Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Posts for August 5, 2015
These are the posts that are accumulated in our newsletter which goes out every 4-6 days during the school year. The posts are organized by the major units in our Con Law (5th ed.) student textbook.

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

California to drop appeal of court ruling allowing felons to vote [Reuters / SF Chron / CPR, 8/4/15]: California will drop its challenge to a court ruling allowing thousands of newly released felons to vote, an official said on Tuesday, the latest example of the success of a criminal justice reform movement that is gaining steam among Democrats as well as some Republicans.

Super PAC doppelgangers eclipse candidates in campaign money chase [Center for Public Integrity / Bloomberg Politics, 8/1/15]: Big-money groups absorb many functions usually reserved for campaigns.

http://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/08/01/17748/super-pac-doppelgangers-eclipse-candidates-campaign-money-chase

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-08-01/million-dollar-donations-fuel-super-pacs-new-dominance


Calbuzz: Shocker: Kasich Soars in New Wannabe Rankings [CalBuzz / KPCC, 8/5/15]: The last time we saw Cleveland’s Quicken Loans arena, LeBron James put on a memorable, spell-binding performance in Game 5 of the NBA finals in a futile, losing cause. Tomorrow night in that venue, look for Donald Trump to do pretty much the same thing.

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)


Renewing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act: It's Down to Five People [EdLawProfs Blog, 8/3/15]: Lauren Camera of Edweek reports that the conference process to reconcile the House and Senate bills to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act began this past Thursday.  

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

 

The New Science of Sentencing [The Marshall Project, 8/5/15]: Should prison sentences be based on crimes that haven’t been committed yet?

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2015/08/04/the-new-science-of-sentencing?ref=hp-1-112

 

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

Just Released: 2nd ed. of Cogan’s “The Complete Bill of Rights” — 30 New Pages on History of Press & Assembly Clauses [Concurring Opinions, 8/5/15]: The second edition of Professor Neil Cogan’s monumental The Complete Bill of Rights: The Drafts, Debates, Sources, & Origins (Oxford University Press) has just been released. Get out your wallet, for this book is well worth the $185.00 list price. Really!

Free speech: Unwelcome confederate flag on MLK’s Atlanta church inspires calls for hate crime prosecution [FAC, 8/5/15]: While placing a confederate flag on the grounds of Martin Luther King’s Atlanta church is a “dispicable act by cowards,” says Gary Stein in the Sun Sentinel, July 31, 2015, it is still an act protected by the First Amendment. It would be sufficient just to publish the names of those responsible.

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

Court Rules That School District Did Not Violate the ADA or Section 504 When Employees Filed CPS Reports [Lozano Smith News, 8/3/15]: A federal district court recently ruled that a school district and its employees did not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act of 2008 (ADA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) when they filed reports of parental child abuse with child welfare authorities.
The case is Thomas E. Smith v. Harrington, Ph.D et al. can be found at:



No comments:

Post a Comment