Posts for April 6, 2015

These are the posts that are accumulated in our newsletter which goes out every 4-6 days. The posts are organized by the major units in our Con Law (5^th ed.) textbook

Law Day 2015 Resources: Magna Carta: Icon of Liberty [ABA, 4/5/15]:

http://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/initiatives_awards/lawday_2015.html

Putting the Pieces Together: Integrating Civics and Economics with History, Geography and the Common Core [ABA, 4/5/15]: A two-day workshop in New Jersey in July.

http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/images/public_education/law_matters/custom-left-blue/putting-the-pieces-together.pdf

Spanish Language Legal Resource Website [ABA, 4/5/15]:

http://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/commission_on_hispanic_legal_rights_responsibilities/deberesyderechos.html

I. Introduction to Law, the Constitution, and the Supreme Court [See TOPICS 1-10 in the 5^th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:

II. Defining the Political System: Federalism and Checks and Balances [See TOPICS 11-15 in the 5^th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are recent articles that are relevant to this unit:

III. The Political System: Voting and Campaigns [See TOPICS 16-20 in the 5^th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:

Transparency for Initiative Sponsors [Trial Insider, 4/6/15]: Ballot initiative proponents must be registered California voters and must put their names on circulation petitions to be valid in the state, an 11-judge federal appeals court has said.

http://www.trialinsider.com/?p=5630

Conservative lawmakers weigh bid to call for constitutional convention [Wash Post, 4/5/15]: Conservative state legislators frustrated with the gridlock in Washington are increasingly turning to a plan to call a convention to consider a new amendment to the U.S. Constitution — an event that would be unprecedented in American history and one that could, some opponents predict, lead to complete political chaos.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/conservative-lawmakers-weigh-bid-to-call-for-constitutional-convention/2015/04/04/b25d4f1e-db02-11e4-ba28-f2a685dc7f89_story.html

Political speech or corruption? [Wash Post Editorial, 4/6/15]: In the Supreme Court's landmark 2010 case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the court declared that corporate independent political expenditures are protected free speech under the First Amendment and cannot be constrained.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/political-speech-or-corruption/2015/04/05/ab3b043e-da2a-11e4-ba28-f2a685dc7f89_story.html

Gary Hart: Billion-dollar Clinton campaign should 'frighten' Americans [Politico, 4/6/15]: The prospect of a billion-dollar Clinton campaign “ought to frighten every American,” he said in an interview with POLITICO, and Democrats would be better served by a competitive primary that forced her to speak in more depth about the issues. 

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/gary-hart-hillary-clinton-2016-billion-dollar-campaign-116673.html?hp=l2_3

IV. Criminal Law and Procedure (4^th, 5^th, 6^th, and 8^th amendments) [See TOPICS 21-28 in the 5^th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:

Can Rap Lyrics Send You to Jail? If You're a Young Black Male, Yes [The Daily Beast, 4/6/15]: Prosecutors are using defendants' use and posting of rap lyrics against them in cases where other evidence is lacking; An upcoming Supreme Court decision is crucial.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/06/can-rap-lyrics-send-you-to-jail-if-you-re-a-young-black-male-yes.html

Shhh! It’s Time for Criminal Justice Reform. Keep Race out of It [Justia, 3/6/15]: Professor Margulies discusses the widespread phenomenon of conversations about criminal justice reform that notably exclude any mention of race

https://verdict.justia.com/2015/04/06/shhh-its-time-for-criminal-justice-reform-keep-race-out-of-it

What to Read on the Boston Bombing Trial [The Marshall Project, 4/6/15]:

In time for closing arguments, ten pieces to catch you up.

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2015/04/06/what-to-read-on-the-boston-bombing-trial?ref=hp-1-112

V. 1^st Amendment (Speech, Religion, Press and Assembly) [See TOPICS 29-33 in the 5^th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:

VI. 14^th Amendment, Discrimination, Privacy, Working, Citizenship & Immigration [See TOPICS 34-41 in the 5^th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:

Supreme Court Asked to Look Abroad for Guidance on Same-Sex Marriage [Sidebar in the NY Times, 4/6/15]: The world will be watching when the Supreme Court hears arguments this month about same-sex marriage. But will the court be watching the world? Two impressive friend-of-the-court briefs have urged the justices to look abroad before deciding whether there is a nationwide right to same-sex marriage. The briefs agree that there is something to be learned from the experiences of the rest of the world. But they differ about what the lesson is.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/07/us/supreme-court-asked-to-look-abroad-for-guidance-on-same-sex-marriage.html?_r=0

Limited Privacy Rights for Public Employees [CNS, 4/6/15]: A divided Washington Supreme Court ruled Friday that public employees have no right to privacy when they are being investigated.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/04/06/limited-privacy-rights-for-public-employees.htm