The Right to Legal Representation in America

The right to legal representation is a fundamental constitutional right in the American legal system. The American justice system is adversarial. For this system of justice to gain legitimacy, it must promote equal and adequate representation of all parties throughout the judicial process. However, this seems to be more of the case in theory than … Read more

Courts and Judicial Policymaking

State Judges Selection Modalities It is in principle that where justice is delayed, it is denied. Whenever there is a vacancy in the federal or state courts by virtue of death, resignation or any other cause, there is the necessity that such positions be filled up as soon as possible in the best interest of … Read more

Case Brief: Rylands v Fletcher

Case name: Rylands v. Fletcher Year of decision: 1868 Court: House of Lords Case citation: Rylands v. Fletcher, 3 H.L. 330 (1868) Facts Rylands, hereinafter referred to as the Defendant, owned a piece of property, which did not qualify for rights to mines and veins coal beneath the surface. Fletcher, hereinafter referred to as the … Read more

Effectives of Counterterrorism Measures before and After 9/11 Attack

The 9/11 terrorist attack elicited consternation across the world. The scale of devastation witnessed as a result of large scale property destruction and life extermination still lingers in the memory of the international community in general and Americans in particular. The 9/11 attack was not the first terrorist attack to be experienced in the United … Read more

Substantive and Procedural Law

Substantive Law In common usage, substantive law encapsulates rules that establish rights and obligations while procedural law envisages the rules that prescribe the process of administrating substantive law (Mauet, 2013). Courts apply the substantive law when dealing with the legal relationship between private citizens or between the citizens and the state. Substantive law is mainly … Read more

Plato’s Philosophy of an Ideal Government

Plato believed in a government of intellectuals (Jayapalan, 2002). His teaching was designed in such a way that it would produce intellectuals who would run the state, which concisely mean the creation of an aristocracy (Jayapalan, 2002). In this regard, Plato prefers to have a philosopher-ruler with a tremendous erudition and wisdom. One who will … Read more

Utilitarianism and Libertarianism

What is Utilitarianism? Utilitarianism theory is associated with Jeremy Bentham and John start Mill. According to the theory, man is a social being whose motivation in life emanates from his desire to achieve happiness and shun pain. It premises on a hedonistic assumption that man is a sentient creature with feelings and sensibility. As such, … Read more

Fair Labor Practices

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938 provides a lucid guideline about acceptable employment practices. The Act prescribes the mode of calculating overtime pay, minimum wages, and the suitable persons for employment among others. The legislation covers all workers, including those working for the state and … Read more

Mercy Killing: Utilitarianism and Euthanasia

The balance between Utilitarianism and Euthanasia The dilemma in the case regards striking a moral balance between euthanasia and utilitarianism. When Dr. Jill assists in the suicide of the 400 patients, the deaths will occur because of an intentional act or omission, which amounts to euthanasia. Mill’s utilitarianism uses the end to justify the morality … Read more