Civics Library Of The Missouri Bar

Discussing State v. Rowe

  1. Establishing the facts:
    1. What did John Rowe do to get in trouble with the law?
    2. John Rowe is the defendant in this case.  Who is the plaintiff?  Why?
    3. What happened to him in court?  Was it a judge tried or jury tried case?  What county did he go to court in? Why?
    4. Why does John Rowe think that he should not have been convicted of driving while his license was revoked?

 

  1. How were all three branches of the government involved?
    1. What role did the Missouri legislature have in this case?
    2. What role did the executive branch have in this case?
    3. What role did the judiciary have in this case?

 

  1. What did the Supreme Court of Missouri decide?
    1. What statute is the court looking at to make its decision?
    2. What wording in the statute particularly concerns the parties?
    3. What did the Supreme Court think the intention of the legislature was when it passed this law?  What do you think?
    4. Did the Supreme Court find in Mr. Rowe’s favor or agree with the trial court?
    5. Since the Supreme Court thinks the legislature intended for the law to apply to anyone who had a license revoked in any state, why didn’t the court just let Mr. Rowe’s conviction stand?
    6. Why doesn’t the Supreme Court change the law to what it thinks the legislature intends?
    7. Does the Court tell the legislature how it can fix the law?