Lawyering Up: Week 6, Wed, Period 2 (2/13)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

"In honor of tomorrow's holiday, today we're talking about Family Law," Nathan said as he passed around the usual handouts. "I'll spare depressing anybody by talking about divorce. Instead let's talk about law and family at its very basis. What, according to law, is a family?

"According to the state of Virginia, family means a man and a woman, complete with any kids they might have," Nathan said. "They're so convinced of this that they tacked something called the Marshall-Newman Amendment to their state Constitution. That way they felt they could be sure that nobody trying to define marriage as man/man or woman/woman or anything else would be out of luck, legally speaking.

"In today's class I'd like you to talk about this amendment." Nathan gave them all a serious look. "Now this issue can be controversial, but I know everyone here is mature enough to respect each other's opinions and stick to issues of law. What are the advantages to an amendment like this? What are the disadvantages? Does the amendment have ramifications outside of the issue of marriage? Should the government be trying to define marriage and family in the first place?

"No pairing up needed this time," Nathan said. "Let's get a group discussion going. Share your thoughts, talk with your classmates about theirs. I'll share some of my own as we go. Who wants to start?"

[ooc: OCD coming is up!]

Comments

Sign In (2/13/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

Name, in collapsy fashion

Re: Sign In (2/13/08)

[blessed_twice]

Wyatt Halliwell

Re: Sign In (2/13/08)

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Dean Winchester

During the Lecture (2/13/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

Listen, talk amongst yourselves, the usual.

Re: During the Lecture (2/13/08)

[goodgirlmeg.livejournal.com]

Meg looked over the handouts and underlined the important parts during the lecture.

Re: During the Lecture (2/13/08)

[smartestone]

Hermione paid attention, marking up the handout when needed for studying purposes.

Re: During the Lecture (2/13/08)

[stocksgrrl.livejournal.com]

Of course, Turtle is paying careful attention and making notes on the handouts. They're very important notes, despite what the cartoonish illustrations accompanying them may suggest.

Re: During the Lecture (2/13/08)

[neurotic-witch.livejournal.com]

Chris was pensive as he took notes. He wasn't sure he felt like talking about family.

Re: During the Lecture (2/13/08)

[wanna-be-lucas.livejournal.com]

Lucas wasn't fond of this subject, so it was with even less care than usual that he clicked his pen while Nathan lectured.

Re: During the Lecture (2/13/08)

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana wasn't sure she wanted to talk about this. All her life whe'd wanted a family more than just about anything and she'd have been happy with one in whatever configuration it came.

Re: During the Lecture (2/13/08)

[misshargrove.livejournal.com]

Annette paid careful attention and took detailed notes, looking over the handout as well.

Re: During the Lecture (2/13/08)

[stupid-toasters.livejournal.com]

Family was such a favorite subject of Lee's.

Except not.

He'd just ignore the old man for now.

Re: During the Lecture (2/13/08)

[absolutesnark]

Summer looked over the handout and took notes.

Re: During the Lecture (2/13/08)

[inthereflexes.livejournal.com]

Jack wrote down some notes and absently doodled in the margins.

Classwork (2/13/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

Talk about your thoughts on how the law defines a family.

Re: Classwork (2/13/08)

[wanna-be-lucas.livejournal.com]

"I think it's total bull," Lucas said. "You don't need a mother and a father to have a family." He was possibly touchy on this subject, but open to discussing it.

Re: Classwork (2/13/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

"Is that something you think the law should say?" Nathan asked.

Re: Classwork (2/13/08)

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"I don't think the law has any right to define what a family can consist of. Everyone ought to be able to define it for themselves."

Re: Classwork (2/13/08)

[inthereflexes.livejournal.com]

"A family is your family," Jack declared. "Man and wife, or single dad, don't need the law to state what it is. Marriage is marriage. Between people and God, not people and state."

Jack almost believed it, too.

Talk to Nathan (2/13/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

If you have any questions or comments for Nathan during the class, here's where they go. Ditto any lawyer jokes you'd like to share.

Talk to the TA (2/13/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

If you have any questions or comments for Sam during the class, here's where they go (once he pings in).

Re: Talk to the TA (2/13/08)

[likethegun]

Sam was here, looking through his notes.

After Class (2/13/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

Nathan's taking his time packing up, in case anyone wants to talk privately.

OOC (2/13/08)

[1petrelli1.livejournal.com]

I once had a girlfriend who lived in Virginia. Because apparently I didn't feel that the long-distance aspect of the relationship was obstacle enough. *facepalm*

Re: OOC (2/13/08)

[likethegun]

Awww, but Virginia's so progressive!

...yeah, I can't even type that with a straight face. ;)