)
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:28 PM Author: Lilac public bath
*sigh*
First of all, the nexus has to be between the spending and the influence on state law that is sought. Raising age limit for alcohol lowers highway fatalities because underage drinkers cross state lines to drink, and then drive back.
So you are saying that making MJ illegal creates more crime than would exist if it were legal.
First, the crimes involved in the actual drug offenses don't count. That is an integration problem. That's like saying we could reduce crime by making murder legal.
Next, you actually have to produce such a study that would show that, if MJ were made legal, there would be less crime than there would be if it were illegal. And here I'm talking about non drug related offenses again, keeping the integration problem in mind.
Next, you have to demonstrate that there is a nexus between homeland security funds and the crimes that would be lessened if MJ were legal.
This is not a winner.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745674)
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:14 PM Author: Lilac public bath
Tell you what. This will make it easier to analyze the question.
List some things that the federal government HAS legalized. Then we'll see if marijuana is going to qualify.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745578) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:24 PM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
STOP CHANGING THE FUCKING QUESTION. CAN the federal government legalize marijuna? Yes, yes, 1000 times yes. The Supreme Court can recognize a fundamental right, and you could make a better argument for a fundamental right to marijuana than was made for abortion in ROE. Yet ROE _DID_ happen.
Whether or not you or every scholar on earth thinks its bad law, it IS STILL THE LAW (see MARBURY v MADISON)
ROE, GRISWOLD, etc are still good law. If you shift a couple of seats around, then the Court could absolutely go back to this line of protecting fundamental rights. Look at how CAROLENE PRODUCTS got picked up so many years later. Look at home Renquists former dissents have become majority opinions. You are just being a stuborned idiot. You didn't think about the Supreme Court when you posed the question, and you got PWN3D. Take your lickings and drop it.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745650) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:29 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
Listen, the supreme court can do whatever it wants. The fundamental right jurisprudence, though, is really restrained. Locher, for example, is villified. I think roe is about the end of the line on that stuff.
Anyway, this is all a far different cry from saying that Congress can pass a law saying pot is legal.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745682) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:40 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
this is like saying Dred Scott could happen again. Yea, sure, it could. But it probably won't, and saying that "yea, at one point the courts couldn't protect black people so its not clear they will be able to 40 years from now" is somewhat dumb, don't you think?
Sure, if the Court were comprised of Randall Kennedy, Jon Hanson, and all the legal realists, I could imagine them saying some pretty dumb shit. But until that happens, I think we have to assume that the court is NOT going to recognized any more fundamental rights, given how villified they are.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745736) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:57 PM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
I WASN"T ASKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY.
If the professor asked me ways the federal government can leglize marijuana I would have done just fine.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745864) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 11:12 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
the question would probably be framed as:
this issue has come to the supreme court. write a brief for your justice.
anyway, the "they could make a fundamental right" line is kinda useless.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745976) |
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Date: May 9th, 2006 9:52 AM Author: wonderful honey-headed parlor
"The possibility of the Supreme Court recognizing a fundamental right to smoke pot is nil."
You're answering the wrong question. CAN, not LIKELY.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5748350) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:41 PM Author: Lilac public bath
Roe was a leap. If decided today for the first time it would definitely have come out differently.
Marijuana wouldn't come close, and would definitely not come out the same way Roe did if someone were to bring a due process argument to support its legality today. NO WAY.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745738) |
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Date: May 9th, 2006 9:53 AM Author: wonderful honey-headed parlor
"If decided today for the first time it would definitely have come out differently."
That's nice. WOULD isn't COULD.
"Marijuana wouldn't come close"
That's nice. WOULD isn't COULD.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5748353) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:34 PM Author: Lilac public bath
There is absolutely no reason to believe that the SCOTUS would ever realize such a fundamental right, it has decided that there isn't before - heck it won't even allow it as part of religious ceremonies on autonomous Indian reservations.
The SCOTUS COULD but it needs a REASON.
As i said before, the SCOTUS COULD recognize a fundamental right to boil your neighbor alive in battery acid - that doesn't mean it is going to.
