公安行政处罚强制执行问题——以行政处罚决定机关的直接强制为侧重点

公安行政处罚的强制执行,是公安机关履行其职责的具体行政行为,具有难以替代的意义。没有强制执行,公安行政处罚就不会有实效、社会治安管理就会软弱无力、社会秩序将陷入混乱。随着《中华人民共和国行政强制法》的颁布实施,行政强制执行问题已经提上各级公安机关的案头,其中很多法律问题,理论知识和实践操作疑问需要深入学习和讨论。本文将一些法律规定尚不够明确的问题提出来并试图做出必要的解释作为学习、理解和适用强制法的参考。     

论强制性调解对法治和公平的冲击

调解是不发达社会主导的纠纷解决制度.在社会进化过程中,调解退化成一种基层社区自治的制度和司法程序中"依附于"判决的制度.在大型有组织社会,发达的调解与人治并存;判决的权威是法治社会的标志.东方发达的调解制度是人治社会的一部分,它不是先进文化,恰恰是东方落后于西方的重要制度原因.解放后我国调解的走俏正是我国的人治社会使然.改革开放以后判决的短期走强是社会法治冲动的产物.强制性调解构成对法治基本价值的损害.既然我国已经选择了法治之路,我们就只有选择以判决为主导的纠纷解决制度,坚持调解的自治与自愿原则,并对调解进行法律规制.     

Stab wounds and personal identity determined from skeletal remains: a case from Kansas

Evidence for cause of death in skeletonized remains is uncommonly found and cases that involve stabbings are particularly rare. In the following report, evidence is presented for a fatal stabbing, determined from analysis of a recent homicide. Because multiple stab wounds were present and several different bones were involved, estimates of the dimensions of the murder weapon were also possible. We also review some distinct vertebral anomalies used for personal identification.     

Here comes the judge: the influence of judge personal characteristics on federal sexual harassment case outcomes

This study explored the effects of judges' personal characteristics (gender, race, age, and political affiliation) and case characteristics on the outcomes of federal cases of hostile environment sexual harassment. Results revealed that even after controlling for the effects of relevant case characteristics (e.g., severity of the harassment), judges' personal characteristics influenced case outcomes. Specifically, younger judges and Democrat judges were more likely to find for the plaintiff (the alleged victim of harassment). The probability that the decision would favor the plaintiff was only 16% when the case was heard by an older judge but 45% when heard by a younger judge. The probability that the decision would favor the plaintiff was only 18% when the case was heard by a judge who had been appointed by a Republican president but 46% when the judge had been appointed by a Democrat president.     

Posthumous reproduction and the meanings of autonomy

In recent years there has been considerable debate over the legal and ethical issues associated with posthumous reproduction. This article analyses recent cases and legal regulation of reproductive technologies in Australia. The issues associated with posthumous reproduction are explored through a consideration of the nature of an individual's interest in their reproductive material. The suitability of a property-based model as a means of conceptualising interests in reproductive material is explored. The article concludes that the issues in this area need to be analysed in terms of autonomy interests that are understood relationally.