This debate-style reader is designed to introduce students to controversies in the law. The readings, which represent the arguments of leading legal scholars, judges, and legal commentators, reflect a variety of viewpoints and are staged as "pro" and "con" debates. Issues debated include the operation of legal institutions; law and social values; and law and crime.

Table of Contents:
PART 1. Law and the IndividualISSUE 1. Is Abortion Protected by the Constitution?YES: Sandra Day O'Connor, from Majority Opinion, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania et al. v. Casey et al.," U.S. Supreme CourtNO: William H. Rehnquist, from Dissenting Opinion, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania et al. v. Casey et al.," U.S. Supreme CourtSupreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor upholds a woman's constitutional right to abortion under most circumstances and reaffirms the central holding of Roe v. Wade." Supreme Court chief justice William H. Rehnquist argues that Pennsylvania regulations on abortion should be upheld and that it is appropriate to overrule Roe v. Wade."ISSUE 2. Are Restrictions on Physician-Assisted Suicide Constitutional?YES: William H. Rehnquist, from Majority Opinion, Washington et al. v. Glucksberg et al.," U.S. Supreme CourtNO: Stephen Reinhardt, from Majority Opinion, Compassion in Dying v. State of Washington," U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitSupreme Court chief justice William H. Rehnquist rules that although patients have the right to refuse life-sustaining treatment, physician-assisted suicide is not constitutionally protected. Judge Stephen Reinhardt argues that forbidding physician-assisted suicide in the cases of competent, terminally ill patients violates the due process clause of the Constitution.ISSUE 3. Do People Have a Legal Right to Clone Themselves?YES: Cass Sunstein, from "The Constitution and the Clone," in Martha C. Nussbaum and Cass R. Sunstein, eds., Clones and Clones: Facts and Fantasies About Human Cloning"NO: Cass Sunstein, from "The Constitution and the Clone," in Martha C. Nussbaum and Cass R. Sunstein, eds., Clones and Clones: Facts and Fantasies About Human Cloning"Professor of law and political science Cass Sunstein, writing as fictional Supreme Court justice Monroe, argues that the right to cloning is analogous to established rights of reproductive privacy and autonomy and is therefore constitutionally protected. Sunstein, writing as fictional Supreme Court justice Winston, argues that the constitutional protection of "reproductive choice" does not extend to the decision to replicate oneself.ISSUE 4. Should Lawyers Be Prohibited from Presenting a False Case?YES: Harry I. Subin, from "The Criminal Lawyer's 'Different Mission': Reflections on the 'Right' to Present a False Case," Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics"NO: John B. Mitchell, from "Reasonable Doubts Are Where You Find Them: A Response to Professor Subin's Position on the Criminal Lawyer's 'Different Mission,'" Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics"Professor of law Harry I. Subin examines the ethical responsibilities of criminal defense lawyers and argues that greater responsibility should be placed on lawyers not to pervert the truth to help their clients. Attorney John B. Mitchell disputes the contention that the goal of the criminal justice process is to seek the truth and argues that it is essential that there be independent defense attorneys to provide protection against government oppression.ISSUE 5. Should the Insanity Defense Be Abolished?YES: Jonathan Rowe, from "Why Liberals Should Hate the Insanity Defense," The Washington Monthly"NO: Richard Bonnie, from Statement Before the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. SenateEditor Jonathan Rowe examines the insanity defense as it is now administered and finds that it is most likely to be used by white middle- or upper-class defendants and that its application is unfair and leads to unjust results. Professor of law Richard Bonnie argues that the abolition of the insanity defense would be immoral and would leave no alternative for those who are not responsible for their actions.ISSUE 6. Are Pretextual Stops by the Police Constitutional?YES: Antonin Scalia, from Majority Opinion, Whren et al. v. United States," U.S. Supreme CourtNO: David A. Harris, from "'Driving While Black' and All Other Traffic Offenses: The Supreme Court and Pretextual Traffic Stops," Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology"Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia holds that pretextual traffic stops do not violate an individual's Fourth Amendment