Posts for October 2, 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.
The Common Core Raises Questions About Teachers'
Questioning Skills [EdWeek,
10/1/15]: There are no stupid questions. But when it comes to the common core,
teachers are finding that their questions could be asking a lot more of
students. A number of new PD initiatives aim
to help teachers elicit more complex responses and interpretations from
students.
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:
Oregon School Shooting Renews Frustration Cycle [CNS,
10/2/15]: A mass shooting that left 10 dead in Oregon on Thursday has
renewed tension about how the United States handles these tragedies, whether by
media saturation of the killer's mindset or by impotently debating gun-control
laws.
The
American Presidency
[TOPIC 15]
Arne Duncan Stepping Down [EdLaw Profs Blog, 10/2/15]: Read his press release:
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:
Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)
Governor approves 'yes
means yes' sexual consent education for California high schools [AP / CPR, 10/1/15]: Gov. Jerry Brown has
approved legislation aimed at making California the first state in the nation
to bring lessons about sexual consent required at many colleges into high
schools, his office announced Thursday.
California Extends Libel Protection to Internet News [CNS, 10/1/15]: In a
victory for online content and speech, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a
bill adding libel protections to Internet publications into law Monday. Assembly Bill 998 amends existing libel statues that applied solely to newspapers to add
"daily or weekly news publications" in either print or electronic
formats.
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
High Court
Takes Up Search & Seizure in Utah Drug Case [CNS, 10/1/15]: The Supreme Court on
Thursday agreed to review whether evidence in a drug possession case should
have been suppressed because the arresting officer
didn't have reasonable cause to stop the suspect.
http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/10/01/high-court-takes-up-search-seizure-in-utah-drug-case.htm
Read
the appealed Utah Supreme Court decision in Utah v. Strieff:
https://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/supopin/Strieff150116.pdf
Texas, top state for executions, may go a year without a death penalty
conviction [Reuters, 10/1/15]: Texas may end 2015 without imposing a sentence of
capital punishment, a milestone that parallels declining public support for
capital punishment in a state that had been sending the most prisoners to the
death chamber.
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:
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:
Republicans Continue Their War on Women [Justia, 10/2/15]: John W. Dean
describes congressional Republicans’ continued war on women, this time as
manifested in their treatment of Cecile Richards, the president of Planned
Parenthood.
Friedrichs
v. CTA: Supreme
Court Case Could Topple Protections for Teachers Union Fees [Cal Lawyer, 10/1/15]: Nonunion teachers are challenging opt-out rules in a controversial
case. TOPIC 39 in our Con Law student
text has a summary of this case for the students to argue.
In the meantime…Judge Rejects
Suit to Let Teachers' Union Members Avoid Political Spending [School Law Blog, 10/1/15]: A federal district judge has
dismissed a lawsuit that sought to allow teachers to join unions but opt out of
paying the portion of dues that go for political expenses.
Read the ruling in Bain
v. C.T.A. at:
SCOTUS Takes Up Former Cop's Retaliation Case [CNS, 10/2/15]: The
Supreme Court agreed Thursday to consider whether the First Amendment bars a
local government from demoting an employee because of his perceived support of
a particular political candidate.
Read the 3rd
Circuit ruling in Hefernan v. City of Paterson which was appealed:
International Law, Citizenship and Immigration [TOPIC 40-42]
If you can't do this deal...go back
to Tehran
[Politico, 9/25/15]: They made 69 trips across the Atlantic together and
celebrated nearly everyone’s birthday at least once overseas, far from their
own families. Sleep-deprived and sometimes giddy, the U.S. team negotiating a
nuclear deal with Iran imagined which Hollywood star would play them if the
movie were ever mad
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