POLITICO.COM : "If a nationwide poll were conducted in 1953, no doubt a majority of Americans would have supported segregated school" - Sherrilyn Ifill, Professor of Law, University of Maryland - See Video
Video of the Black Star that I love :
See the Video of Professor of Sherrily Ifill on the Supreme Court ( at the bottom of this page ) and read here her opinion on Arizona Racist Laws.
For some time I have followed with great delight several articles on Law, Supreme Court, etc .... by Professor Sherrilyn Ifill, a Black Lady and an intellectual of Law that I greatly admire. I take off my hat before the Great Law Professor. She also appears on TV with Rachel Maddow
Professor Sherrily Ifill is a Star for me - I want her in the U. S. Supreme Court.
POLITICO.COM
The Arena
Arizona: Pariah state or mainstream?
May 31, 2010
Arizona: Pariah state or mainstream?
Sherrilyn Ifill, Professor of Law, U. Md. :
This new habit of "polling" in place of a focus on legality has become a dangerous habit. If a nationwide poll were conducted in 1953, no doubt a majority of Americans would have supported segregated schools. It's doubtful that many of the provisions of our Bill of Rights would survive an up or down vote in most of the country. That's why we have a Constitution - something that can survive the prejudices, exigencies and ignorance of the day and set the parameters of legality for our country.
Polls like this are irrelevant to the question of whether the Arizona immigration law (and Arizona's latest attack on ethnic studies) is legal or even whether it's offensive to minorities. I shudder to think where this country would be if questions of civil rights and constitutional legality were decided by public opinion poll. This poll only shows how far off the grid many Americans are when they think that a president who advances health care reform is "shredding the Constitution," but have no problem with a state law that gives law enforcement officers blanket discretion to stop individuals anywhere and demand proof of legitimacy.
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Patrick J. Egan, Professor of Politics and Public Policy, NYU :
It would not surprise me if those most likely to support the law are among those least likely to have the one piece of documentation -- a passport -- typically needed to verify citizenship status.
The Arizona law greatly enhances police powers. Unlike in other countries, Americans cannot be routinely required to produce citizenship papers to local law enforcement -- and it is unusual for us to carry such documentation unless traveling abroad. The high level of support for such an expansion of police powers makes me wonder if there is a priming effect in the Pew survey, which introduces the provisions with the preamble that they were part of a law dealing with illegal immigration.
This may make respondents think that being required to produce citizenship papers will happen to someone else, and not themselves.
This new habit of "polling" in place of a focus on legality has become a dangerous habit. If a nationwide poll were conducted in 1953, no doubt a majority of Americans would have supported segregated schools. It's doubtful that many of the provisions of our Bill of Rights would survive an up or down vote in most of the country. That's why we have a Constitution - something that can survive the prejudices, exigencies and ignorance of the day and set the parameters of legality for our country.
Polls like this are irrelevant to the question of whether the Arizona immigration law (and Arizona's latest attack on ethnic studies) is legal or even whether it's offensive to minorities. I shudder to think where this country would be if questions of civil rights and constitutional legality were decided by public opinion poll. This poll only shows how far off the grid many Americans are when they think that a president who advances health care reform is "shredding the Constitution," but have no problem with a state law that gives law enforcement officers blanket discretion to stop individuals anywhere and demand proof of legitimacy.
*********************
Patrick J. Egan, Professor of Politics and Public Policy, NYU :
It would not surprise me if those most likely to support the law are among those least likely to have the one piece of documentation -- a passport -- typically needed to verify citizenship status.
The Arizona law greatly enhances police powers. Unlike in other countries, Americans cannot be routinely required to produce citizenship papers to local law enforcement -- and it is unusual for us to carry such documentation unless traveling abroad. The high level of support for such an expansion of police powers makes me wonder if there is a priming effect in the Pew survey, which introduces the provisions with the preamble that they were part of a law dealing with illegal immigration.
This may make respondents think that being required to produce citizenship papers will happen to someone else, and not themselves.
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UMBchannel — April 22, 2010 — University of Maryland School of Law Professor Sherrilyn Ifill speaks on national television about the nomination and confirmation process for a replacement for the retiring Justice John Paul Stevens.
Prof. Ifill April 21 SCOTUS commentary
