1.  If a professor in my fictional state-run law school, while acting in his or her capacity as a professor, called a gay man deviant I'd expect to see disciplinary consequences.  

2.  If a professor in my fictional state-run law school is abusing class time proselytizing for a political movement, I'd expect to see serious consequences.  If, instead, the same professor simply points out potential arguments for the constitutionality of state control of the means of production while discussing, for instance, the commerce clause, then no.  And why would I?

3.  If a professor in my fictional state-run law school shared legal theories and arguments as to whether a particular war is or was illegal, that's one thing.  If the professor was going on about the morality or immorality of a particular war, I'd have to know more about how on earth that might have relevance to the curriculum.  If, for instance, it was in the context of a course in international law cross-listed as an ethics course through the philosophy department I could see relevance.  But in a core class in the average law school curriculum?  Probably not, in which case I'd want to see some justification for the course content.  If the statement had no pedagogical relevance, I'd want the professor to keep it out of the classroom.

4.  If a law professor in my fictitious state-run law school spent class time going on about religious subjects, either disparagingly or in an effort to proselytize, I'd expect there'd be consequences.  Other than from a historical perspective, I also would want to know why a law professor in a state-run school would spend class time talking about whether or how any particular religion condemned or supported anything that would be of relevance in a law curriculum.

5.  If there's a legal or policy argument for taxing churches, I don't see why it couldn't be made in a law school.  The tax code's a purely legal structure, after all, and it's often used to support particular social and economic policies.  I don't see why one couldn't discuss the reasons for taxing churches in this context.

Nov. 3, 2005

Too Many Law Schools?

There is no shortage of jokes about the United States having too many lawyers. If there are any corollaries about law schools, the punch lines are falling on deaf ears at a host of institutions that have plans to open law schools

Since 2003, at least seven new law schools have opened, and several more are on the way, including three that were announced at Drexel and Elon Universities and Mills College. Officials at some of those institutions said the new law schools are not just adding more desks, but will fill particular niches. Student demand suggests that the new schools are welcomed.

I don't know you or the student who relayed to you the story. That is what makes your story not credible.

The folks bringing them food, diapers, etc., to keep them going until the local ag economy picks back up from the blow it was dealt in the recent freak freeze, are mostly Christians.

Or you can head to some of the towns in Mexico - the Christians are the ones who are building their schools.

You can also spot them as they bring food and clothing to LA's skid row.