Posts for April 8, 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

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:

Justice Denied [Slate, 4/7/15]: Why do we still tolerate the Supreme Court?

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/books/2015/04/ian_millhiser_s_expos_of_the_supreme_court_injustices_reviewed.html

After 3rd high court protest, the most severe charges yet [AP, 4/7/15]: In a sign prosecutors and the U.S. Supreme Court may be getting supremely steamed at protesters who've repeatedly disrupted court sessions, the latest group of demonstrators is facing the stiffest penalties yet.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SUPREME_COURT_PROTESTERS

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:

The Irony of Justice Stevens's Immunity Amendment [PrawfsBlawg, 4/8/15]: Justice Stevens is one of the most famous and persistent critics of the Supreme Court's broad view of state sovereign immunity.

http://prawfsblawg.blogs.com/prawfsblawg/2015/04/the-irony-of-justice-stevenss-immunity-amendment.html

Jeffe & Jeffe: Why Jerry Brown’s second California drought may leave his greatest legacy [Reuters, 4/8/15]: California Governor Jerry Brown subscribes to the “canoe theory of politics” — paddle a little to the left, a little to the right and then glide down the middle. He is using this approach to get through the roiling politics created by California’s drought, the worst in the state since record-keeping began.

http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2015/04/07/why-jerry-browns-second-california-drought-may-leave-his-greatest-legacy/

Kansas governor signs bill banning second trimester abortion procedure [Jurist, 4/8/15]: Kansas Governor Sam Brownback on Tuesday signed a bill that bans all forms of dismemberment abortion unless necessary to protect the life or health of the mother. The bill was approved by the Kansas legislature near the end of March. Kansas is the first state to ban this type of procedure, typically used to perform second trimester abortions.

http://jurist.org/paperchase/2015/04/kansas-governor-signs-bill-banning-second-trimester-abortion-procedure.php

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:

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

 

Influential U.S. judge calls on Congress to define insider trading [On the Case, Reuters, 4/7/15]: On Monday, U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff of Manhattan got up onto his well-worn soapbox to suggest that if Congress wants to protect U.S. markets from inside traders, lawmakers ought to specify when it is illegal to trade on confidential information.

http://blogs.reuters.com/alison-frankel/2015/04/07/influential-u-s-judge-calls-on-congress-to-define-insider-trading/

Democratic lawmakers unveil bills to protect, insure unauthorized immigrants [CPR, 4/7/15]: Continuing the state’s reputation as a pacesetter on immigration, California lawmakers unveiled a package of bills Tuesday that would expand the rights of people in the country illegally.

http://www.capradio.org/45777

California Committee OKs End of Life Bill [CNS, 4/8/15]: California's proposed end of life bill cleared another legislative hurdle Tuesday when a Senate committee approved it by 4-2 vote after a hearing dramatic testimony on both sides of the contentious issue.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/04/08/california-committee-oks-end-of-life-bill.htm

NCLB on Its Way to Reauthorization? [EdLaw Profs Blog, 4/8/15]: Who knows what the House of Representatives will hold, but the Senate took an enormous step toward reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act yesterday. 

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/education_law/2015/04/nclb-on-its-way-to-reauthorization.html

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:

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:

Religious Freedom Claims in Private Litigation [Justia, 4/8/15]: In light of recent controversy in Indiana and Arkansas over RFRAs, Professor Dorf discusses the nuanced question whether courts should interpret a general RFRA to apply in private litigation if the statute is silent on the matter.

https://verdict.justia.com/2015/04/08/religious-freedom-claims-in-private-litigation