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Historic courtroom still in use in Brockville, Ontario67

Jury System in the U.S. Put on Trial

by William F. Torpey

The American judicial system, strained by rising crime rates over the last few decades, has become a hot topic of conversation. The O.J. Simpson murder trial and the crime bill Clinton signed into law have put the system on the front burner -- and on trial. published 7 months ago

3 comments    law crime clinton

Delegates to the Philadelphia convention of 1787 sign the newly written Constitution in this 1940 painting by Howard Chandler Christy. These men are often referred to as the "Founding Fathers." (Painting by Howard Chandler Christy, ctsy. U.S. House o66

Preserve Our Constitution

by William F. Torpey

Why is it that so many of us feel that the rights and responsibilities we inherited from our forefathers may be, despite our reverence for the U.S. Constitution, in serious jeopardy? published 10 months ago

7 comments    politics law constitution

65

Our Right To Be Wrong

by William F. Torpey

It isn't mentioned in the Bill of Rights -- or anywhere in the U.S. Constitution -- but, in my judgment, it's one of our most important inalienable rights. It has a kinship to freedom of speech, but I call it by another name: The right to be wrong. published 5 weeks ago

22 comments    business golf democracy

64

Let's Not Convene

by William F. Torpey

Conventional wisdom has it that the American people if asked to vote on the Bill of Rights in a referendum would vote it down. It is my fear that this is true ... primarily because its legal implications may not be fully understood by the average citizen. published 10 months ago

0 comments    politics freedom constitution

The nine United States Supreme Court Justices60

Fighting Crime: Let's Not Look for Short-cuts

by William F. Torpey

Too many judges decide issues on the basis of what is good for society or what disrupts "the system" the least instead of following the dictates of the Constitution. The way to change a bad law is to pass a new one, not re-interpret the Constitution. published 9 months ago

4 comments    politics law crime

European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg58

Those Rights Include Right to Disagree

by William F. Torpey

There always seem to be more issues dividing us than uniting us. If it's not one thing it's another. It's the story of humanity. Gay rights is one of those divisive issues that played a prominent role in President Clinton's first term. published 9 months ago

5 comments    constitution rights gay rights

55

Strike Out the Line Item Veto

by William F. Torpey

The U.S. Supreme Court did not say the line-item veto is constitutional when it declined to take up the issue in 1996; it merely said it could not take up the case until the issue is properly brought before it; that is, by someone with proper "standing." It's still an issue! published 3 months ago

2 comments    constitution supreme court

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