Ricci v. DeStefano

Your assignment is to carefully read the case of Ricci v. DeStefano, 557 U.S. ____ (1995), and write a one to two page brief (single spaced, 12 point type) that states the essential facts, issue, holding and rationale of the court decision. In addition to the brief, you must include a one to two page (single spaced, 12 point type) analysis of the opinion stating whether you agree with the majority of the Court or with the dissenting justices and why. In your opinion, you can discuss the law and also give your opinion from the perspectives of ethics, social justice and basic fairness. You need not cover the dissenting opinions in your brief, though you should note the number of justices that joined in the majority opinion and the number of justices that dissented. For guidance on how to brief a case, you can refer to the file on briefing cases that I am also making available. A sample brief is also available in this directory to give you additional guidance.
As to form, I would like you to write you name in the upper right hand corner of the firs page of your brief, followed by the class and section on the second line, immediately beneath your name. On the third line, immediately beneath the class number and section, please write my name. Then skip a line and place the name of the case and its citation centered on the page. You may then begin writing the brief using the headings per the attached instructions. After completing the brief, begin the second part of the assignment on a new page that you can title “Analysis.”

This is not a research assignment. If you choose to consult outside sources, you MUST appropriately credit these sources through footnotes, endnotes of citations to avoid plagiarism.

required text:
RICCI ET AL. v. DESTEFANO ET AL.
CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR
THE SECOND CIRCUIT
No. 07–1428. Argued April 22, 2009—Decided June 29, 2009*