SAMPLING OF "LEGAL MINUTES" FROM PRIOR WEEKS
TOPIC: INTRODUCTION TO THE LEGAL MINUTE
It’s the bedrock of our American government and the foundation of our court system; it shapes the course of events in society at large; and affects our lives as individuals every day. I’m talking about the law. Hello, this is Attorney Rebecca Rutter, of Derry, New Hampshire. It’s vitally important for us to understand the law. That’s why I’m so happy to begin bringing you "The Legal Minute" here at WDER. Every week, I’ll be speaking with you about a different legal topic. What does the law say? What rights and responsibilities does it give you? And how can you use the tools which the law provides, to deal with times of trouble, plan for the future, and be a good steward of your family or business resources? These are some of the questions that we’ll explore together in your "Legal Minute." I hope that our times together will be interesting and informative for you. Thanks for listening.
TOPIC: THE BILLS OF RIGHTS
It happened 217 years ago this past September, and it still impacts your life every day. It's the creation of the Bill of Rights - the first Ten Amendments to the Constitution. Hi, this is Attorney Rebecca Rutter. In 1789, the First U.S. Congress signed the Bill of Rights and sent it to the states for ratification. An important historical event - no doubt -- but how does that affect you today? While the Constitution provides the framework for our government and court system, it's the Bill of Rights which safeguards our individual rights and freedoms. The basic rights that we cherish are guaranteed in those first Ten Amendments…. such as the right to a speedy and fair trial …and freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Thomas Jefferson said that a bill of rights is "what the people are entitled to against every government on earth"….and that's just as true today as it was two centuries ago.
TOPIC: AMENDING THE U.S. CONSTITUTION
More than 10,000 of these have been proposed in Congress over the past two centuries, but only 27 were actually accepted! Hi, this is Attorney Rebecca Rutter, and I’m talking about amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Since its creation, our Constitution has been amended only 27 times, 10 of which were the Bill of Rights. Think of all the changes that the world has seen in the past two centuries…. from a horse and buggy society…. to the age of cell phones, email, and an international space station, and yet, in all that time, only 27 changes to our country’s supreme legal document! It’s a testament to our Founding Fathers wisdom, and surely, Divine inspiration. Now, some constitutional amendments have had a profound effect on our history. For example, when we vote this November, many of us will be affected by at least one of the voting rights amendments …. such as the 15th amendment which gave the vote to citizens of all races, and the 19th , which in 1920, gave the vote to women.
TOPIC: NH STATE COURT SYSTEM
We often talk about someone "having his day in court," but do you know how your state’s judicial system works? Hi, this is Attorney Rebecca Rutter. In New Hampshire, for example, all state cases start out in a trial court. Which one depends upon the type of case. Superior Court handles serious crimes and major civil cases, where the parties may request a jury trial. Less serious crimes and smaller civil disputes are decided by a District Court judge. Certain subject matters are reserved for special trial courts, including the Family Division, which hears marital and child custody cases, and the Probate Court, which tackles issues related to wills, trusts, and estates. In every trial court, the goal is the same – weigh the evidence and render a fair decision. After the verdict has been handed down, the losing party, for cause, may appeal to a higher court. The final state court of appeal in New Hampshire is our state Supreme Court, located in Concord. Our court system plays a vital role in society, but we must also remember our own role as citizens. As a famous American jurist once said – "Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women. When it dies there, no law and no court can save it."
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT
"God save the United States and this Honorable Court." Those words are used each year, on the first Monday in October, to open a new term of the U.S. Supreme Court. Let’s look for a moment at how this Court works. The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest in our land and has jurisdiction to take cases on appeal from each of the state supreme courts and federal appellate courts. Out of the more than 7,000 litigants which petition them each year, the justices of the Supreme Court choose to hear only about 100 cases, which generally deal with the most vital issues of constitutional law. After a case has been accepted. the lawyers for each side submit written briefs to the Court, and appear for oral arguments, where each lawyer is given only one half hour to present his or her case, all the while being peppered with questions from the nine justices. Afterwards, the real arguments begin, as the justices privately deliberate on each case. Alliances will form and shift, as justices make known how they plan to vote and attempt to persuade each other. Eventually, a final vote is taken, and the winning side writes the majority opinion which then becomes legal precedent for every court in the nation. This has been Attorney Rebecca Rutter with your Legal Minute.
