Jurisprudence

Days before the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln on March 4, 1861, seven southern states seceded from the Union to form the Confederate States of America. On April 12, southern forces opened fire on Fort Sumpter. Four more states, including…
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The Code of Hammurabi, developed by the King of Babylon during his reign from 1792 until 1750 BCE, appears to be the first mention of “an eye for an eye” as a rule of law. The Code, which preceded the Old Testament by some 500 years,…
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Dr. Fred Craddock, Jr., formerly a professor in theology at Emory University, is credited with a widely circulated story that has become a classic: “Who’s your Daddy?” The sermon, which originates from one of Dr. Craddock’s personal…
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Through his service on the Tennessee Supreme Court, one of Knoxville's very own, a Central High and University of Tennessee graduate, has quietly made a profound impact on Tennessee jurisprudence. Before identifying this individual and his…
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American author Wallace Stegner called national parks “America’s “best idea…absolutely democratic.”  Ensconced in first place as the most visited among all national parks is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  None other of our “crown…
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In the Old Testament, the Book of Leviticus teaches not to “seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people,” but to “love your neighbor as yourself.” This verse prompted an exchange between a lawyer and Jesus that appears in…
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In 1787 and 1788, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, using the pseudonym Publius, authored a total of 85 editorials promoting the adoption of a United States Constitution—what came to be known as The Federalist. Hamilton, who…
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In 1903, the American and National Leagues united to form Major League Baseball (“MLB”). By agreement among the team owners, player contracts included a “reserve clause,” binding players to the same team throughout their careers—unless they…
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