Posts for April 19, 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:

What Should We Expect From the Supreme Court's Showdown Over Immigration? [NY Times Mag, 4/18/16]: Emily Bazelon, a staff writer for the magazine, and Eric Posner, a professor at the University of Chicago Law School, have been exchanging emails about what’s at stake in the case and how the court might approach its decision.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/18/magazine/what-should-we-expect-from-the-supreme-courts-showdown-over-immigration.html?_r=0

Closely Divided Supreme Court Digs Into Obama's Immigration Action [BuzzFeed / Huff Post / NPR, 4/18/16]: The eight justices appeared to be split 4-4 on whether the 2014 immigration executive action and its effects are legal, but Justice Anthony Kennedy signaled an openness to dismissing the case on standing grounds.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/closely-divided-supreme-court-digs-into-obamas-immigration-a

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/supreme-court-immigration-hearing_us_5713fe6fe4b06f35cb6fe13b

http://www.npr.org/2016/04/18/474725534/supreme-court-appears-divided-on-obama-immigration-actions

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:

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:

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

The Marshall Project Wins A Pulitzer Prize [The Marshall Project, 4/18/16]: “An Unbelievable Story of Rape” honored in the Explanatory Reporting category.

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2016/04/18/the-marshall-project-wins-a-pulitzer-prize?ref=hp-2-112#.8deMi38CY

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:

Native American Church Uneasy With New Influences [CNS, 4/18/16]: With its traditions steeped in modesty, the Native American Church faces an existential dilemma from the aggressive movement in its name to treat marijuana as a church sacrament. The Ninth Circuit just rejected one such challenge, but the issue's fate is far from certain.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2016/04/18/native-american-church-uneasy-with-new-influences.htm

School District Sued for Refusing to Notify Students of Scholarship Opportunity Aimed at Atheists [EdLawProfs Blog, 4/19/16]: Navigating the lines between the Establishment and Free Exercise of Religion Clauses of the First Amendment is one of the toughest jobs a school has.  It becomes even more difficult when free speech rights come into play, as schools can easily misdiagnose free speech issues as religion issues.  While the state might distance itself from religion, it cannot use that as an excuse to squelch speech of a religious nature. 

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/education_law/2016/04/school-district-sued-for-refusing-to-notify-students-of-scholarship-opportunity-aimed-at-atheists.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: