Friday, September 19, 2014


Missouri court upholds teacher ballot initiative [Jurist, 9/19/14]: A Missouri appeals court on Thursday rejected a challenge to a ballot proposal requiring teachers to be evaluated based on student performance.

Brown shoots down history curriculum update [Cabinet Report, 9/19/14]: Gov. Jerry Brown rejected legislation Thursday that would have required the state to complete a full revision of its history and social studies curriculum standards by July, 2018.

Supreme Court justice underscores constitutional values [Yale Daily News, 9/19/14]: According to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, the Constitution has five core values, and the key to preserving those values lies in being aware of what is going on in the rest of the world. While the vast majority of American law is made in the states, he said, the Constitution focuses on the core principles of the country — democracy, human rights, equality, separation of powers and the rule of law.

Scalia's Liberal Streak [Slate, 9/18/14]: The conservative justice's most brilliant -- and surprisingly progressive -- moments on the bench.

Congress's Inaction Could Be Legal Basis for Stronger Executive War Powers [NY Times, 9/18/14]: As lawmakers grapple with President Obama’s claim that he already has congressional authorization for airstrikes against the Islamic State, legal specialists are saying that even legislative inaction could create a precedent leaving the executive branch with greater war-making powers.

Obama: Thanks, Congress [Politico, 9/19/14]: He applauds lawmakers for the "speed and seriousness" of a vote to arm Syrian rebels.

Government Slammed at Bonds Obstruction Hearing [Trial insider, 9/19/14]: The government may have struck out with the majority of an 11-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Thursday in former Giants slugger Barry Bonds’ challenge to his obstruction of justice conviction in an investigation of steroids use.

ACLU Weighs-In on Behalf of Rastafarians and Religion [Ed Law Prof Blog, 9/19/14]: Those who seek to include more religion in school often perceive the ACLU as waging war on religion. A recent story out of Louisiana demonstrates that perception is wrong.  The ACLU distinguishes between official school acts that endorse religion or subtly coerce non-believers into religious activity and those school acts that interfere with students' free exercise of religion.

Federal appeals court overturns conviction of man who sent ‘hateful’ poem to professor [1st Amend. Coalition, 9/18/14]: The 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that a poem full of hate and threats was protected speech and threw out the conviction of Aaron Michael Heineman who had sent the poem to a University of Utah professor. 

Texas Supreme Court may take up Kountze cheerleading case [Beaumont (Tx.) Enterprise, 9/19/14]: Underlying legal issues in the high-profile Kountze cheerleaders saga that were unresolved by an appellate court are highlighted in a petition asking the Texas Supreme Court to take up the case.

Pregnancy discrimination: Special delivery [The Economist, 9/19/14]: Activists on warring sides of the abortion debate rarely take the same position when it comes to Supreme Court cases involving women's rights.

Scotland votes no in independence referendum [Jurist, 9/19/14]:  Voters in Scotland on Thursday voted against independence from the UK in the country's first national referendum on the matter.

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