Asylum decisions are an integral part of immigration, but its processes are seemingly unknown. To understand how this system operates an in-depth analysis of how asylum works, its outcomes, and the factors that affect its results are studied. In this review, there is an exploration into historical factors and the creation of current policies. It then transitions to the role of Immigration Judges, regulatory groups, asylum seeker characteristics, and relevant legislation on asylum decisions. After these topics have been studied there is a discussion of potential solutions for asylum cases, and areas to explore.

When a man or a woman swears that they will take their partner in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, and till death do they part, does it really matter who is looking back at them? Common law delineates that marriage is between one man and one woman; and until the last decade, this was the prevailing definition of marriage. Yet as the gay rights movement gained support, the conventional definition of marriage has transformed. But the gay rights movement is not just about securing the right to marry; it is an attempt to produce social change through the United States court system. As the gay rights movement attempts to create social change through the two gay marriage cases, will the justices declare a historic ruling on gay marriage? Yet, regardless of their decision in June 2013, the Supreme Court's decision will not affect the momentum of the gay rights movement. Through analyzing the history of the gay rights movement, the legal arguments at stake, and reviewing past influential state and Supreme Court cases, it is evident that the prevailing gay rights movement will achieve its goals regardless of winning or losing litigation at the Supreme Court.

This thesis explores current and historical child custody laws in the State of Arizona and how they have correlated with child development theories. It discusses the impact child development theories have had on Arizona child custody cases. Additionally, it includes an overview of early Arizona Supreme Court cases and the implications it has on the best interest of the child. The thesis also provides insight to problems with Arizona courts and the actors involved with making the decision for the best interest of the child. The investigation demonstrates a disconnection between judicial discretion and the best interest of the child standard. An example from the United States Supreme Court case Troxel v Granville (1999) is reviewed to illustrate how courts discretion, in general, can be misused. Overall, court discretion in Arizona is liberal and the impact it has on child custody decisions can sometimes conflict with the best interest of the child.

The objective of this thesis is to investigate the dynamic relationship between public opinion and Supreme Court decisions. This thesis focuses on how media coverage plays a significant role in effecting this relationship. Using past research and findings, this thesis attempts to apply these conclusions to modern-day media sources such as the Internet. The findings from this thesis suggest that Slotnick and Segal's conclusion that the number of amicus curie briefs filed within a Supreme Court decision in addition to the subject area of a case continue to be the two most determinant factors in the level of media coverage which a Supreme Court decision will receive. Additionally, these findings suggest otherwise in Hoekstra's conclusion that local and national media sources report Supreme Court decisions differently than each other including the extent of their coverage over extended periods of time. Understanding this thesis' findings will assist in conceptualizing the significant role media coverage plays in the relationship between public opinion and Supreme Court decisions.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the First Amendment; more specifically, how freedom of speech is regulated or not regulated on public college campuses. Analyzing cases spanning half a century, this paper will look at the broad and somewhat narrow definitions and standards of speech. The Supreme Court has decided multiple cases relating directly and indirectly to speech on public college campuses, however, a finite answer as to what speech is accepted and not accepted is a debate still being argued today. This paper will help shed light on the subject, while also providing personal thought and contribution as to how speech cases and regulations should be viewed and analyzed. The conclusion, free speech has no definition, nor a narrow answer as to how public colleges should handle speech or how speech will be argued before the court. Free speech is still legally uncertain and legally contested space. This paper helps readers understand what free speech is and the standards and uncertainties that go along with it while providing insight along the way.

Despite the formidable efforts initially put forth to establish a system of self-governing and the pragmatic goals originally made to educate a citizenry capable of leading the country, America's higher education system continues to move farther and farther away from one that instills the virtues needed for a healthy democracy. The trend set by our nation's universities illustrates a lack of value placed on a liberal education. Rather, our schools rely on concrete metrics to prove a return on investment to taxpayers and validate their institution's value to stakeholders. In a country obsessed with "performance", we must learn how to balance the products of education with the processes of education . Failing to do so will leave our nation without citizens prepared to lead and without future generations who understand the civic ideals once held by our nation's founders. This paper assesses the current state of American higher education and the toll its inefficiencies have taken on our democratic wellbeing.

In a world dominated by Quid-pro-quo dealing, it is natural to wonder what people are receiving when they contribute to campaigns. Certainly, they are trying to influence the outcome of elections. While this paper does propose solutions to curtail ‘buying influence,’ in light of the recent events, such as the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, it looks like reform/limitation is not the direction our nation is heading. The following pages will provide a discussion of the history of campaign finance, and an explanation of recent events that have impacted the country’s current trajectory with regard to campaign finance laws. In addition, it will answer questions relating to what campaign contributors can expect to receive in exchange for their ‘donations,’ and how you, too, (assuming you can afford it,) can buy your own friendly, neighborhood politician.

Over the past 100 years Supreme Court Justices are retiring at a much higher rate than their predecessors. The question becomes what sparked this changed? The change from ~67% of Supreme Court Justices dying during the early years of the court to ~83% of justices who served in the modern court (1900-present day) retiring from office (Hylton 2012). It is not only important to only understand that there is a shift in how justices are leaving the court, but rather grasp the implications this shift has on the court. One possible result of this shift could be a change in the ideological makeup of the court. That these justices aren’t dying in office anymore because they wish to retire under a political climate that will appoint a justice that is like-minded to the justice that is leaving office. By retiring these justices are taking away the chance that they could die under an unfavorable political climate. This paper will explore the possible effects that justices could produce by retiring at a greater rate than previous years.

This paper investigates the factors that contribute to the establishment of an independent judiciary that acts as an appropriate check on other branches of government in emerging democracies. First, the U.S. Supreme Court is studied as a successful case of establishing an independent judiciary to derive lessons that can be applied to present-day emerging courts. Based on a literature review, the perquisites for an independent judiciary are competitive and clean elections, the existence of multiple political parties, peaceful regime changes, public access to and knowledge of information related to the courts, and judges that serve lifetime appointments both by law and in practice. A successful court system will also need public and regime support. These lessons are then applied to the failed court system in Argentina, which has a constitution modeled after the U.S. Constitution. The failure of the Argentine Supreme Court to establish independence from the influence of other government actors is due primarily to fact that Argentine justices are removed via informal pressures with each regime change, despite Constitutional protections. Finally, this paper concludes that the fate of the emerging judiciaries around the world is mostly dependent on the actions of outside influences, especially the lay public.

The Eighth Amendment reads, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” Due to the ambiguous meaning of what it means to be cruel and unusual, the Supreme Court of the United States has dealt with nearly 50 capital punishment cases. Although the Court has been tasked with deciding on a wide range of death penalty related topics, this thesis focuses specifically on eligibility for the death penalty. It explores landmark Supreme Court cases, analyzes the ways in which the Court comes to it’s decisions regarding eligibility, how it determines public opinion, and what the future of the death penalty may look like.