Constitutional Law Keyed to Cohen
The Florida Star v. B.J.F
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*Case Brief Anatomy includes: Brief Prologue, Complete Case Brief, Brief Epilogue
- The Brief Prologue provides necessary case brief introductory information and includes:
- Topic: Identifies the topic of law and where this case fits within your course outline.
- Parties: Identifies the cast of characters involved in the case.
- Procedural Posture & History: Shares the case history with how lower courts have ruled on the matter.
- Case Key Terms, Acts, Doctrines, etc.: A case specific Legal Term Dictionary.
- Case Doctrines, Acts, Statutes, Amendments and Treatises: Identifies and Defines Legal Authority used in this case.
- The Case Brief is the complete case summarized and authored in the traditional Law School I.R.A.C. format. The Pro case brief includes:
- Brief Facts: A Synopsis of the Facts of the case.
- Rule of Law: Identifies the Legal Principle the Court used in deciding the case.
- Facts: What are the factual circumstances that gave rise to the civil or criminal case? What is the relationship of the Parties that are involved in the case. Review the Facts of this case here:
On October 20, 1983, Appellee reported a robbery and sexual assault in the city of Jacksonville, Florida. The Sheriff released a copy of the police report to the pressroom, where a reporter-trainee of Appellant obtained it. Appellant is a weekly newspaper in Jacksonville, Florida, that regularly reports the police reports for the week. The name of Appellee was published in the newspaper, despite its internal policy of not publishing the names of sexual offense victims. By publishing the full name of Appellee, Appellant also violated Florida Stat. Section 794.03 (1987), which makes it unlawful to print, publish or broadcast in any instrument of mass communication the name of the victim of a sexual offense. Appellee then filed suit against the sheriff’s department and Appellant, alleging the parties negligently violated the statute. Appellee was awarded compensatory and punitive damage by the Florida trial court, and affirmed by the Court of Appeals. The Florida Supreme Court de nied review, and thus it reached the United States Supreme Court.
- Issue(s): Lists the Questions of Law that are raised by the Facts of the case.
- Holding: Shares the Court's answer to the legal questions raised in the issue.
- Concurring / Dissenting Opinions: Includes valuable concurring or dissenting opinions and their key points.
- Reasoning and Analysis: Identifies the chain of argument(s) which led the judges to rule as they did.
- The Brief Prologue closes the case brief with important forward-looking discussion and includes:
- Policy: Identifies the Policy if any that has been established by the case.
- Court Direction: Shares where the Court went from here for this case.