Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Posts for February 3, 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:

Four Supreme Court Justices are older than 75. Is that a problem? [David J. Garrow essay in LA Times, 2/2/16]:  In law review article I wrote 15 years ago about cognitive decline on the U.S. Supreme Court, I predicted that, in the coming years, no one would take action to mitigate the problem. Instead, another half a dozen mentally decrepit justices would join “the roster of jurists who harmed their court and hurt their own reputations by remaining on the bench too long.”

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:

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:

Why Polls Missed the Mark on Cruz and Sanders [CalBuzz, 2/3/16]:  Two days before the Iowa caucuses, the esteemed Des Moines Register/Bloomberg Politics poll predicted that Hillary Clinton would beat Bernie Sanders by 3 percentage points and Donald Trump would best Ted Cruz by 5 points. So said one of the best pollsters in America, Ann Selzer. That didn’t happen.

Trump's defeat raises questions about his jetsetting campaign [Reuters / Politico, 2/2/16]: As Cruz and Rubio went the more traditional route of talking to small groups of people at pizza parlors and hotel conference rooms, Trump would make a dramatic entrance in his private jet, emblazoned with his name, and tear into his rivals at rallies attended by thousands. He made pandering comments like wanting to buy a farm in Iowa and hoping his pregnant daughter would deliver her baby in the state. He did few small events.

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


Old Convictions, New Science [The Marshall Project, 2/3/16]: Texas tackles debunked forensics.

Policing the Future [The Marshall Project, 2/3/16]: In the aftermath of Michael Brown's death, St. Louis cops embrace crime-predicting software.

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:

1st Amendment News [Concurring Opinions FAN, 2/2/16]: Animal Rights Group Claims First Amendment Right to Lift Park Service Closure of Yellowstone Park During Bison Capture.

At Morocco summit, Muslim leaders stand up for religious freedom [Charlie Haynes of the Newseum, 2/3/16]: The Marrakesh Declaration comes at a time of unprecedented persecution of Christians and other minority groups by extremists acting in the name of Islam in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

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:

In Transgender Student Rights Case, Two of Three Judges Have Interesting Track Records on Related Issues; Sparks Will Surely Fly [EdLawProfs Blog, 2/3/16]: The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments last week in G. G. v. Gloucester County School Board.  Gloucester involves Gavin Grimm's claim that the school board's refusal to permit transgender students to use the restrooms consistent with their gender violates Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination. 



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