Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A spectrum or interval of values, options, or conduct considered in legal analysis or decision-making.
Sources & Authorities· 16 primary sources
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Cases
Statutes
Federal Rules
How it applies
Common Examples
6
Bar Applicant Bankruptcy Filing
Rosalind Reed filed for bankruptcy to discharge student loans before applying to the bar. The character and fitness committee reviewed her financial history along with other life events. The committee concluded that the filing fell within a range of conduct bearing on responsibility and fitness to practice.
Expert Testimony Reliability Review
Rajesh Rao offered expert causation testimony in a products liability suit. The court examined whether the underlying methodology fell within the range of accepted scientific standards. Because the analysis satisfied the reliability factors, the testimony was admitted.
Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.509 U.S. 579, 592 (1993)
Family Living Arrangement Challenge
Regina Robinson lived with her grandchildren in a single-family zone. The city cited her for violating an ordinance that limited occupancy to narrowly defined family units. The Court held that the ordinance swept too broadly and infringed a range of protected family choices.
Moore v. City of East Cleveland, Ohio431 U.S. 494, 503 (1977)
State Law Claim in Federal Court
Roger Ramirez sued in federal court on a state-law negligence claim. The court applied state substantive law rather than federal common law. The choice ensured that the range of available remedies matched what state courts would provide.
Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins304 U.S. 64, 78–80 (1938)
Agency Rulemaking Challenge
Raven Logistics challenged an EPA rule on nuclear waste procedures. The court limited its review to whether the agency stayed within the range of discretion Congress delegated. Because the agency had not exceeded that range, the rule was upheld.
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. Nat. Res. Def. Council, Inc.467 U.S. 837, 843, 104 S. Ct. 2778, 2781, 81 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1984)
Contraception Access Dispute
Ralph Richardson challenged a state ban on contraceptive counseling. The Court recognized that the ban reached a range of intimate decisions protected by the right to privacy. The statute was therefore invalid.
Griswold v. Connecticut381 U.S. 479 (1965)
Common questions
Frequently Asked
3
How does the term range function in bar admission character review?+
Bar authorities may examine a range of past conduct, including financial decisions such as bankruptcy filings, when assessing moral character, provided the inquiry rationally relates to fitness to practice.
Supporting sources
What does range mean when courts assess expert testimony reliability?+
Courts determine whether the expert's methodology falls within the range of accepted scientific standards by considering factors such as testability, peer review, and error rate.
Supporting sources
How is range used in evaluating the constitutionality of family zoning rules?+
An ordinance that restricts family living arrangements may be struck down if it burdens a range of protected family choices without sufficient justification under the Due Process Clause.
Supporting sources
410 U.S. 113 (1973)Constitutional Law
…medical services, psychiatric consultation should be sought for definite indications and not on a routine basis. "d. A wide range of individuals from appropriately trained, sympathetic volunteers to highly skilled physicians may qualify as abortion counselors. "e. Contraception and/or sterilization should be…