Monday, December 14, 2015

Posts for December 14, 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:

Supreme Court to Take on Clean Water Act Case [CNS, 12/12/15]: The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider whether courts have the right to review U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' determinations about whether a body of water is subject to its authority under the Clean Water Act. The case is U.S. Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co., Inc.

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

Obama optimism over climate pact tempered by GOP opposition [AP / Jurist, 12/13/15]: President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry hailed the newly passed international climate change agreement as a major achievement that could help turn the tide on global warming, but got a quick reminder that Republicans will fight it all the way. 

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:

Bush vs. Gore's ironic legal legacy [LA Times, 12/13/15]:

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


Supreme Court to rule on refusing blood alcohol tests [Jurist, 12/12/15]: In Birchfield v. North Dakota, consolidated with Bernard v. Minnesota and Beylund v. North Dakota, the court will determine "[w]hether, in the absence of a warrant, a state may make it a crime for a person to refuse to take a chemical test to detect the presence of alcohol in the person's blood." The outcome could have a nationwide effect on roadside actions of police offers.

Reform and the Failure of Imagination [Justia, 12/14/15]: Professor Margulies observes that despite growing recognition of the need for comprehensive reform of the American criminal justice system, there are little to no policy changes on the horizon that could even potentially effect such comprehensive reform.

Most sex offender parolees exempt from ban [AP, 12/13/15]: Three-quarters of California's paroled sex offenders previously banned from living near parks, schools and other places where children congregate now face no housing restrictions after the state changed its policy in response to a court ruling that said the prohibition only applies to child molesters, according to data compiled at the request of The Associated Press. 

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:

Court denies review in newspaper case about publishing truthful information disclosing police officers’ personal information [Concurring Opinions, 12/14/15]: A review of the Supreme Court’s recent actions on 1st Amendment cases.

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:

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