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Article: Supreme Court term to focus on Fourth Amendment.
- Article from:
- The Washington Times (Washington, DC)
- Article date:
- October 2, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 News World Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The Supreme Court opens its 2000-2001 term today with a low-profile agenda lacking the drama of the past five years, when justices declared 26 acts of Congress unconstitutional and ruled on such divisive social issues as partial-birth abortion, public prayer and assisted suicide.
Many cases among the 46 appeals already accepted for full review focus on local government powers, with Fourth Amendment search-and-seizure law the most recurrent theme. Those cases involve police matters that affect ordinary people, including:
* Handcuffing and arresting Texas mother Gail Atwater for a seat-belt violation punishable by a maximum $50 fine, leaving her ...