JULY, 2014 VOL #3 ISSUE #2
SEATACMUNICIPALCOURT
Your City. Your Court.
“Independence”
In.de.pen.dence (noun): freedom from outside The Constitution contains Amendments 11-27 control or support: the state of being independent; which address additional rights: the time when a country or region gains political freedom from outside control. th The 13 Amendment prohibits slavery and This month, we celebrated our independence as a involuntary servitude nation. The Declaration of Independence, signed July 4, th The 14 Amendment prohibits any state from 1776, declared our independence, and dissolved all making or enforcing any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens, or which political connection and allegiance with Great Britain. shall deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law, or deny any Shortly thereafter, on September 17, 1787, the person the equal protection of the law Constitution of the United States was signed into effect. The 15th Amendment guarantees all citizens the Finally, on March 4th, 1789, Congress ratified the Bill of right to vote, regardless of race or color Rights, which consists of Constitutional Amendments 1- th The 19 Amendment guarantees all citizens the 10. That timeless, elegant document establishes the rights right to vote, regardless of sex with which we are most familiar: freedom of religion, (Continued on next page….)
The United States Constitution called for a Supreme Court and a federal judiciary. The Judiciary Act of 1789 created 13 district courts in principal cities, with one judge in each court, and three circuit courts to cover the eastern, middle and southern United States. It also created a Supreme Court, with a Chief Justice and five Associate Justices.
“Independence”
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freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom from unlawful searches and seizures, freedom from suffering cruel and unusual punishment, right to due process, right to a speedy
and public trial, right to confront your accuser, and the right to an attorney. These rights are enforced every day within your state and federal courts. Judges work hard each day to interpret the law and to uphold and preserve those constitutional rights we all hold so dear. Our world is constantly evolving as we advance further into the technological universe. We have constitutional rights guaranteed to us
under our state and federal constitutions, meant to
The United States Supreme Court operate as a living document, being open to interpretation as our world changes. Advancements in technology, travel, and commerce test our constitutions every day, but our constitutions remain solid in preserving our rights in all circumstances. Each of those documents provides a sturdy platform on which to exercise the freedoms they guarantee. Within those documents lies our independence as individuals and as a nation. (Continued on next page….)
“We must never forget that it is a constitution we are expounding…a constitution, intended to endure for ages to come, and consequently, to be adapted to the various crises of human affairs.” - John Marshall, Supreme Court Justice 1801-1835
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JULY, 2014 VOL #3 ISSUE #2
“Independence”
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As technology continues to advance at a break-neck speed, issues arise which were never considered by the founding fathers. Yet, the beauty of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights is that the content can be interpreted to have included those issues.
Take for instance, the guarantee of freedom from The USS Constitution, aka “Old Ironside” unreasonable searches and seizures. Most people know that privacy rights exist regarding certain communications. Questions of application arise when the communications are in the form of e-mail, text messages, IM’s, facebook posts, metadata, and tweets, or for information contained in a cloud, drop-box, or other alternative locations. Due process issues may arise regarding juror’s access to information during a trial. All information must be presented within the court room to ensure that each party has a chance to challenge its admission. Sometimes information may be excluded because it may be overly prejudicial to one of the parties and of little probative value to the trial issues. Yet, John Jay, First Chief Justice of the United States, jurors may be able to access that information through the use 1789 - 1795 of his or her cell phone, tablet, ipad, or laptop. There have been instances of mistrials due to jurors accessing information without the approval of the judge or parties. In other cases, mistrials have been declared because jurors posted entries on social media about the trial before or during their deliberation. The longevity of our constitutions can be attributed to their ability to maintain relevance and remain current as our society continues to evolve. Judges will continue to work hard every day to protect those rights for everyone.
When Chief Justice White died in 1921, President Harding named William H. Taft Chief Justice. Chief Justice Taft was the only former Chief Executive ever to hold the highest judicial office. Taft was delighted, for the position of Chief Justice, not the Presidency, had always been the honor he wanted most.
The Judiciary Act of 1789 required Justices to journey twice a year to distant parts of the country and preside over circuit courts. Justices had to endure hazardous conditions and long stretches away from their families HEADLINE while traveling to perform their circuit duties. SUB-HEAD - Library of Congress
JULY, 2014 VOL #3 ISSUE #2
President Abraham Lincoln appointed Any websites, web pages, links, or other internet content referred to or contained within this newsletter are for Salmon Portland Chase to serve as the reference purposes only and neither the SeaTac Municipal sixth Chief Justice in 1864. He had Court nor the City of SeaTac endorse, support, or recommend any advertisement contained within a referenced website, web previously served as a Senator in the page, or link that is external to the SeaTac Municipal Court Ohio legislature, Governor of Ohio webpage. and as the United States Secretary of the Treasury. The SeaTac Municipal Court Newsletter is written by Judge Elizabeth Cordi-Bejarano. Any copying, reproduction or
distribution of this document, in whole or in part, without the author’s explicit written permission is strictly prohibited.
To receive a copy of this quarterly newsletter via email, or to stop receiving this newsletter, simply email the Court Administrator, Ms. Tricia Kinlow, at: [email protected]
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