Kyle Rittenhouse and Human Rights

According to Martin Shapiro, the consensual triad of courts collapses once a decision is 
rendered. Further, whilst some believe courts must react to evolving social standards, others insist that courts should be limited to the parties before them, leaving broader social 
concerns left to the elected branches of government and the people themselves.

The recent acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse reignited debates about race, policing and justice in the USA. Whilst some have celebrated this as a triumph of justice, many will feel a deep 
sense of injustice, leading to questions of how much we can expect from courts, particularly 
trial courts, when faced with broader concerns of entrenched inequality.  

A. What does a case like that of Kyle Rittenhouse reflect regarding our notion of human rights and reasonable limitation? 
A1.How does it highlight the complexity faced by courts in resolving polycentric cases? That 
is to say, do we expect too much from courts? Or is the judicial system failing/refusing/
ill-equipped to tackle injustice and inequality?  

In your answer to this question, please address the following:

Explain how the tension between the adaptionist/nominalist view and the traditional/essentialist view is on display in a case of this nature;
Explain the significance of any two human rights schools of thought in understanding a case of this nature;
Refer to international law in your discussion, citing relevant schools of thought;
Use supporting evidence from lecture and course readings, and reference these sources in-text. The essay should show clear evidence of what you have learned in this course.
Always remember to make sure your own voice and thoughts are brought to bear, including whether you feel there are outcomes which could better serve the ends of justice.

Formatting & Instructions
Address all components of the prompt. There should be a clear argument, including an 
introduction with a thesis statement and a concluding paragraph. In writing the essay, make 
sure your own voice and thoughts are brought to bear. Your essay should demonstrate 
novelty and originality, while drawing on evidence from readings, lectures, and historical
 events. 
Your essay should be a minimum of 4.5 to a maximum of 5 pages in length, using 12 point 
Times New Roman font, double spaced, 1-inch margins, and submitted in Canvas. Essays that are shorter than 4.5 pages or longer than 5 pages will be penalized. You should draw on 
supporting evidence from lecture and course readings, and reference them as in-text 
citations. Please also include a page for references/bibliography as an additional page (e.g., a sixth separate page).