Sunday, January 17, 2016

Posts for January 17, 2016
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:

The Constitution of the United States, As Edited by the College Sensitivity Committee [The New Yorker, 1/16/16]: More humor. Contributed by Con Law teacher Gabby Kashani of Piedmont (CA.) High. Thanks, Gabby.

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:

The 2nd Amendment: Original Intent [The New Yorker, 1/7/16]: Humor appreciated. More from Con Law teacher Gabby Kashani.

Nevada Rancher has No Grazing Rights [Trial Insider, 1/15/16]: Well, this is going to make the self-styled militia ranchers of Nevada, who want to graze cattle on public land for free, pretty unhappy. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday overturned a Nevada judge’s decision that rancher Wayne Hage, and his father before him, had no right to bolster a water rights claim on federal land into the right to graze cattle on that federal land.

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

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:

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


ACLU files lawsuit over public defender shortage in New Orleans [Jurist, 1/15/16]: The ACLU claims that as a result of the lack of state funding for public defenders, individuals are forced to wait months in jail without counsel or accept bail and plea negotiations which can have irreparable effects on their case. The ACLU alleges that this is a violation of constitutional rights guaranteed by the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment guarantees of due process, equal protection and competent representation.

U.S. Supreme Court to hear Joliet police case [Chi. Trib., 1/16/16]: The Supreme Court said Friday it would hear a case involving allegations of police misconduct in Joliet and decide whether a person who was wrongly arrested can sue for "malicious prosecution."

Where the Presidential Candidates Stand on Criminal Justice [The Marshall Project, 1/16/16]:

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:

Supreme Court agrees to hear case over separation of church and state [USA Today / Bloomberg / WSJ, 1/16/16]: The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take up a new religious-rights clash, accepting an appeal from a Missouri church that says it was unconstitutionally denied state funding for a new playground surface. The case is Trinity Lutheran Church v. Pauley.
Keep track of case developments at SCOTUS blog:

Post reporter released from Iranian prison [Newseum, 1/16/16]: Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian has been released from prison in Iran after 544 days in captivity.

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:

Vergara to be argued in L.A. in Feb. 25. Now that the oral argument in this appeal has been set, it might be good to review all of the briefs filed in this high-profile case:
Briefs can be found on the “Students Matter” website:


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