Make the argument.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745708) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:39 PM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
I'm not before the Court dumbasss. You wanted to know if the Federal government can legalize marijuana. You have subsequently refined the question with so many exceptions and disclaimers that I have no fucking clue what you are asking any more.
Can the Federal government legalize marijuana? Yes. (see GRISWOLD, ROE) End of argument.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745727) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:55 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
Ok, answer me this. under your approach, is there anything that the federal government CAN'T do under the constitution?
I mean, beyond stupid shit like the census or enslaving people or something. Can't the S.Ct. just make anything a fundamental right?
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745839) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 11:07 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
If you understood the context of marbury, you'd understand that the Court is quite restrained by the practical realities of the fact that it is merely a court. madison never got his fucking commission.
The fundamental rights doctrine is basically dead letter. It isn't coming back. Once they overturn Roe, that will be the official end.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745922) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 11:22 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
Only because he didn't overstep his bounds. He knew Jefferson wouldn't give the commission, so Marshall wrote an opinion that looked good, but made sure that the guy didn't get his commission on some bullshit technical ground.
If Randall Kennedy got on the supreme court and started passing legal realist opinions saying that pot was legal, as was abortion, or any crime by a black person, i'm pretty sure there would be a significant backlash.
The fundamental rights law is dead letter because the court recieved significant backlash, and realized that in order to mantain legitimacy it couldn't make law like that.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5746054) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 11:31 PM Author: Bateful corner
"Only because he didn't overstep his bounds."
We only think that Marshall didn't over-step his bounds because the power of judicial review has been around for such a long time (some still contend that Marshall DID over-step his bounds). Relatively speaking, asserting the power of judicial review is just as tremendous as recognizing some kind of fundamental right.
"If Randall Kennedy got on the supreme court and started passing legal realist opinions saying that pot was legal, as was abortion, or any crime by a black person, i'm pretty sure there would be a significant backlash."
The plurality in Casey specifically noted that they would stand up to the backlash, and they did. I do not see the power or prestige of the Court plummeting (of course, this did mobilize the political process to get more conservative judges appointed, which is exactly how the system is supposed to work).
"The fundamental rights law is dead letter because the court recieved significant backlash, and realized that in order to mantain legitimacy it couldn't make law like that."
The fundamental rights doctrine isn't instrinsically at odds with legitimacy. It's only when the Court deviates far from the societal norm that it gambles - and this hasn't really happened since Lochner.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5746109) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 11:36 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
The guy didn't get his commission. If you had a decent con law prof, you'd know that Marshall was totally avoiding the issue.
The court has stood up to the backlash so far, at least the libs have. A lot of people view the court as a purely political body now. Whatever "prestige" it once had has vanished into some purpley political catfight. Wait 15 years. Roe will be overturned by then.
"It's only when the Court deviates far from the societal norm that it gambles - and this hasn't really happened since Lochner."
Nice they you missed Roe, which has created a huge backlash. oh, and it also helps that the court hasn't recognized a single fundamental right since Roe. I wonder why - perhaps because of the backlash?
Whatever you guys want to believe, the fundemental rights doctrine is dead letter. No way in hell is the court going to recognize a fundemental right to smoke pot - they didn't in Raich and they won't ever. And it is also extremely unlikely that the court will recognize another fundamental right in our lifetime.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5746140) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 11:44 PM Author: Bateful corner
"The guy didn't get his commission. If you had a decent con law prof, you'd know that Marshall was totally avoiding the issue."
Why does it matter if he got the commission or not? The point is that that Marshall asserted an unprecedented amount of judicial power. If Marshall was around today, and recognized a fundamental right to abortion while "losing" the case, would you still focus on the aspect of "losing" the case, or the creation of fundamental rights?
If you had a decent con law prof, you'd know that the commission has nothing to do with the legal significance of the case - only the strategy with which Marshall achieved his aim. If your claim was that this type of strategy is no longer possible because of the proliferation of legal scholars, etc, then I might agree with you.
"Nice they you missed Roe, which has created a huge backlash. oh, and it also helps that the court hasn't recognized a single fundamental right since Roe. I wonder why - perhaps because of the backlash?"