rights. He argues that the constitutionality of such stops does not depend on the actual motivations of the police officer who makes the stop but on an objective determination of the reasonableness of the stop. David A. Harris, a professor of criminal law and criminal procedure, contends that Scalia's opinion ignores the potential for abuse by the police of general and all-encompassing traffic codes.PART 2. Law and the StateISSUE 7. Is Flag Burning Protected by the First Amendment?YES: William J. Brennan, Jr., from Majority Opinion, Texas v. Johnson," U.S. Supreme CourtNO: William H. Rehnquist, from Dissenting Opinion, Texas v. Johnson," U.S. Supreme CourtSupreme Court justice William J. Brennan, Jr., representing the majority opinion, argues that burning the American flag to express displeasure at the government is behavior that is protected by the First Amendment. Supreme Court chief justice William H. Rehnquist argues that the American flag has become such a historically significant symbol of the United States that a congressional prohibition against flag burning is justified.ISSUE 8. Does Suspicionless Drug Testing of High School Students Violate the Fourth Amendment?YES: Richard D. Cudahy, from Majority Opinion, Willis v. Anderson Community School Corporation," U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh CircuitNO: Walter Cummings, from Majority Opinion, Todd et al. v. Rush County Schools et al.," U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh CircuitFederal Court of Appeals judge Richard D. Cudahy holds that suspicionless drug testing of a student who had been disciplined for fighting in school violated Fourth Amendment guarantees against unreasonable searches and seizures. Federal Court of Appeals judge Walter Cummings finds it reasonable to extend the Supreme Court's Vernonia v. Acton" decision--which upheld the constitutionality of suspicionless drug testing of high school athletes--to include any student who is involved in extracurricular activities.ISSUE 9. Is It Constitutional for Public Libraries to Restrict Access to Some Sites on the Internet?YES: Jay A. Sekulow, from Statement Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. SenateNO: Jerry Berman, from Statement Before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. SenateJay A. Sekulow, counsel to the American Center for Law and Justice, argues that libraries have a duty to protect children from pornography and that regulating Internet access is consistent with a library's traditional responsibilities. Jerry Berman, executive director of the Center for Democracy and Technology, asserts that there are less restrictive means for protecting children who use the Internet than mandatory content restriction policies.ISSUE 10. Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished?YES: Harry A. Blackmun, from Dissenting Opinion, Callins v. Collins," U.S. Supreme CourtNO: James C. Anders, from Statement Before the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. SenateSupreme Court justice Harry A. Blackmun argues that the application of the death penalty has been arbitrary and discriminatory. Attorney James C. Anders argues that the death penalty is the appropriate punishment for some crimes and that it should not be abolished even if it is not an effective deterrent.ISSUE 11. Is It Constitutionally Permissible to Detain "Sexually Dangerous" Individuals After They Have Served Their Prison Sentences?YES: Clarence Thomas, from Majority Opinion, Kansas v. Hendricks," U.S. Supreme CourtNO: Stephen G. Breyer, from Dissenting Opinion, Kansas v. Hendricks," U.S. Supreme CourtSupreme Court justice Clarence Thomas finds that a Kansas law that allows civil commitment of "mentally abnormal" persons is constitutional and does not violate the Constitution's double jeopardy prohibition or its ban on ex post facto lawmaking. Justice Stephen G. Breyer finds that the Kansas law was an effort to inflict further punishment upon Leroy Hendricks and that the ex post facto clause should apply since Hendricks committed his crimes prior to its enactment.ISSUE 12. Should Drug Use Be Legalized?YES: Steven B. Duke, from "Drug Prohibition: An Unnatural Disaster," Connecticut Law Review"NO: Gregory A. Loken, from "The Importance of Being More Than Earnest: Why the Case for Drug Legalization Remains Unproven," Connecticut Law Review"Steven B. Duke, a professor of law of science and technology, contends that the war on drugs has led to an increase in criminal behavior, including robberies, assaults with guns, and police corruption, and that the financial, health, and civil rights costs of drug prohibition are enormous. Therefore, he recommends