Law in 10

This week, the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment approved by voters last November to ban same-sex marriage.  The court refuted each claim made by supporters of same-sex marriage, and ruled unequivocally that California voters can significantly amend the state's guiding document by the vote of a simple majority.   

While not unexpected, the court's decision is a blow to those who view the marriage issue as one of equal rights, and equal protection under the law.  What does this decision tell us about politics and constitutional law in California, and will this battle ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court? 

Glenn Smith, professor of constitutional law at California Western, joins host Pam Hardy to discuss the case.

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Communities across the country, including San Diego, continue to search for ways to assist those without access to housing, medical care, or legal assistance.  Oftentimes these issues go hand in hand, requiring a comprehensive, collaborative approach to providing services. 

In Downtown San Diego, California Western School of Law partners with UC San Diego, charitable and social service organizations, law students, and volunteers to provide a unique medical-legal pro bono program housed at First Lutheran Church, just down the street from the law school. 

This episode of Law in 10 features host Pam Hardy in conversation with Professor Linda Morton, faculty liaison for the Community Law Project.

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Faced by a so-called "triple whammy" due to investment losses, the decline of real estate values and state budget cuts, the County of San Diego expects to cut 771 jobs and reduce its budget by $400 million dollars.

How will these cuts affect one of the County's most vital services, the Office of the Public Defender, charged with providing a competent, independent attorney for clients in state court who cannot afford their own?  Host Pam Hardy talks about the work of the Public Defender's Office and how that work is affected by state and county budget cuts with California Western graduate and adjunct professor Gary Gibson, a Deputy Public Defender in San Diego.

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Last week's news that Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter will leave the GOP and become a Democrat breathed new life into the debate over the Employee Free Choice Act.  The bi-partisan legislation aimed at reforming the process of union organizing and collective bargaining in the workplace stalled in Congress two years ago, when it was blocked by a Republican filibuster.  Senator Specter's surprising announcement places Democrats within one vote of the magic 60 mark, the number of votes needed to break a filibuster.

This episode of Law in 10 features Associate Professor of Law Ruben Garcia discussing the Employee Free Choice Act, and whether its chances of passage have improved.  Garcia teaches Labor and Employment Law at California Western and serves as a Visiting Associate Professor at UCSD.

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