Did they explicitly over-rule Roe? Only partly? Then I guess that the backlash just wasn't strong enough.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5746212)
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Date: May 8th, 2006 11:50 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
As I said already before you started this utter nonsense, he didn't get his commission because Marbury didn't want to go up against Jefferson. It was a power grab, but you have to understand that it was in the context of not wanting to go out of bounds of the judiciary. It took a long, long time before the judiciary got significant power to stand up against the president / congress. Sure, doctrinally marshall's power grab was a big deal. But it didn't mean a whole lot in the real world.
your roe point is totally missing the point. The Supreme Court has not recognized another fundemental right since Roe because of the backlash, which shows how severe that backlash was (beginning with Lochner, and carrying on to today).
Casey basically said roe was wrong but that it was being upheld under stare decisis. Hardly a strong endorsement of the fundamental rights doctrine. It's dead letter, because of the very large backlash. As I said earlier, if Casey didn't already end it, the offical burial of the fundamental rights doctrine will occur when Chief Justice John Roberts writes an opinion overturning Casey and Roe once and for all. he'll cite lochner, say how bad fundamental rights are, and that will be the end of it.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5746276) |
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Date: May 9th, 2006 12:08 AM Author: Bateful corner
"As I said already before you started this utter nonsense, he didn't get his commission because Marbury didn't want to go up against Jefferson. It was a power grab, but you have to understand that it was in the context of not wanting to go out of bounds of the judiciary."
No, it was in the context of not wanting to let other people know that he was going out of the bounds of the judiciary. Of course, if Marshall had overtly asserted the power of judicial review, the President would have smashed him.
Now, as you said, the Court exercised discretion, etc. for a long time and therefore was able to build up a lot of capital to support judicial review.
And that's my point. You say that Marshall's power grab was within the bounds of the judiciary, yet you say that recognizing a fundamental right is out of the judiciary's bound. If a justice covertly recognizes a fundamental right (just as Marshall did with judicial review), how is this more "out of the bounds" than Marshall's power grab?
"The Supreme Court has not recognized another fundemental right since Roe because of the backlash, which shows how severe that backlash was (beginning with Lochner, and carrying on to today)."
I would actually see it as a pendulum. Of course, after Lochner, judges were reluctant to recognize fundamental rights (hence, all the SDP-in-EP disguise and the Griswold nonsense).
"Casey basically said roe was wrong but that it was being upheld under stare decisis. Hardly a strong endorsement of the fundamental rights doctrine. It's dead letter, because of the very large backlash. As I said earlier, if Casey didn't already end it, the offical burial of the fundamental rights doctrine will occur when Chief Justice John Roberts writes an opinion overturning Casey and Roe once and for all. he'll cite lochner, say how bad fundamental rights are, and that will be the end of it."
We'll see about that.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5746425) |
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Date: May 9th, 2006 12:20 AM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
Jefferson would have simply ignored him, because it the S.Ct. had no power. I don't often cite wikipedia, but you apparent misunderstanding of the history behind the case requires it:
-At this point in the country's history, the Supreme Court had been very limited in its exercise of its powers. Chief Justice Marshall knew that if the Court decided for Marbury, Jefferson would almost certainly ignore the decision—a result that would further erode the court's authority. Such a result arguably occurred about 30 years later when Marshall ruled in Worcester v. Georgia, which struck down Georgia laws affecting the Cherokees and President Andrew Jackson refused to compel the state of Georgia to abide by the decision. He is famously, but apocryphally, reported to have said, "John Marshall has made his decision. Now let him enforce it."-
Marshall created judicial authority, but he did so within the context of the limits on Courts power - i.e. not to be so aggressive so the court would not be respected. It was out of bounds for the Supreme Court to tell Jefferson what to do. So great, he can review it, but he had to find some BS reason for Marbury to lose. It is important, therefore, that Courts recognize possible backlash when they are "making law" like Marshall did there and like Blackmun did in Roe.
The same goes with fundamental rights. The backlash has affected the court so that now it never recognizes them. I don't know how it can possibly be viewed as a "pendulum." They recognized a few rights, and no almost every single one, including roe, has been vacated. How is this a pendulum? More like falling off a cliff. It's not coming back. The court will probably never recognize another fundamental right, and it certainly will never recognize a right to smoke pot. As history has mandated, this is out of bounds for the judiciary.
