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.
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