Your students can research the background and characteristics of the current Supreme Court Justices, and what influences affect their decisions. The article's author tells us that liberal and conservative tags alone don't explain why the Justices repealed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Look for the site's archive section, then search under Drinan's name. Note Drinan's point about the strong and unusual coalition of groups supporting the RFRA, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Catholic bishops, the Christian coalition and many Jewish groups. To assist your students in better understanding and relating to the country's legal system, try these resources.
Samples are available online.
Your students can find here the text of the Amistad case, recently portrayed in the film of the same name. A Guide for the '90s , Kathleen A. Hempelman, Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut, 1994. This covers issues with driving, at school, on the job, alcohol and drugs and other pertinent topics. The article's author contends that religious freedom issues will increase as minority religions become a greater factor in American life. Small, unpopular religions will be most at risk.