Spring 2025 - Law in the Headlines

Course Description:
Spring 2025

Law in the Headlines: Exploring Current Legal Controversies, with Leora Harpaz
Thurs 10:30-11:45am
It often seems that high-profile legal controversies are almost a daily occurrence now, making them lead stories in the news. Leora will discuss important cases before the Supreme Court this Term including 3 cases involving the First Amendment Religion Clauses and one seeking to limit adult access to protected speech. Leora will also talk about cases that quickly reach the Court by the filing of an emergency application as well as any significant cases the Court agrees to review during the 2025-26 Term. In addition, she will discuss cases likely to reach the Supreme Court, such as constitutional challenges to President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship that have been filed in a number of lower courts. Students will have an opportunity to make suggestions for topics that they would like to have discussed in upcoming classes.

Class 2 - April 24, 2025

Roth v. United States (1957) definition of obscenity which is not protected by the First Amendment:

To be considered obscene, material must: (1) appeal to the prurient interest, (2) be patently offensive because it goes beyond contemporary community standards, and (3) be utterly without redeeming social value.


Class 1 - April 17, 2025


Trump's Executive Order Ending Birthright Citizenship For Two Categories of Person's Born In The United States:

The Two Categories - “(1) when that person’s mother was unlawfully present in the United States and the person’s father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth, or (2) when that person’s mother’s presence in the United States was lawful but temporary, and the person’s father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth.”

Sec. 1 of the 14th Amendment:
“[a]ll persons born or naturalized in the United States, & subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States & of the State wherein they reside.”


Final Rule definition of Frame and Receiver:
“include a partially complete, disassembled, or nonfunctional frame or receiver, including a frame or receiver parts kit, that is designed to or may readily be completed, assembled, restored, or otherwise converted to function as a frame or receiver, i.e., to house or provide a structure for the primary energized component of a handgun, breech blocking or sealing component of a projectile weapon other than a handgun.”

Final Rule Addition to Definition of Firearm to Include:
“‘weapon parts kit that is designed to or may readily be completed, assembled, restored, or otherwise converted to expel a projectile by action of an explosive.’”

Gun Control Act Definition of Firearm:
“(A) any weapon ... which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive; (B) the frame or receiver of any such weapon; (C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or (D) any destructive device.”