The S.Ct. might let roe stand because of stare decisis, but it will never recognize the right to abortion as a fundamental right again, and it will continue to curtail roe until (it if hasn't already) it makes it into a nullity.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5746525) |
Date: May 8th, 2006 10:18 PM Author: Lilac public bath
Ya know, this is all very troubling.
This is supposed to be a law school discussion board, yet most of the people involved in this thread don't know the very fundamental basics of our DUAL SOVREIGNTY system of federal government.
The federal government has something it can do that the states can't. The states have some things they can do that the federal government can't. In between, there are some things that either one could do, depending on the circumstances.
Do you think the federal governments powers are all encompassing, that it can do whatever it wants if it wants to badly enough? You are mistaken.
Look at prohibition - it took a constitutional AMENDMENT to make alcohol totally illegal. How many things has the federal government been able to make LEGAL? Start listing, it's a pretty short list so it shouldn't take you too long.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745611) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:45 PM Author: Lilac public bath
You're totally wrong about that.
Tattoo parlors are illegal in Mass. (I heard they were moving to make them legal, maybe it has happened already.)
Cigarette rolling papers are illegal in Rhode Island.
Strip clubs are illegal in MANY places.
Alcohol is illegal in some towns and counties.
DANCING is illegal in some places.
As are pit bulls.
BTW 'GUY' - every time you bring up the supremacy clause, you forget about the tenth amendment. That makes you look stupid, sloppy, or both.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745762) |
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Date: May 9th, 2006 9:08 AM Author: orchid stage
IPGunner: "Look at prohibition - it took a constitutional AMENDMENT to make alcohol totally illegal. How many things has the federal government been able to make LEGAL? Start listing, it's a pretty short list so it shouldn't take you too long."
The Lanham act and trademarks are my example.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5748221) |
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Date: May 9th, 2006 10:08 AM Author: yellow odious indian lodge
I guess I see what you mean, although I'm confused what it would mean to make trademarks illegal.
What you're talking about here is preemption, a word that seems oddly absent from this discussion. By passing the Lanham Act, Congress signaled its intent to occupy the field. Thus, any state unfair competition law that's inconsistent with the Lanham Act, whether more or less stringent, wouldn't fly, b/c it's been preempted by a federal regulatory scheme.
I would wonder whether this holds for federal criminalization of drugs. The fact is that the states have always had greater primacy in criminal law than in a lot of other areas. Some question federal criminal law altogether (albeit some lone holdouts), and many criticize it for its allegedly excessive reach. So a federal "legalization" that prevented states from saying "we want marijuana to be illegal in our state" strikes me as a step too far, but I'm not exactly sure why.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5748429) |
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Date: May 9th, 2006 10:14 AM Author: orchid stage
Actually most of my posts have been about passing a comprehensive MJ regulatory plan through the commerce power (because MJ crime is economic and substantial), and then stamping out state criminalization laws through preemption analysis under Supremacy. IPGunner has not been able to rebut my points on this approach, but WhateverDood made the point that four justices would probably not let pro-MJ regulation get by a commerce challenge, because they hate drugs (Raich) and they like limiting the commerce power (Lopez/Morrison).
States do have some primacy in criminal law, but one area of criminal law that is HIGHLY federalized is drug law.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5748467) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:37 PM Author: spectacular burgundy azn
"How many things has the federal government been able to make LEGAL"
this is what is so stupid about your argument. the word "legal" can have many meanings. I have no idea what you are trying to get at.
based on existing case law the federal government can stop prohibiting the possession/use/sale of marijuana and can prohibit the states from interfereing with that possession/use/sale. the cases and theories supporting this have been mentioned already in the thread
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745722) |
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Date: May 9th, 2006 9:56 AM Author: wonderful honey-headed parlor
"How many things has the federal government been able to make LEGAL? Start listing, it's a pretty short list so it shouldn't take you too long."
It only takes one to demonstrate CAN.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5748364) |
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Date: May 10th, 2006 4:35 PM Author: Lilac public bath
Unless those things that the federal government has made legal belong to a class that does not include marijuana.