decriminalization and government regulation of drugs. Associate professor of law Gregory A. Loken, directly responding to Duke, asserts that the war on drugs has successfully reduced crime and that legalization would have devastating consequences, particularly for children.PART 3. Law and the CommunityISSUE 13. Should Law Enforcement Officials Notify the Community When a Convicted Sex Offender Moves In?YES: Simeon Schopf, from "'Megan's Law': Community Notification and the Constitution," Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems"NO: Bonnie Steinbock, from "Megan's Law: A Policy Perspective," Criminal Justice Ethics"Simeon Schopf, a writing and research editor for the Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems", looks at various constitutional objections to Megan's Law and concludes that, in the balance of interests, such laws are constitutional. Bonnie Steinbock, a legal philosopher, focuses on the moral issues posed by the notification statutes and argues that Megan's Law fails to serve its ultimate goal--protecting children.ISSUE 14. Is "Hate Speech" Fully Protected by the Constitution?YES: Antonin Scalia, from Majority Opinion, R. A. V. v. City of St. Paul, Minnesota," U.S. Supreme CourtNO: John Paul Stevens, from Concurring Opinion, R. A. V. v. City of St. Paul, Minnesota," U.S. Supreme CourtSupreme Court justice Antonin Scalia finds that the St. Paul ordinance punishing "hate speech" cannot be constitutional because it regulates speech depending on the subject the speech addresses. Supreme Court justice John Paul Stevens concurs that this particular ordinance is not constitutional, but he argues that it is perhaps simply overbroad.ISSUE 15. Should Same-Sex Marriages Be Lawful?YES: Andrew Sullivan, from Virtually Normal"NO: James Q. Wilson, from "Against Homosexual Marriage," Commentary"Andrew Sullivan, a journalist and magazine editor, seeks to transcend the traditional liberal and conservative terms of the debate over same-sex marriages and argues that all public discrimination against homosexuals should be ended. James Q. Wilson, an emeritus professor of management and public policy, finds unpersuasive the various arguments that Sullivan puts forward.ISSUE 16. Are Public School Officials Liable for Damages in Cases of Student-on-Student Sexual Harassment?YES: Sandra Day O'Connor, from Majority Opinion, Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education et al.," U.S. Supreme CourtNO: Anthony Kennedy, from Dissenting Opinion, Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education et al.," U.S. Supreme CourtSupreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor holds that under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, actions for private damages may be brought against school board officials in cases of student-on-student sexual harassment. Supreme Court justice Anthony Kennedy argues that Title IX cannot be read to provide such a cause of action and that to do so opens the gate for the federal government to intrude into state and local educational decision making.ISSUE 17. Should Children With Disabilities Be Provided With Extraordinary Care in Order to Attend Regular Classes in Public Schools?YES: John Paul Stevens, from Majority Opinion, Cedar Rapids Community School District v. Garret F.," U.S. Supreme CourtNO: Clarence Thomas, from Dissenting Opinion, Cedar Rapids Community School District v. Garret F.," U.S. Supreme CourtSupreme Court justice John Paul Stevens interprets the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as requiring public school districts to provide students who have severe physical disabilities with individualized and continuous nursing services during school hours. Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas argues that such an interpretation will impose serious and unanticipated financial obligations on the states.ISSUE 18. Do Affirmative Action Programs in Public School Admissions Policies Violate the Fourteenth Amendment?YES: Bruce Seyla, from Majority Opinion, Wessmann v. Gittens," U.S. Court of Appeals for the First CircuitNO: Kermit Lipez, from Dissenting Opinion, Wessmann v. Gittens," U.S. Court of Appeals for the First CircuitU.S. Circuit Court judge Bruce Seyla holds that the admissions policy of the Boston Latin School, which makes race a determining factor in the admission of a specified segment of each year's incoming class, violates the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection. Judge Kermit Lipez finds that the Boston Latin School's admissions policy serves the state's compelling interest in remedying the continuing effects of past discriminatory practices in the Boston public school system.