Monday, January 4, 2016

Posts for January 4, 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.

Major education issues to watch in 2016 – and predictions of what to expect [EdSource, 1/3/16]: Here are nine big issues to follow in 2016, with my predictions about whether anything will change during the year. The scale ranges from 1 to 5 “Fensterwald Faces”, with 1 meaning no chance, and 5 meaning highly likely. 

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:

In U.S., Justice Kennedy Was 'Person of Year [Jost on Justice, 1/3/16]: Justice Kennedy played key roles in major decisions.

Senate a major roadblock for next president's Supreme Court picks [SF Chron, 1/3/16]: As the presidential election approaches, few issues are more important than the authority to appoint justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has become the nation’s arbiter of such recent issues as campaign finance, voting rights, same-sex marriage and health coverage — all on 5-4 votes.

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 American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

Obama's gun control options each have legal pitfalls [Reuters, 1/3/16]: President Barack Obama is expected to announce new gun control curbs this week, but he will have to decide whether to take bold action that would likely spark a major legal challenge from opponents or a more cautious route that may be less effective, legal experts said.

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:

Meet the ‘Fire-Eaters,’ the Real Antecedents of Donald Trump [Politico, 1/3/16]: In his seeming implication that all Muslim visitors to the U.S. are potential terrorists, and by suggesting that Mexican immigrants constitute a criminal class, Trump is giving license to what he seems to regard as the prejudices of his core following of middle-aged white men with no more than a high-school education—prejudices that perhaps he shares himself. 

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)


California lawmakers return with full plate of heady issues [AP, 1/3/16]:  California lawmakers return to the Capitol Monday facing two of the most vexing problems from last year: a looming $1 billion hole in funding for the state's health care program for the poor and a $59 billion backlog in road repairs needed over the next decade.

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


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:

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:

States plan renewed debate on LGBT rights, religious freedom {AP, 1/3/16]: Lawmakers in numerous states are preparing for a new round of battles over gay rights and religious freedoms in 2016 following last summer's Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage.

Get ready for Friedrichs [Legal Information Institute, 1/4/16]: Here is the preview of the case to be argued on January 11th. Thanks to the wealth of information from the LII’s Supreme Court Bulletin.


International Law, Citizenship and Immigration [TOPIC 40-42]

UK official: Iraq veterans may face prosecution for war crimes [Jurist, 1/4/16]:
The head of the UK's Iraq Historic Allegations Team. charged with looking into alleged abuses committed during the war in Iraq, said Saturday that UK soldiers may face prosecution for war crimes. 

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