Posts for December 21, 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.

Slavery v. Liberty: The History and Relevance of the Thirteenth Amendment @ 150 [ABA, 12/5/15]: The 13^th Amendment at 150. Is it still relevant?

http://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/initiatives_awards/jaworski_public_programs/jaworskiprogram2015_thirteenthamendment.html

The program booklet can be accessed at:

http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/images/public_education/publications/Jaworski13thAmendmentProgramBooklet_reduced.pdf

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:

Can the Constitution Govern America's Sprawling Empire? [The Atlantic, 12/20/15]: The U.S. Supreme Court struggles to stretch a Constitution written for 13 coastal states to encompass non-contiguous states, dependent nations, insular areas, and a commonwealth.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/12/can-the-constitution-govern-americas-sprawling-empire/421389/

Chief Justice Roberts Made 'Human Error' In Overlooking Conflict Of Interest [Huff Post, 12/18/15]: The head of the Supreme Court inadvertently participated in a case involving a company where he had a significant financial stake.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/chief-justice-roberts-conflict-interest_567430a5e4b06fa6887d0ee3

Judicial Campaigns and the Appearance of Impropriety [Justia, 12/21/15]: Professor Rotunda comments on the concept of the “appearance of impropriety” that affects the regulation of the conduct of judges. He looks specifically at judicial election campaigns and points out that the statistical data do not support a conclusion a tit for tat relationship between campaign contributions and judicial decisions. 

https://verdict.justia.com/2015/12/21/judicial-campaigns-and-the-appearance-of-impropriety

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:

At Supreme Court, Lone Star State stands apart [USA Today, 12/20/15]: From abortion and affirmative action to voting rights and, most likely, immigration, nearly all the court's top cases come from Texas.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/12/20/supreme-court-texas-abortion-immigration-race-voting/77304068/

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:

Insiders: DNC data flap is overblown [Politico, 12/20/15]: Bernie Sanders defused the issue with his debate apology — if voters ever cared in the first place. 

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/12/politico-caucus-dnc-data-flap-clinton-sanders-217006

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

Republicans keep pressing for tenure, layoff, evaluation reforms [EdSource, 12/20/15]: Republican legislators are continuing to push for passage of three California teacher reform bills, but it’s unclear what the status of the bills will be when the Legislature convenes in January.

http://edsource.org/2015/republicans-keep-pressing-for-tenure-layoff-evaluation-reforms/92363

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

Next Year in Criminal Justice [The Marshall Project, 12/20/15]: Three themes that will trend, three that won’t.

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2015/12/21/next-year-in-criminal-justice?ref=hp-2-121#.aFCxJH0VH

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:

Massachusetts court to hear case on profanity-laced letter [AP, 12/20/15]: Michael Costello knew being a selectman in a small town wouldn’t be a glamorous job, but he never imagined he'd be called a ‘‘thug,’’ ‘'scumbag,’’ ‘'loser’’ and other, unprintable names in anonymous letters mailed to his home.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/2015/12/20/massachusetts-court-hear-case-profanity-laced-letter/U46EKKxPJj8SOEaaI21zTL/story.html

Hip-Hop Stars Support Mississippi Rapper in First Amendment Case [NY Times, 12/20/15]: Musical tastes at the Supreme Court run toward opera. On Monday, a glittering array of hip-hop stars will try to expand the justices’ musical horizons.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/21/us/politics/hip-hop-stars-support-mississippi-rapper-in-first-amendment-case.html?_r=0

Public schools struggle with lessons about Islam amid renewed fears of terrorism [LA Times, 12/20/15]: The assignment on world religions that was handed out to students at Riverheads High School in rural Virginia seemed pretty simple, on its face.

http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-na-islam-schools-20151220-story.html

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: