From: John Stilwell [stil9285@charter.net]
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 1:18 PM
To: 'Jasmine Africawala (jxa010300@utdallas.edu)'; 'Anna Babayan (axb011700@utdallas.edu)'; 'Claudia Maria Benitez'; ' (pebbleinthesky@aol.com)'; 'Saraliza E. Caldera (sec037000@utdallas.edu)'; 'Jennifer J. Carlson (jjc026000@utdallas.edu)'; 'Shawnda Dawn Corker'; 'Deanna J. Costello (djc043000@utdallas.edu)'; 'Lawrence E. Creed (lec021000@utdallas.edu)'; 'John B. Davenport (jbd022000@utdallas.edu)'; 'John Paul Goodson (jpg042000@utdallas.edu)'; 'Luis Gutierrez (lag032000@utdallas.edu)'; 'Laura Hirschy (lah034000@utdallas.edu)'; 'Darrell Glenn Holliday Jr. (dgh051000@utdallas.edu)'; 'betty leacock'; 'Robin M. Lindley (rml010200@utdallas.edu)'; 'Joseph Lopater (HaveSkill@yahoo.com)'; 'David Lozano (dxl011400@utdallas.edu)'; 'Maxwell, Amanda M'; 'Mary Mbongo Nangah (mmn021000@utdallas.edu)'; 'Lori Jerrie Potts (ljp031000@utdallas.edu)'; 'Charles Rich (cmr046000@utdallas.edu)'; ''Katherine R. Sheldon'; 'Cory D. Smith (cds023000@utdallas.edu)'; 'Sean William Sutherlin (sws033000@utdallas.edu)'; 'Ashton J Tassin'; 'Tafadzwa H. Tawonezvi (tht034000@utdallas.edu)'; 'Anthony L. Tseng (alt031000@utdallas.edu)'; 'John Michael Yowell (jmy031000@utdallas.edu)'; 'david.davidlozaon@gmail.com'; 'John Michael Yowell (johnsongym@aol.com)'; 'marynangah18@hotmail.com'
Subject: Midterm Test - The Hamdi Case and What it Means for Liberty

Contacts: Jasmine Africawala; Anna Babayan; Claudia Maria Benitez; Justin Boyd; Saraliza E. Caldera; Jennifer J. Carlson; Shawnda D. Corker; Deanna J. Costello; Lawrence E. Creed; John B. Davenport; John Paul Goodson; Luis Gutierrez; Laura Hirschy; Darrell Glenn Holliday Jr.; Betty R. Leacock; Robin M. Lindley; Joseph Lopater; David Lozano; Amanda M. Maxwell; Mary Mbongo Nangah; Lori Jerrie Potts; Charles M. Rich; Katharine R. Sheldon; Cory D. Smith; Sean William Sutherlin; Ashton J. Tassin; Tafadzwa H. Tawonezvi; Anthony L. Tseng; John M. Yowell
Class, this email contains the questions I would like your response to by March 2, 2006, not later than class time, at 7PM.  That is our last class before Spring Break.  Midterm Grades are due by March 13.  This should give you ample time to read the case, Hamdi  v. Rumsfeld, which is attached to this email.  Note there are three attachments, which Includes Justice O'Connor's opinion, Justice Souter's opinion and Justice Thomas (Scalia joining) opinion.  Justice O'Connor represents the "Opinion of the Court" and therefore is "the law" on this troublesome question of detention of Americans under the authorization for force passed by Congress.  However, the other two opinions will have some influence on many public officials and their conduct.  For example, Justice Thomas (Scalia) is frequently quoted as stating what the law is.  Justice O'Connor is often quoted for the first paragraph of her opinion, which, if that is all you read, would make you think that the Authorization for Force gave the President all the power in deciding how to conduct the war on terror, until you read the rest of the opinion, which lays out many restrictions and declares that it did not give the President "a blank check."
 
You therefore have two full weeks to read and compose responses to the following questions:
1.  O'Connor's opinion states the law, and you are not a lawyer, but an ordinary, but well educated, American, what would you say the law is, after reading it?  In other words, since the Court's constitution mandate is to decide cases and controversies, what, exactly, do you think the Court decided?
2.  Does O'Connor's opinion declare more than one rule?  If so, how many do you find, and what are they?
3.  Does this case give you any guidance about what federal authorities can do to you if they suspect you have been having phone conversations or exchanging emails with terrorists in foreign countries? (Vice President Cheney has been quoted saying that O'Connor's opinion says that the Authorization for Military Force gives the President authority to order secret NSA spying and the administration has been saying it cannot discuss why, because it would compromise the secrecy of the program, which is essential to its effectiveness.)  If not, can you find it in the Patriot Act? (linked on the web site)?
4.   Finally, if you think the Authorization for Military Force or the Patriot Act does purport to give that authority, do you think it violates the Constitution (as you understand its protection of civil liberties) in any way?  If so, why?
 
The test does not require or expect you to have legal skills.  You will be graded on you ability to read carefully, and to respond critically with analysis and good reasons for what you say.  There are no clearly "right" or "wrong" answers.  There are many materials on the website and on the internet that discuss this case and its implications.  You may use any resources you think valuable, but please indicate what they are in your answer, either in footnotes or your text.  The test will count for 40 points on your final grade.
 
I prefer your answers by email.  If you cannot do that, please submit your typewritten response at the March 2 class, or before by addressing it to me at my faculty mail box in JO4.510.
 
 

John Q. Stilwell, J.D., Ph.D.
4808 Byron Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205-3254
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email stil9285@charter.net
email stilwell@utdallas.edu
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