Posts for November 18, 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.

The Real Court Case Behind Bridge of Spies [The Atlantic, 11/17/15]: The story of the prisoner exchange in Spielberg's latest drama originates from a strangely decided, controversial case.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/11/abel-bridge-of-spies/416325/

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:

Fallible But Final [Huff Post, 11/18/15]: Why Justice Scalia is Wrong About the Supreme Court's Authority.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/evan-bernick/why-justice-scalia-is-wrong-about-the-supreme-courts-authority_b_8591852.html

The Stealth Corporate Takeover of the Supreme Court [New Republic, 11/18/15]: Three cases under consideration show how Big Business is using the court to tilt the law in its favor.

https://newrepublic.com/article/123984/the-stealth-corporate-takeover-of-the-supreme-court

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:

Constitution Check: Where does Justice Kennedy now stand on abortion rights? [Constitution Daily, 11/17/15]: Lyle Denniston, the National Constitution Center’s constitutional literacy adviser, looks at how Justice Anthony Kennedy will again play a key role in at least one major Supreme Court decision about abortion.

http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2015/11/constitution-check-where-does-justice-kennedy-now-stand-on-abortion-rights/

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:

Ginni Thomas

http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/17/politics/ted-cruz-ginni-clarence-thomas-endorsement/index.html

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:

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:

Campus Unrest and the Fisher Affirmative Action Case [Justia, 11/18/15]: Professor Dorf comments on recent protests against administrators on various campuses across the United States. Dorf argues that the protests reflect the failure of campus administrators, faculty, and students to follow through on promoting diversity beyond the admissions process. 

https://verdict.justia.com/2015/11/18/campus-unrest-and-the-fisher-affirmative-action-case