Archive for category: Uncategorized

Part 1

When a person is arrested for a crime such as disorderly conduct, he may argue that he was actually arrested for attempting to engage in freedom of speech, especially since the definition of such crimes is often subjective. “Disorderly” could mean that someone is damaging property. But, could it also mean that he is simply saying something that he is entitled to say which happens to be unpopular?

As legal professionals studying the First Amendment, we do not care about protecting popular and polite speech, because no one is going to be arrested or sued for standing on a corner and quietly saying that he likes the government. The real test of the First Amendment is how well it protects people who say unpopular things.

Consider the Westboro Baptist Church. This group has picketed soldiers’ funerals for more than 20 years with extremely unpopular messages. One family sued the Church for disrupting Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder’s funeral with signs saying things like, “God Hates the USA/Thank God for 9/11” and “Thank God for Dead Soldiers.” That cases ended up in the U.S. Supreme Court, which issued an opinion that you can find on Westlaw at Snyder v. Phelps, 131 S.Ct. 1207 (2011).

(The opinion can also be found on the Supreme Court website at: http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/09-751.pdf).

Put aside your personal beliefs about the Church’s message and focus only on the factors addressed by the U.S. Supreme Court. After reading the case, explain the Supreme Court’s ruling and analyze in detail why it reached the conclusion that it did. In your analysis, be sure to include answers to these questions:

1)    Why was the physical layout and distance important in this case?

2)    Why was the timing important in this case?

3)    What is speech of a “public concern” verses a “private concern,” and why does it matter in this case?

4)    What does it mean to have a public debate which is, “uninhibited, robust, and wide open?”

5)    If the Westboro Baptist Church had done things differently, it might not have been protected by the First Amendment. If you represented a client who planned a controversial protest (perhaps for or against restrictions on abortion, marijuana, or any other controversial topic) what advice would you give?

To receive full points, your answer should avoid giving personal opinions or statements about whether you like or dislike the messages and should focus strictly on a professional analysis of the law. Be sure to also respond to your classmates throughout the week.

Part 2

Choose two states’ holdings, as presented at: Source: Holdings. Retrieved from http://davelippman.com/LawoftheMall.html to contrast. Explain the case facts and the rationale for the courts’ decisions in both cases that you choose. Between the two state holdings that you choose, with which one do you agree? Why do you agree with it? Respond also to the postings of others on the Discussion Board.

This week’s discussion post is like last week’s. It has you read an article on an estate planning issue and asks you to post a thread about the article.  The article is attached.  It’s also available in Week 7 Content. 

You still need to post replies to two of your classmates original posts as well. 

Contact me if you have questions or concerns.  Have fun with it.

Best,

Dr. Don

Week 7 Discussion Forum Article

As an environmentalist, you are very interested in how economics plays a role in determining how many and what type of environmental laws are passed. There are many environmental laws that are determined by economic conditions.

Choose 1 environmental law to research and give a detailed description of the law including the following:

• The date the law was passed
• Describe the law; what are the provisions of the law?
• Background information: What initiated the law? Why was it passed?
• What economic impact was generated by the law? What kinds of costs, fines, or economic benefits are associated with the law? Provide economic data to support this.
• Do you feel that this particular environmental law has improved the environment/situation? Why or why not?

This assignment will also be assessed using additional criteria provided here.

Please submit your assignment.

The following grading rubric will be used for this assignment.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Part 1

• How can sound science and the scientific method be used to help evaluate and solve an environmental issue?
  • Give 1 specific example.
• How do people who are not scientists evaluate the claims and different positions taken in debates about environmental issues?
  • Give 1 example.
• How might the term sound sciencebe misused or misunderstood?
  • Give 1 example, and explain.

Part 2

Read the following 2 articles in the Web Resources about the debate about global warming:

• Global Warming Pro: U.S. Global Change Research Program: Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States.
• Global Warming Con: Heartland Institute: Climate Change Reconsidered: 2011 Interim Report.

Do you think that global warming is a credible threat or not? Explain your position based on what you read in the 2 summary articles.

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Case Study 2: Information Security and the National Infrastructure

Read the Infosecurity magazine article “Using Information Security to Protect Critical National Infrastructure: Energy Sector is Hackers’ Biggest Target”, located at http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/view/2310/using-information-security-to-protect-critical-national-infrastructure-energy-sector-is-hackers-biggest-target-/. 

Write a two to four (2-4) page paper in which you:

1.    Explain in your own words the information security concerns that exist in protecting the United States’ national infrastructure.

2.    Describe why the author of the article says that oil and gas industries are prime targets for cyber criminals more than other infrastructures and state whether or not you agree and why.

3.    Conclude why there is a need to regulate SCADA and industrial control systems and why there is concern that this is not being dealt with appropriately.

4.    Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format.

·         Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.