Jurisdiction, Judgments, and the Family Seminar (Fall 1997)
Prof. Rhonda Wasserman
Syllabus
I. PERSONAL JURISDICTION IN DIVORCE CASES
A. Introductory Note on Ex Parte Divorce [Supp. 2]
B. Judicial Acceptance of the Status Exception for Divorce
1. Pennoyer v. Neff, 95 U.S. 714 (1877) [Supp. 3-4]
C. The Rationales Underlying the Status Exception for Divorce
1. "The Rationales Underlying the Status Exception for Divorce: A Presentation and Critique," Part IIB of Rhonda Wasserman, Parents, Partners and Personal Jurisdiction, 1995 U. Ill. L. Rev. 813, 831-54 [Supp. 5-23]
D. Notes [Supp. 24-25]
II. INTERSTATE ENFORCEMENT OF EX PARTE DIVORCE DECREES
A. Introductory Note [Supp. 28]
B. Is an Ex Parte Divorce Decree Entitled to Full Faith and Credit?
1. Haddock v. Haddock, 201 U.S. 562 (1906) [Supp. 29-35]
2. Williams v. North Carolina, 317 U.S. 287 (1942) [Supp. 36-42]
C. Does an Ex Parte Divorce Decree Preclude a Later Claim for Alimony?
1. Estin v. Estin, 334 U.S. 541 (1948) [Supp. 43-46]
2. Vanderbilt v. Vanderbilt, 354 U.S. 416 (1957) [Supp. 47-51]
3. "Who is Postal Worker’s Legal Widow?," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (August 14, 1995) [Supp. 52]
D. Notes [Supp. 53-57]
III. DURATIONAL RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR DIVORCE
A. Guaging the Constitutionality of Durational Residency Requirements
1. Cases Applying the Compelling State Interest Test
a. Shapiro v. Thompson, 394 U.S. 618 (1969) [Supp. 60-64]
1. For confirmation that the more things change, the more they stay the same, see David Firestone, Without Welfare, Guiliani Suggests, Many Might Move, N.Y. Times, April 29, 1995 at A1, 26; Celia W. Dugger, Exodus Over Welfare Cuts? Researchers Say It Isn't So, N.Y. Times, May 1, 1995, at A1, B4; Joyce Purnick, Mayor Refuses to Fight Good Fight for Welfare, N.Y. Times, May 1, 1995 at B4 [Supp. 65-66]
b. Memorial Hospital v. Maricopa County, 415 U.S. 250 (1974) [Supp. 67-74]
2. Case Applying the Rational Relation Test
a. Sturgis v. Washington, 368 F.Supp. 38 (W.D. Wash.), aff'd mem., 414 U.S. 1057 (1973) [Supp. 75-76]
B. Are Durational Residency Requirements for Divorce Constitutional?
1. Sosna v. Iowa, 419 U.S. 393 (1975) [Supp. 77-83]
C. Notes [Supp. 84-86]
IV. PERSONAL JURISDICTION IN CHILD CUSTODY CASES
A. Three Theories of Subject Matter Jurisdiction in Child Custody Cases: Status, Physical Presence and In Personam
1. "Subject Matter Jurisdiction in Child Custody Litigation," Part IIIB of Rhonda Wasserman, Parents, Partners and Personal Jurisdiction, 1995 U. Ill. L. Rev. 813, 857-67 (1995) [Supp. 89-96]
B. Personal Jurisdiction: Confusion Regarding the Availability of a Status Exception for Child Custody
1. May v. Anderson, 345 U.S. 528 (1953) [Supp. 97-100]
2. Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act §§ 3, 12-13 and Comments to §§ 12-13, 9-1 U.L.A. 115, 143-44, 274-77 (master ed. 1988) [Supp. 101-02]
C. The Rationales Underlying the Status Exception for Child Custody
1. "The Rationales Underlying the Status Exception for Child Custody: A Presentation and Critique," Part IIIC of Rhonda Wasserman, Parents, Partners and Personal Jurisdiction, 1995 U. Ill. L. Rev. 813, 867-91 (1995) [Supp. 103-18]
D. Notes [Supp. 119-20]
V. INTERSTATE ENFORCEMENT OF CHILD CUSTODY DECREES
A. Are Child Custody Decrees Entitled to Full Faith and Credit?
1. New York ex rel. Halvey v. Halvey, 330 U.S. 610 (1947) [Supp. 122-24]
2. Review May v. Anderson, 345 U.S. 528 (1953), paying particular attention to Justice Frankfurter's concurring opinion [Supp. 97-100]
3. Kovacs v. Brewer, 356 U.S. 604 (1958) [Supp. 125-27]
B. Statutes Requiring Interstate Enforcement of Child Custody Decrees
1. Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, 9-1 U.L.A. 115 (master ed. 1988) [Supp. 128-38]
2. Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1738A [Supp. 139]
C. Application of the UCCJA and the PKPA: The Baby Jessica Case
1. In re Baby Girl Clausen, 502 N.W.2d 649 (Mich. 1993) [Supp. 140-45]
D. Notes [Supp. 146-49]
VI. DOMESTIC RELATIONS EXCEPTION TO FEDERAL JURISDICTION
A. Relevant Constitutional and Statutory Provisions
1. U.S. Const. art. III, § 2 [Supp. 151]
2. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1332 [Supp. 152]
B. Can a Husband and Wife be Domiciled in Different States? Is Diversity of Citizenship Even a Possibility?
1. Barber v. Barber, 62 U.S. (21 How.) 582 (1858) [Supp. 153-56]
C. Do the Federal Courts Have Jurisdiction to Hear Domestic Relations Cases? Should They Exercise It?
1. In re Burrus, 136 U.S. 586 (1890) [Supp. 157-60]
2. Ankenbrandt v. Richards, 504 U.S. 689 (1992) [Supp. 161-67]
D. Notes [Supp. 168-70]
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