Posts for October 11, 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.

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:

Why Roberts could be a Supreme Court wildcard [MSNBC, 10/10/15]: In some of these cases, one justice’s votes may be less predictable than many court watchers once thought: Chief Justice John Roberts.

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/why-john-roberts-could-be-supreme-court-wildcard

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 American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

Best. POTUS pool reports. EVER. [CC Times, 10/10/15]: While covering President Barack Obama’s San Francisco fundraiser earlier today, I had the pleasure of chatting with Gardiner Harris, White House correspondent for the New York Times. Later today, as he covered the president’s Los Angeles fundraisers, he filed some of the funniest pool reports I’ve ever read. 

http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2015/10/10/best-potus-pool-reports-ever/

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:

The Families Funding the 2016 Presidential Election [NY Times, 10/10/15]: They are overwhelmingly white, rich, older and male, in a nation that is being remade by the young, by women, and by black and brown voters. Across a sprawling country, they reside in an archipelago of wealth, exclusive neighborhoods dotting a handful of cities and towns. And in an economy that has minted billionaires in a dizzying array of industries, most made their fortunes in just two: finance and energy.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/10/11/us/politics/2016-presidential-election-super-pac-donors.html

The New SCOTUS Term: What's Law Got to Do With It? [Dorf on Law blog, 10/5/15]: Perhaps the most important case this term, or maybe any term since Bush v. Gore, is Evenwel v. Abbott. The case is summarized in Constitutional Law (ver. 5.02) at page 199 of the paperback edition.

http://www.dorfonlaw.org/2015/10/the-new-scotus-term-whats-law-got-to-do.html

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

Ex-staffer: Benghazi committee pursuing 'partisan investigation' targeting Hillary Clinton [CNN, 10/11/15]: A former investigator with the House Select Committee on Benghazi is accusing the Republican-led panel of carrying out a politically motivated investigation targeting former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton instead of the thorough and objective fact-finding mission it was set up to pursue.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/10/politics/benghazi-committee-investigation-political-hillary-clinton-brad-podliska-lawsuit/index.html

House democrats introduce Children's Bill of Rights [Jurist, 10/10/15]: The resolution would include 22 points meant to ensure the "physical well-being, social and emotional well-being, and educational and life skills" of all children. 

http://jurist.org/paperchase/2015/10/house-democrats-introduce-childrens-bill-of-rights.php

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

 

High court to hear whether juvenile killers should get another chance at freedom [Allentown (PA) Morning-Call, 10/11/15]: The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in a case that could decide whether hundreds of Pennsylvania prisoners serving life in prison for murders they committed as youths deserve the chance to one day be released.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/police/mc-us-supreme-court-juvenile-life-without-parole-retroactive-20151009-story.html

 

The Machinery of Death [Slate, 10/10/15]: The Supreme Court is taking up capital punishment in a big way this term, against a backdrop of continuing foul-ups with lethal injections by states.

http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/amicus/2015/10/the_supreme_court_takes_on_the_death_penalty.html

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:

California leads way in transparency [FAC, 10/8/15]: California has established impressive open data initiatives recently with Open Justice leading the way. The portal allows the public access to information about the state’s criminal justice system. The Secretary of State also introduced Power Search to improve searches on campaign finance. 

http://firstamendmentcoalition.org/2015/10/california-leads-way-in-transparency/

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: