Posts for January 12, 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 (5^th ed.) student textbook.

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:

For some theater shooting jurors, trial began after verdict [SF Chron, 1/11/16]: For nearly 14 weeks, they sat in a suburban Denver jury box, listening for hours as witnesses described the searing pain of gunshot wounds and the terror they felt as they fled the movie theater, the gunman still firing at them.

http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/For-some-theater-shooting-jurors-trial-began-6750013.php

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:

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

Five things to look for in President Obama's final State of the Union [LA Times, 1/11/16]: As President Obama prepares to deliver his final State of the Union address Tuesday, here are five themes to watch for.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-sotu-five-things-20160111-story.html

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:

Economists savage Trump's economic agenda [Politico, 1/11/16]: Raising tariffs and deporting millions of people will drive up prices and cause recession, experts assert. 

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/trump-economy-217496#.afhbgz6:hQYF

Clinton, Sanders try to spice up their duel  [Politico, 1/11/16]:  Despite only limited differences on policy, they try to draw sharp lines and meaningful distinctions. 

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/clinton-sanders-democrats-iowa-217603

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

Sizing Up the Every Student Succeeds Act: What Changed, What Matters, and What May Lie Ahead [EdLawProfs blog, 1/12/16]: After having finally digested the new version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act—the Every Student Succeeds Act—my overall appraisal is that the Act represents two steps back and half a step forward. 

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/education_law/2016/01/sizing-up-the-every-student-succeeds-act-what-changed-what-matters-and-what-may-lie-ahead.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

Could One of These Cases Spell the End of the Death Penalty? [The Marshall Project, 1/12/16]: Abolitionists seek the perfect case for a Supreme Court challenge.

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2016/01/12/could-one-of-these-cases-spell-the-end-of-the-death-penalty?ref=hp-1-121#.ZGGrlhbPv

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:

Public School Officials Need First Amendment Lesson [Newseum, 1/11/16]: Richland High School senior Rebecca Young had worn a t-shirt on the first day of her senior year with the message: “Some People are Gay, Get Over It.” The t-shirt caused no disruption from her classmates or teachers.

http://www.newseuminstitute.org/2016/01/11/public-school-officials-need-first-amendment-lesson/

Court: Wearing unearned military medal is protected by Constitution [SF Chron, 1/11/16]: A federal law that prohibited people from wearing military medals they didn’t earn is unconstitutional for the same reason as a law that made it a crime to lie about earning a medal, a federal appeals court ruled Monday: It’s a falsehood that is protected by freedom of speech.

http://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/Court-Wearing-unearned-military-medal-is-6751922.php

Westboro Baptist Church protesters met with hundreds of chanting students at Redondo Union High [LA Daily News, 1/11/16]: A handful of anti-gay picketers from the Westboro Baptist Church were overwhelmed Monday morning by a large crowd of counter-protesters waving rainbow flags and signs outside Redondo Union High School. 

http://www.dailynews.com/article/20160111/NEWS/160119946

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:

US court: FBI physical fitness test not discriminatory [AP, 1/11/16]: A federal appeals court says an FBI physical fitness test that imposes different standards for male and female trainees doesn't amount to illegal sex discrimination.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FBI_FITNESS_TEST

Supreme Court Seems Poised to Deal Unions a Major Setback [NY Times / Slate / SCOTUS blog / Politico, 1/11/16]: In a closely watched case brought by 10 California teachers, the court’s conservative majority seemed ready to say that forcing public workers to support unions they have declined to join violates the First Amendment.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/12/us/politics/at-supreme-court-public-unions-face-possible-major-setback.html?_r=0

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2016/01/teachers_union_dues_case_at_the_supreme_court.html

http://www.scotusblog.com/2016/01/argument-analysis-the-question-not-asked/

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/supreme-court-public-sector-unions-fees-217572

Oral Argument in Friedrichs [PERB blog, 1/12/16]: Here are some highlights in the case as posted by the blog for California’s Public Employee Relations Board. Interesting.

http://www.caperb.com/2016/01/11/friedrichs-v-cta-oral-argument-highlights/