In the case Michael M. v. Superior Court of Sonoma County, the petitioner, Michael M., was charged with statutory rape in the state of California. He then claimed the state’s statute unconstitutionally discriminated against him because he was male. At the time, Michael M. had sex with a 16-year-old girl while he was 17. The young girl was not condemned. He claimed the law violated the Equal Protection Clause stated in the fourteenth amendment of the United States Constitution. This clause says every state has to grant everyone the same rights and conditions as every citizen. The question is, does the statutory rape statute of California violate the Equal Protection Clause?
The court said young men and young women do not have the same risks
of sexual intercourse. In California, the law only criminalized that kind of behavior in males. According to quimbee.com, “Under California law, statutory rape occurs when a male has sexual intercourse with a female under the age of eighteen who is not his wife.” California was trying to accomplish multiple things with this statute. For one, they were trying to prevent more teenage pregnancies than what there already were. In 1980, there were 8,130 teen pregnancies. Out of those 8,130 teen pregnancies, there were 3,984 abortions and 1,057 miscarriages. Michael M. v. Superior Court of Sonoma County was argued on November 4 of 1980 and decided on March 23 of the following year. The case was decided five to four saying the state statute did not violate the Equal Protection Clause. The opinion of the court was that women already had a deterrence from sexual activity. Women know if they have sexual intercourse, they could get pregnant. The statute scrutinized men because they don’t have any deterrence so the law would make one. The meaning for this was to lower the number of pregnant teens there were. The dissenting opinion also made a valid point. The minority said the court was focusing more on the prevention of teenage pregnancy and not enough on gender bias. They said the court was looking at the goal of the state and not on the question. The dissenters asked the question of whether or not a gender-neutral law against underage sexual intercourse would make a greater deterrent. No evidence was found to answer the question. Justice Brennan found that, at the time, thirty-seven other states had adopted gender-neutral statutory rape laws and thought gender-neutral laws would be a greater deterrence that non-gender neutral statutory rape laws. The significance of Michael M. v. Superior Court of Sonoma County was to prove the California statutory rape law did not violate the fourteenth amendment Equal Protection Clause. The outcome of this case was that California changed the statute to prosecute both minors who commit unlawful sexual intercourse. Also, the law has changed the charge from a felony to a misdemeanor as long as the older participant is no more than 4 years. My opinion of this case was the law did violate the Equal Protection Clause of the fourteenth amendment. According to law.cornell.edu, “The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits states from denying any person within its territory the equal protection of the laws. This means that a state must treat an individual in the same manner as others in similar conditions and circumstances.” The statute discriminated against males and only prosecuted them even when both parties consented. Michael M. and Sharon both consented but only Michael got charged with statutory rape.
The nineteenth century introduced several great leaders into this world, many recognized by historians today. These men, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and others, have all been honored and commemorated for their contributions. One such leader, José Martí, continues to remain anonymous outside the Hispanic community, and hidden in the shadows cast by these men. His name does not appear in the history books or on the tongues of many proud Americans, for he was neither a citizen of America nor an American hero.
The opinion of the court was held by Justice Kennedy, in that the Colorado amendment was held unconstitutional on the basis that it violated the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment on the United States Constitution. Kennedy argued the amendment singles out a specific group in which, it would make it so only homosexuals cannot receive the protective rights that are available to anyone else. This idea makes homosexuals unequal to everyone else because they are not guaranteed the same protection that anyone else could get if they needed it. Furthermore, the amendment burdens the homosexual community by not allowing them to seek protection against discrimination though the use of legislation. Additionally, Kennedy claims “In and ordinary case, a law will be sustained if it can be said to advance a legitimate government interest…” (632) By this he means that a law will be considered valid as long as it has a ...
You Think you Know Bo, but you don't Know. Bo? Bo knows what it is like to be called one of the greatest athletes of all time. Vincent “Bo” Jackson had to overcome a lot as a child, he was the eighth of ten children that his mom took care of. His family was very poor, and not knowing his father very well did not help the cause.
The supporters of the Equal Rights Amendment seem to feel sex discrimination laws are simply not enough. The federal laws and regulations contain many loopholes, are inconsistently interpreted and may be repealed outright (NOW 1). Many supporters claim the Equal Rights Amendment is needed "to clarify law for the lower courts, whose decisions still reflect confusion and inconsistency about how to deal with sex discrimination claims (Francis 2). There is a supporting theory argument that "an amendment of equality would absolutely shift the burden away ...
These amendments ensure that everyone who wants an education is treated equally, no matter what race or gender, to create opportunities for everyone. Most important of those amendments is Title IX. 1. What is the difference between a. and a. It states that; “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of gender, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Title IX applies to all educational institutions, both public and private, that receive federal funds.
Michael Cain is an attorney for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and he came to talk to us about the evolution of the public trust doctrine in Wisconsin dealing with navigable water and current development issues related to the public trust. The doctrine states that a sizable body of common law has developed which holds that all navigable waters are held in trust by the state for the public and through the DNR Department of Justice and District Attorneys they have an affirmative duty to protect these public trust waters. With the increase in recreational and developmental pressures the amount of aquatic resources diminishes increasing the importance of this issue and the grounds of the public trust doctrine. This is important because the doctrine provides the foundation for preserving aquatic natural resources for the future.
