Case Discussion

Mr. Mauro discussed four recent decisions and a case currently being heard by the Court. The Court ruled 5-4 in Spallone v. U.S. that a federal judge had exceeded his authority by ordering desegregation legislation in Yonkers, New York and then fining city councilmen when they failed to pass the legislation. In the case of James v. Illinois, also a 5-4 decision, the Court declined the opportunity to expand the “Exclusionary Rule,” which limits the admissibility of evidence obtained illegally. In University of Pennsylvania v. EEOC, the justices decided unanimously that colleges have no special privilege to withhold confidential information. The Court ruled 6-3 in the case of FW/PBS Enterprises v. Dallas that the Constitution’s guarantee of free speech was violated by the city’s attempt to regulate adult book stores through a licensing ordinance. Finally, in Tyler v. Berodt, the Court let stand a lower court ruling that granted no right to privacy when using a cordless phone. A close