By Nicholas Pappayliou and Samuel Gilleran Early last week, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals held that victorious plaintiff voters were entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs from the opposing party, the Guilford County Board of Elections, despite the fact that the Board merely enforced but did not craft the legislation giving rise to […]

By Jason Wiener Karen J. Williams was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina on August 4, 1951.[1] After receiving her B.A. from Columbia College in 1972, she taught social studies and English in local public schools.[2] She returned to school as a law student and received her J.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1980, […]

By Caroline Hamilton and Alex Prunka During the 2014­–15 school year, Caleigh Wood was an eleventh grade student at La Plata High School in Charles County, Maryland.[1]  Wood was required to take a world history course as a part of the school’s curriculum, featuring a small, five-day unit entitled “The Muslim World.”[2]  This unit was […]

By: Sophia Pappalardo & Kenya Parrish United States v. James Michael Farrell In this criminal case, Appellant was convicted after a jury trial for ten offenses of money laundering conspiracy, substantive money laundering, and obstruction of justice. Appellant was prosecuted for his role in an elaborate multi-state marijuana trafficking organization. On appeal, Appellant contested several […]

By Agustin Martinez and Ashley Oldfield Born in 1954 in Tyler, Texas,[1] former Judge J. Michael Luttig attended Washington and Lee University for his undergraduate studies.[2] After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976,[3] Judge Luttig worked at the U.S. Supreme Court in the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Chief Justice […]

R.F. v. Cecil County Public Schools This case is a civil case where the parents of a child with disabilities challenged an administrative law judge’s determination that Cecil County Public Schools (“CCPS”) had fulfilled its obligation to provide the child with a free appropriate public education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”). There […]

By Melissa McKinney and Sarah Orwig  Facts In Spencer v. University of Virginia,[1]Zoe Spencer, Professor of Sociology at Virginia State University brought this suit against her employer alleging that she was paid less than her male colleagues, a violation of the Equal Pay Act and Title VII.[2]Spencer earned $70,000 per year whereas the male colleagues […]

By Matthew Hooker Spencer v. Virginia State Univ.             In this civil case, the Fourth Circuit affirmed a grant of summary judgment in favor of Virginia State University concerning the plaintiff’s claim that she was sexually discriminated against with respect to her salary. The plaintiff, a sociology professor, earned a median salary when compared to men […]

By Elliott Beale and Cassidy Webb Senior Judge Clyde H. Hamilton was born in 1934 in the town of Edgefield, South Carolina.[1] After obtaining his B.S. from Wofford College in 1956, Judge Hamilton served as a U.S. Army Reserve Captain from 1956-1958.[2]  Judge Hamilton then attended George Washington University Law School, graduating with his J.D. with honors […]

By Hayley Degnan Factual Background          In 2005, the Appellant, Eduardo Rodriguez-Arias (“Rodriguez”), fled his native country of El Salvador and unlawfully entered the United States at only twelve-years-old.[1] Before fleeing El Salvador, Rodriguez witnessed local gangs perpetuate violence against members of his family and experienced gang-related crimes firsthand; local gangs extorted his grandparents, killed […]

By Sophia Pappalardo and Kenya Parrish Judge Paul V. Niemeyer was born in Princeton, New Jersey in 1941.[1]  After completing his undergraduate studies at Kenyon College in 1962, Judge Niemeyer studied at the University of Munich from 1962-1963.[2]  Judge Niemeyer then went to Notre Dame Law School where he graduated with a J.D. in 1966.[3] […]