Therefore you are wrong.
Just because it has made SOMETHING 'legal' most certainly doesn not mean that it can make ANYTHING legal.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5759006) |
Date: May 8th, 2006 10:54 PM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
Before I go out for a beer, we have the following legalized practices...
Abortion
Sodomy
Interracial marriage
Obscene material in your private quarters
Use of contraception by unmarried minors
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745832)
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Date: May 8th, 2006 10:59 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
most of those are 14th amendment cases.
abortion is basically it, and even casey basically said it only exists because of stare decisis.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745875) |
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Date: May 8th, 2006 11:15 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
No, you are way off. The 14th amendment point is that you can't make it illegal for some people and not for others. Like, California can't make pot illegal for blacks but legal for whites.
Loving v. Virginia wasn't making interacial marriage illegla. It was saying Virginia couldn't deny marriage to interracial couples but allow it for homogeneous couples.
Marriage is not a fundamental right. See gay marriage. Is marriage between a man and a woman a fundamental right? We have no caselaw on that, because no state has ever made that illegal.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5745998) |
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Date: May 10th, 2006 4:51 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
ok, here is the text, again from wikipedia...
"Marriage is one of the "basic civil rights of man," fundamental to our very existence and survival.... To deny this fundamental freedom on so unsupportable a basis as the racial classifications embodied in these statutes, classifications so directly subversive of the principle of equality at the heart of the Fourteenth Amendment, is surely to deprive all the State's citizens of liberty without due process of law. The Fourteenth Amendment requires that the freedom of choice to marry not be restricted by invidious racial discriminations. Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State."
I read that as a right coming from the 14th amendment, not from some mystery land that fundamental rights came from. Denying the right to marry can be done if you have a good reason - like preventing incest or polygamy. You can't do it on race, though, because that violates the 14th. That's hardly a fundamental right like the right to abortion was when it was first created.
If Congress were to get rid of the 14th amendment, I don't think there is anything in the constitution which prevents a state from putting back miscegenation laws. If this is the best you can do to show a fundamental right to marriage, that is pretty weak. And if you think this provides any sort of strength to the fundamental rights doctrine, that is pretty weak too. This was 14th amendment race discrimination case, and without the 14th amendment it never would have been decided this way.
It would be interesting if a case came up where a state banned marriage between straight people. I guess they might have to recognize a fundamental right there. But It hasn't happened yet, and it won't happen for smoking pot.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5759113) |
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Date: May 9th, 2006 9:30 AM Author: know-it-all mad-dog skullcap
Subsequent cases have cited LOVING as standing for a fundamental right to marriage. Scalia points to LOVING as standing on equal protection grounds (which it certainly does) and not on substantive due process grounds.
My point is that the current logic behind substantive due process cases is to (1) narrowly define the right and (2) look to the history of society's treatment of the "right." This is the concervative view, and the view the Rehnquist laid out in his PRIOR DISSENTS. Because conservatives now dominate the Court, they have typically adopted this narrow view of fundamental righs, but often by slim majorities. The more expansive fundamental rights doctrine is by no means a dead doctrine, certainly when you have 3 or 4 justices constitently advocating it.
The expansive fundamental rights doctrine (of ROE, GRISWOLD, etc) may _seem_ dead, but it has by no means overturned. And it is no more "dead" than the conservative view of fundamental rights was when Renhquist was laying it out in his dissenting opinions.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5748267) |
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Date: May 10th, 2006 4:44 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
how can you say they are consistently advocating it? Casey basically overturned Roe on this point, even the liberals gave in on this point. Fundamental rights is dead, brother.
anyway, the bottom line is that the s.ct. will never recognized a fundamental right to smoke pot. Anyone who thinks otherwise is nuts.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5759061) |
Date: May 10th, 2006 3:47 PM Author: orchid stage
Let's get this going again
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#5758664) |
Date: June 25th, 2006 12:43 AM Author: sable mental disorder marketing idea
a reminder for poshlust of how stupid he is.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#6064646) |
Date: July 26th, 2006 10:26 PM Author: exhilarant flickering sneaky criminal
bump
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=412904&forum_id=2#6309496) |
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