The Extreme Partisanship of John Roberts's Supreme Court [The Atlantic, 8/27/14]: Like Barack Obama, the chief justice came into office promising an age of apolitical comity; And like the president, he has seen his dream die.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/08/john-robertss-dream-of-a-unifying-court-has-dissolved/379220/

La. Gov. Jindal Sues U.S. Over Common Core [CNS / Ed Law Prof blog, 8/28/14]: In a federal lawsuit filed in Baton Rouge, Jindal says the department is trampling on the 10th Amendment and other federal laws by requiring states that want to compete for federal grants to embrace the national standards.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/08/28/70862.htm

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/education_law/2014/08/more-common-core-resistance-this-time-in-florida.html

Off to the Races [Sabato’s Crystal Ball, 8/28/14]: Our pre-Labor Day midterm assessment, and a handful of Senate, House, and gubernatorial rating changes.

http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/off-to-the-races/

Poll: Romney breaks away in Iowa [Politico / The Hill, 8/28/14]:  The day after Mitt Romney opened the door to another possible presidential run, a new poll shows he has a huge lead among likely 2016 Iowa Republican caucus voters.

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/mitt-romney-2016-election-iowa-poll-110392.html?hp=r1

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/216124-could-romney-run

Exclusive: GOP poll of women: Party 'stuck in past' [Politico, 8/28/14]: A detailed report commissioned by two major Republican groups — including one backed by Karl Rove — paints a dismal picture for Republicans, concluding female voters view the party as “intolerant,” “lacking in compassion” and “stuck in the past.” 

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/gop-poll-of-women-party-stuck-in-past-110398.html?hp=t1

It's Gut-And-Amend Time At The Capitol [CPR, 8/28/14]:  It happens every year in the waning days of the California Legislature: A bill is amended to address a completely different subject, then brought up for a vote without going through the full legislative process. It's known as “gut-and-amend.” And although the practice draws scorn from many, lawmakers insist there are good reasons to use it.

http://www.capradio.org/31024

Checking In on the Town of Greece [Slate, 8/27/14]:The town set a new prayer policy, and -- surprise, surprise -- it doesn't include atheists.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2014/08/the_town_of_greece_s_new_prayer_policy_atheists_need_not_apply.html

Gay marriage advocates to urge top court to strike down state bans [Reuters, 8/27/14]: In a bold legal move that few litigants try, gay marriage advocates plan to urge the U.S. Supreme Court in three pending cases across the country to decide once and for all whether states can ban same-sex unions.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/27/usa-court-gaymarriage-idUSL1N0QX0XC20140827

Florida court fast-tracks key gay marriage case to state Supreme Court [CSM, 8/27/14]: In a somewhat unusual move, a Florida court directly referred a case involving the divorce of a same-sex couple to the state Supreme Court; The high court's decision could make Florida the 20th state to legalize gay marriage

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2014/0827/Florida-court-fast-tracks-key-gay-marriage-case-to-state-Supreme-Court