Posts for March 1, 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:

When Should A Judge Recuse Himself? Supreme Court Weighs The Question [NPR / SCOTUS blog, 2/29/16]: The Supreme Court hears arguments Monday testing whether a Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice violated the Constitution when he ruled in a death penalty case that he had been involved with as a prosecutor.

http://www.npr.org/2016/02/29/468496581/when-should-a-judge-recuse-himself-supreme-court-weighs-the-question

http://www.scotusblog.com/2016/02/argument-analysis-seeking-a-recusal-rule-that-the-justices-can-live-with/

Justice Thomas breaks 10-year silence in court [USA Today / The Atlantic, 2/29/16]: Thomas piped up for the first time since Feb. 22, 2006 — other than a brief quip uttered three years ago — with an extensive series of questions about Second Amendment gun rights.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/02/29/clarence-thomas-question-supreme-court/81105572/

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/02/clarence-thomas-supreme-court/471582/

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:

Will the U.S. Supreme Court Take Precedent Seriously on Abortion? [The Atlantic / Reuters, 2/29/16]: Justices are set to hear a major case this week -- and will be forced to decide whether they meant what they've said in the past.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/02/us-supreme-court-whole-womens-health-v-hellerstedt/471546/

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-abortion-idUSKCN0W35H5

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

After meeting, Obama and GOP remain at impasse over Supreme Court vacancy [USA Today, 3/1/16]: President Obama met with top Senate leaders Tuesday at the White House in an attempt to bridge the stand-off over whether the Obama should send a Supreme Court nomination to the Senate.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/03/01/obama-and-senate-remain-impasse-over-supreme-court-vacancy/81149046/

Constitution Check: Could the military disobey orders issued by a President Trump? [Constitution Daily, 2/29/16]: Lyle Denniston, the National Constitution Center’s constitutional literacy adviser, looks at comments from retired Air Force General Michael Hayden about possible conflict between the military and a civilian President over controversial orders – a debate triggered by recent comments from GOP candidate Donald Trump.

http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2016/03/constitution-check-could-the-military-disobey-orders-issued-by-a-president-trump/

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:

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

Coequal Branches of Government [SCOTUS blog, 2/29/16]: This essayis from U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the Chairman, Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

http://www.scotusblog.com/2016/03/coequal-branches-of-government/

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

Supremes Study Oxford Comma to Uphold Kiddie-Porn Sentence [CNS, 3/1/16]: A prior conviction for sexually abusing an adult justifies a long prison sentence for a first-time child-pornography offender, the Supreme Court ruled Monday.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2016/03/01/supremes-study-oxford-comma-to-uphold-kiddie-porn-sentence.htm

Read the opinion in Lockhart v. U.S. at:

http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/15pdf/14-8358_o7jp.pdf

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:

Taylor Bell's Rap Song Comes to an End; Supreme Court Denies Cert [EdLawProfs blog, 3/1/16]: Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari in Taylor Bell's case. The case involved a high school student who had written and performed a song on YouTube. The song was an attempt to raise awareness regarding allegations that some of the male coaches at his school had been sexually harassing female students, but which the school officials has purportedly ignored.

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/education_law/2016/03/taylor-bells-rap-song-comes-to-an-end-supreme-court-denies-certiorari.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:

Protection Against Sexual Harassment Is Alive and Well in the 6^th Circuit [Justia, 3/1/16]: Professor Grossman comments on a recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, in which the court affirmed a jury verdict in favor of a sexual harassment plaintiff. Grossman describes the facts leading up to the case and explains why the jury and the appellate court came to the correct conclusion as a matter of fact and law.

https://verdict.justia.com/2016/03/01/protection-against-sexual-harassment-is-alive-and-well-in-the-sixth-circuit