Posts for August 28, 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 (5^th ed.) student textbook.

CRF Hosts Webinars and Lessons [CRF, 8/28/15]: In addition to new lessons, they’re doing a series of webinars on some of your favorite topics, including the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights!

Upcoming webinars: http://www.crf-usa.org/pd

Free lessons: http://www.crf-usa.org/common-core/blog

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:

Locating the Problem of Race-Based Peremptory Challenges in a Broader Context: The Possibilities Raised by the Foster case [Justia, 8/29/15]: Professor Amar describes the problem of race-based peremptory challenges and argues that peremptory challenges be eliminated altogether on the grounds that we should not allow a person to be denied the right to serve on a jury for any reason that would not also suffice as a reason to deny that person the right to vote in an election. 

https://verdict.justia.com/2015/08/28/locating-the-problem-of-race-based-peremptory-challenges-in-a-broader-context

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:

 

Demos 2016: The Primary Map Still Favors Clinton [Sabato’s Crystal Ball, 8/27/15]: Despite myriad problems, demography and geography are possibly the Democratic frontrunner’s best friends.

http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/democrats-2016-the-primary-map-still-favors-clinton/

 

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

Bills Advance, Stall On Busy Thursday [CPR, 8/27/15]:  California lawmakers sent dozens of bills to Gov. Jerry Brown Thursday, while moving many more toward final votes.

http://www.capradio.org/56111

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:

Indiana justices hear challenge to BMV's license plate rules [Indianapolis Star, 8/28/15]: The Indiana Supreme Court justices must decide whether the letters and numbers on a personalized license plate is a form of government speech that should be controlled, or a person's speech that should be protected by the First Amendment.

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2015/08/27/indiana-justices-hear-challenge-bmvs-license-plate-rules/32476707/

ACLU challenges Indiana law banning ballot 'selfies' [Jurist, 8/28/15]: ACLU of Indiana Legal Director Ken Falk stated in regards to the Indiana law, “[t]aking a picture of one’s ballot and sharing it with family and friends is an expression of pride and enthusiasm about voting, and is a form of political speech that must be protected.” 

http://jurist.org/paperchase/2015/08/aclu-challenges-indiana-law-banning-ballot-selfies.php

Did Fifth Circuit Strike Wrong Balance in Upholding Student Rapper’s Punishment? [EdLawProfs Blog, 8/27/15]: Last week’s 5^th Circuit en banc 13-3 decision in Bell v. Itawamba County School Board, focused on a high school student suspended for Facebook and YouTube postings of a rap he had composed and performed

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/education_law/2015/08/a-miscalibration-of-the-constitutional-balance-between-a-students-interest-in-speech-and-a-schools-i.html

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:

Appeals court reverses ruling that found NSA program illegal [AP, 8/28/15]: A federal appeals court on Friday ruled in favor of the Obama administration in a dispute over the National Security Agency's bulk collection of telephone data on hundreds of millions of Americans.

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

Read the ruling:

http://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/opinions.nsf/ED64DC482F286F1785257EAF004F71E8/$file/14-5004-1570210.pdf

 

Oakland labor lawyer: Tech companies are next targets for overtime pay cases [Silicon Valley Biz Journ., 8/27/15]:  An Oakland lawyer who just won a $36 million settlement from Bank of America for failing to pay overtime to 365 employees said he expects to see an uptick in overtime-related lawsuits in the Bay Area — particularly for companies in the sharing economy, such as Uber or Lyft.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2015/08/27/tech-sharing-economy-overtime-contractor-bac.html