The Law And The Song

In addition to citing case law, Judges have traditionally used recognized legal maxims or treatise citations to support their rulings. But today’s judiciary is becoming more apt to use pop culture, modern music, as well as humor in their decisions. This book gives examples of how songs and their lyrics have influenced judges, provided themes for their decisions, and helped make existing law more accessible to lay persons. Mark W. Klingensmith examines the clever ways judges have used them to enhance their judicial writings and how modern day musical lyrics that have effectively become recognized legal maxims by the courts. judicial writings.

David "Tag" is a fighter and the owner of a bar, fighting arena, gym and sporting goods store that comprise a city block. When he first sees Millie, the new dancer at his bar, he knows that she is different. She soon becomes the girl that he wants to fight for and claim as his own. She teaches him that sometimes the contributions of the biggest heroes go unrecognized and that the most important battles are the ones that we may not win.

There are few concepts in society that all of us share but music is one of those concepts. In certain situations, music is used as an accompaniment, oftentimes simply a set of sounds designed to subconsciously affect the listener. While in other situations, music is the central point, dominating the dialogue yet continuing to subconsciously affect the listener. Law, on a similar note, is a concept that is inescapable. Legal scholars have noted for centuries that society in the United States evolved, and continues to evolve, toward a population dependent on law. Both music and law remain fundamental components of modern American life and there are no signs that our connection and reliance on music and law will change in the future. This book addresses the role music plays in constituting law in the United States. The subject of the book is important in order to show that while the Supreme Court writes decisions and legislators create and modify statutes, music is more invasive and influential in the lives of the populous. The book's first purpose is to introduce readers to the classic jurisprudential schools of thought and connect those philosophies to the lyrics of various songs. There is clear evidence that Natural Law and Legal Positivism have been instrumental in establishing a legal structure and philosophy of law. The remnants of those jurisprudential schools can be directly seen in the lyrics of the last 50 years. The book notes that greater attention should be paid to the music since it is in actuality, non-traditional jurisprudence. After classic jurisprudence is presented, the book undertakes Constitutive Theory and connects lyrics to this critical approach of law. The book's second objective is to systematically explain the role that music plays in constituting images of Race, Gender, and Class. Legal scholars have argued that music and law are often loosely connected but this book asserts that music creates law and images of law through specific lenses. Critical Race Theory, Feminist Legal Theory, and underclass literature are the best examples of how music has explicitly infected legal circles. The book highlights the impact that musicians have in constituting law through their lyrics. When musicians remind the listener of the injustices in society, call for social change, or give their interpretation of legal theory, an image of law is constituted and that image often becomes the Law. When musicians create music, they are simultaneously creating law. Their experiences, language, and motives encompass their being and develop an image of law, which the listener subsequently adopts. Their lyrics constitute what law is for "the people" which is often a direct response to the State's version of what law is or should be. Music is similar to or a reaction to law. Aaron R.S. Lorenz is an Assistant Professor of Law and Society at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey. He teaches courses on law and society, the death penalty, privacy, race, civil liberties, criminal law, and of course, music and law. He is the author of various publications on issues concerning law and culture. Before teaching at Ramapo College, Professor Lorenz taught Political Science at San Diego State University and Legal Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Professor Lorenz holds a M.A. in Political Science (San Diego State University) where he researched resource mobilization theory and its connection to reggae music in Jamaica during the 1970s and a Ph.D. in Political Science (University of Massachusetts, Amherst) where he researched the constitutive nature of music in law. Professor Lorenz lives in Mahwah, NJ with his wife, Jessica and son, Truman.

Excerpt from Lyrics of the Law: A Recital of Songs and Verses Pertinent to the Law and the Legal Profession, Selected From Various Sources So I, thus doom'd from thee to part, Gay queen of Fancy and of Art, Reluctant move, with doubtful mind, Oft stop, and often look behind. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

They called him Baby Moses when they shared his story on the ten o'clock news: the little baby left in a basket at a dingy Laundromat, born to a crack addict and expected to have all sorts of problems. People love babies, even sick babies. Even crack babies. But babies grow up to be kids, and kids grow up to be teenagers. Nobody wants a messed up teenager. And Moses was messed up. To be with him, Georgia would change her life in ways she could never have imagined ...

A recital of songs & verses pertinent to the law & the legal profession, selected from various sources.