This discussion question seeks to engage students with a deep question about American law. If state law allows for slavery, likely every student would say that it was an unjust law. Intuitively, they know it. Here, we ask why exactly is it unjust? What if a state law eliminated the appointment of counsel for poor people accused of crimes? Is not having an attorney in a criminal case as bad as slavery? Likely no, but the effect could be the same if innocent people ended up in prison because they were poor rather than because they were guilty.

Initial Thread Prompt: Can a law be unjust? What jurisprudential school supports a "yes" answer? What jurisprudential school supports a "no" answer? Give an example. How does your faith/worldview inform your answer here?