Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Posts for September 1, 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:

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

Obama Paints Doomsday Scene of Global Warming in Alaska [AP, 8/31/15]: President Barack Obama is painting a doomsday scenario for the Arctic and beyond if climate change isn’t dealt with fast: entire nations submerged underwater, cities abandoned and refugees fleeing in droves as conflict breaks out across the globe.

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:

 

Joe Biden and the Democratic Vacuum [Nat. Journ., 8/31/15]: Nervous Democrats are looking for alternatives as Hillary Clinton falters. But is the V.P. the right person for the job

http://www.nationaljournal.com/twentysixteen/2015/08/31/joe-biden-democratic-vacuum

 

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)


Proposed measure would drop drinking age to 18 [CC Times, 8/31/15]: Terrance Lynn doesn’t see himself as the new patron saint of college keggers, but his proposed ballot measure to lower California’s drinking age from 21 to 18 might get him there nonetheless. Lynn, 42, of Portola Valley, sees it as a civil-rights issue. 

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


Those convicted as juveniles who are serving life without parole hope the court will go back in time [ABA Journ., 9/1/15]: It’s been three years since the U.S. Supreme Court declared that mandatory sentences of life without parole for juveniles convicted of murder were cruel and unusual punishment. Yet states remain divided over whether prisoners currently serving those sentences—many of them well into adulthood—should get a second chance.

In the Execution Business, Missouri Is Surging [The Marshall Project, 8/31/15]: Defense lawyers call it a crisis; the state says it's just doing its job.

Federal judges hint they'll bow out of challenge to death penalty [SF Chron, 8/31/15]: A challenge to California’s delay-plagued death penalty ran into trouble Monday in a federal appeals court, as judges suggested that federal law bars them from even reviewing the issue.

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:

"[T]he government's continued authorization of the ["Big Mountain Jesus"] statue on federal land does not violate the Establishment Clause." [9th Circuit decision, 8/31/15]: Read the interesting decision in Freedom From Religion Foundation v. Weber at:

Legal battle over First Amendment plays out at Denver courthouse [Denver Post, 9/1/15]: The dispute between police, protesters at Denver courthouse started with jury nullification pamphlet.

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:

States deal with religious and gay rights in the wake of same-sex marriage ruling [ABA Journ., 9/1/15]: In an attempt to stave off same-sex marriage, many states passed religious freedom restoration acts this year, with language that exempts businesses from providing services to same-sex couples based on the owner’s religious beliefs.

http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/states_deal_with_religious_and_gay_rights_in_the_wake_of_same_sex_marriage


Supreme Court says Kentucky clerk can't deny same-sex marriage licenses [USA Today, 8/31/15]: The Supreme Court refused Monday to let a Kentucky county clerk deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples because of what she said were her religious beliefs. The ruling, made without comment or any apparent dissents, is an early indication that while some push-back against gay marriage on religious grounds may be upheld, the justices won't tolerate it from public officials.

 

Who Counts as a Woman? The Court of Arbitration for Sport Provides an Answer [Justia, 9/1/15]: Professor Colb discusses possible implications a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport that a woman’s having a naturally high level of testosterone in her body is insufficient grounds for barring her from competing in women’s athletics.

https://verdict.justia.com/2015/09/01/who-counts-as-a-woman-the-court-of-arbitration-for-sport-provides-an-answer

 

Equal Pay Bill Heads To Governor’s Desk For Promised Signature [KQED, 8/31/15]: Legislation that supporters say will make California the nation’s leader on assuring men and women are paid the same for similar jobs has landed on the desk of Gov. Jerry Brown, who has promised to sign it into law. 

http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2015/08/31/equal-pay-bill-heads-to-governors-desk-for-promised-signature

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