M.C. Escher M.C. Escher was a Dutch graphic artist, most recognized for spatial illusions, impossible buildings, repeating geometric patterns (tessellations), and his incredible techniques in woodcutting and lithography. · M.C. Escher was born June 1898 and died March 1972. His work continues to fascinate both young and old across a broad spectrum of interests.
Who would have thought you could grow attached to someone you disliked in the first place? Actors of British Sci-Fi drama series “Doctor Who” have that effect on their fans and never have I thought ever that Matt Smith would have that effect on me after seeing him leave the show on Christmas day. Matthew Robert Smith is a British actor best known for his role as the eccentric Eleventh Doctor in the series and though fans of the show doubted him because of his age and lack of experience and exposure, Whovians had learned to love him after he showed and proved to the world that he epitomized The Doctor.
Statutory rape laws are far from perfect. Statutory rape laws are discriminating towards boys and biased towards girls. No law should be gender specific especially one that consists of people who are endangering minors. These laws have discriminated boys for over 150 years. The law should be fair to both genders and give boys the voice the need in the cases. Over the years statutory rape cases have gone underreported, mainly because people do not witness the cases themselves. Most of the lost cases involve minor males and older females. Even though some cases have been reported they do not get as much publicity as the cases dealing with young girls and adult men. Boys should get the same amount of protection under the statutory rape laws as girls do; the young men are victims just as girls are.
The Dutch artist Maurits C. Escher (1898-1972) was a draftsman, book illustrator, tapestry designer, and muralist, but his primary work was as a printmaker. Born in Leeuwarden, Holland, the son of a civil engineer, Escher spent most of his childhood in Arnhem. Aspiring to be an architect, Escher enrolled in the School for Architecture and Decorative Arts in Harlem. While studying there from 1919 to 1922, his emphasis shifted from architecture to drawing and printmaking upon the encouragement of his teacher Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita. In 1924 Escher married Jetta Umiker, and the couple settled in Rome to raise a family. They resided in Italy until 1935, when growing political turmoil forced them to move first to Switzerland, then to Belgium. In 1941, with World War II under way and German troops occupying Brussels, Escher returned to Holland and settled in Baarn, where he lived and worked until shortly before his death.
has the right to fight back and prevent it from happening. Rape does not only
In 1994 Michael Fay, a teenager arrested for vandalism was sentenced to the corporal punishment of caning, a punishment that attracted international attention for its nature. The caning of this young man can be considered torture, a punishment that holds no educational value and is a violation of his rights as a person. The New York Times editorial “Time to Assert American Values” and the article “U.S Student Tells of Pain Of His Caning In Singapore”, also from The New York Times, correctly opposed and described the horrendous consequences and nature of caning. Alejandro Reyes’ article “Rough Justice” is also correct in representing the effects of the Singaporean justice system but it price comes with the government’s ability to violate and
1. On the16th October 1890 Michael Collins was born in West Cork near Sam's Cross, named after Sam Wallace, a local highwayman. Michael was born to father Michael Senior and mother Marianne O’Brien. Even though there was a 52-year age difference it did not stop them from making Michael the youngest of 8 children. Collins' father, Michael Senior, said on his deathbed "Mind that child", pointing to his six-year-old son. "He'll be a great man yet, he'll do great things for Ireland.” His elderly father's words were to be thought of as a hollow prophecy, but there was still much modeling and learning for the young Collins to go through before he would emerge as a central figure in the uprising of Irish independence for the first time in 750 years. Two figures were very influential to Collins growing up was local schoolmaster, Denis Lyons, and blacksmith, James Santry. Both instilled an acute sense of history and nationalism in the bright and lively young boy. As a child, Collins was fiercely competitive and was enraged at defeat in any form. At school he excelled and at the age of 15 passed the Boy Clerkship for the British Post Office. So he packed his things and moved. Collins lived with another Post Office employee, which happened to be his sister Hannie, in West Kensington. Collins through his sister, mixed with London society fitting in well. Although he was known to Address face to face anyone making a derogatory remark about Ireland. Joining the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) - a group that promoted Irish culture and language - and the Gaelic Athletic League (GAL) where he played football and hurling furthered his nationalism. What he lacked in skill in these games, he more than made up for with his natural aggression and willingness to win.
The Rape Survivor Child Custody Act incentivizes states to adopt laws that allow mothers of children conceived through rape to terminate the parental rights of their rapists. The bill intakes that when a rapist pursues parental or custody rights, the victim is forced to “have continued interaction with the rapist, which has savior psychological consequences making recovery a difficult task. The bill puts an emphasis that courts shall grant termination of parental rights “upon clear and convincing evidence of rape.” $5 million in grant funds has been distribute to states that have laws “that allow the mother of any child that was conceived through rape to seek court-ordered termination of the parental rights of her rapist.” The grants would be authorized under the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program and the Sexual Assault Services Program of the Violence Against Women Act. Although a significant movement has been made at the state level, with thirty-one states allowing partial or complete termination of rapists’ parental rights there are 13 states that still allow both visitations and custody to the father under the parental rights laws, Nebraska is one of them. And even in the thirty one states that restrict any type of connection with a conceived child there are always exceptions to the rules such is true in in
Martin Eden Jack London, prestigious author of Martin Eden writes his opinions into his work. Aspects of different societies are prevalent throughout his work and the class struggle between different classes of characters is apparent in his writing. Although not an autobiography much of his writing can appear to include his personal views on life. Martin Eden, the protagonist created by London begins as a petty seaman works his his way to the upper class of society. Through self-determination and self-education he is able to become a member of the bourgeois.