LECTURE SUMMARY

What is Law?

Various Sources of Law

Federal v. State Law (Federalism)
Public v. Private Law
Criminal v. Civil Law
Substantive v. Procedural Law
 POINTS OF CLARIFICATION

The overlap between tort and criminal law?

What is public v. private law?

 Public: international, criminal, constitutional and administrative
law.
 Private: lawsuits between private actors.

Federal Criminal Law?

 Breach of federal statutes (e.g. tax evasion) and crimes that cross state
lines (e.g. drug trafficking)
 Introduction
AMERICA’S LEGAL SYSTEM to Common
Law
 QUESTION OF THE DAY

What is a common law legal system?

Law is developed by judges through decisions of
courts
Originated in Britain.
Court decisions are a primary source of law.
Judicial interpretation of statutes is binding.
Statutes may trump common law (caveat: judicial
review).
Not all legal systems follow common law principles.
 KEY TERMS

 J u dge- Ma de La w :

“pre ce den t -s et ti ng co u r t de cis i on s is s u ed by j u dg e s. ”

 Pr e cede n t:

“a co u r t de ci si on th a t s e rve s a s a u th o r ity fo r de cidin g a si mi la r q u e s ti on o f la w

i n a la t er ca s e w i th si mil a r fa ct s .”

 S ta r e Deci s is :

“le t th e de cis i on s t a n d” – e q u i va le n t in me a n in g t o pr e cede n t.

 M a tt er o f f ir s t i mpr es s io n :

“A le g a l i s su e de cide d by a pr ece den t -s et ti n g cou r t for th e f i r st ti me .”

 LAYERS OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM

 See Neubauer pg. 10

INSTITUTIONS OF LAW

INTERPRETERS OF THE LAW

CONSUMERS OF THE LAW

 EVOLUTION OF PRECEDENT:
AN EXAMPLE

The Case of the Open and Obvious Condition

 THE ADVERSARY SYSTEM

“s yste m o f l a w th at (1 ) r e l i e s on th e c on te s t be tw e e n e a c h a dv oca te re p re se nti n g

hi s o r h e r p ar ty's pos i ti o ns an d (2 ) i n v o l v e s a n i mp ar ti a l pe rso n o r g rou p of
pe o pl e , us ua l l y a j u ry or j u dg e , tryi n g to d e te r mi ne the truth o f the ca se .”

Ke y Te rm s:

 Pl a i n ti ff: pa rty o r pa rti e s i ni ti ati ng a l aw sui t.

 De fe n d an t: p arty wh o m us t a ns we r th e l a ws ui t .

Styl e of a c as e : J oe (P l ai nti ff) v . S mi th (De fe n d an t)

Que sti on s an d Com m e n ts:

 Courts ar e pa ss iv e i n sti tu ti on s.
 The Ri g h t to C ou ns e l ?
 Wh at’s g ood an d ba d a b out t he a d v e rs ari al sys te m ?
 LAW V. FACTS

The role of the judge: (1) decides the law and (2) applies the
law to an undisputed set of facts.

The role of the factfinder: resolves a factual dispute.

 Factual disputes usually resolved at trial.
 Bench trial v. jury trial.
 JUSTICIABILITY

The Case and Controversy Requirement: a court case must

implicate a real dispute between/among parties.
 No advisory opinions.
 Interpreted from Article III of the U.S. Constitution.

Related Concepts:
 Standing: suffering of a “particularized” harm
 Harm must be existing or imminent.
 Taxpayer lawsuits?
 Ripeness: “a case is not ripe if it is contingent upon future
events that are too speculative.”
 Mootness: “a legal ruling will have no impact.”
 Example: DeFunis v. Odegaard
 REMEDIES

 Civil Cases: remedies are designed to “make one whole” or prevent

further harm.
 Compensatory Damages: compensate for injury/loss
 Punitive Damages: Awarded for willful and malicious harm.
 Example: BMW v. Gore
 Declaratory Judgment: “declares the rights and obligations of the parties.”
 Restitution: the return of goods.
 Equitable Relief: e.g. injunctions
 Order a party to do something or not do something.
 Must demonstrate “irreparable harm.”
 Criminal Cases: remedies are designed to punish.
 Jail/Prison
 Fines
 Penalties
 Restitution: damages for victims
 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

What are the benefits of America’s common

law judicial system?

What are its limitations?