Posts for April 25, 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:

California jurors misusing the Internet could face fines [AP, 4/24/16]: Jurors who threaten to derail trials by researching them on Google or posting comments about them on Twitter are often dismissed with nothing more than a tongue-lashing from a judge. But that may soon change in California. Legislation supported by state court officials would authorize judges in some counties to fine jurors up to $1,500 for social media and Internet use violations, which have led to mistrials and overturned convictions around the country.

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

Why No Rearguments? [Gerard Magliocca in “Concurring Opinions,” 4/25/16]: Two months after Justice Scalia’s death, we can see a pattern emerging on how the Court is treating cases on which they are divided 4-4.  First, they are making an effort to find a majority through compromise, which is fine as far as it goes.  Second, when that proves impossible, they affirm by an equally divided Court. What the Court is not doing is putting over cases for another argument next Term.

http://concurringopinions.com/archives/2016/04/why-no-rearguments.html

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:

Florida supreme court suspends abortion waiting period [Jurist, 4/24/16]: The Florida Supreme Court on Friday granted a motion to suspend the state's mandatory 24-hour waiting period for abortions.

http://www.jurist.org/paperchase/2016/04/florida-supreme-court-suspends-abortion-waiting-period.php

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:

Cruz and Kasich team up to stop Trump [Politico, 4/24/16]: Ted Cruz and John Kasich have begun coordinating their campaign strategy to stop Donald Trump, an abrupt alliance announced Sunday night that includes Kasich quitting his efforts in Indiana and Cruz clearing a path for the Ohio governor in Oregon and New Mexico.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/04/ted-cruz-john-kasich-team-up-222377

Presidential Race Drives Surge of New Registrations - From Democrats, Not Republicans [CPR, 4/25/16]:  California is seeing a surge in voter registration ahead of the state’s June 7th presidential primary election – but necessarily the way you might expect.

http://www.capradio.org/articles/2016/04/25/presidential-race-drives-surge-of-new-registrations-from-democrats,-not-republicans/

Fed-up GOP mega-donors sitting on their checkbooks [The Hill, 4/24/16]: Interviews with major Republican donors and fundraisers reveal that many are fed up after early enthusiasm for unsuccessful candidates. Many of these donors spent millions on the super-PACs supporting Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio, one-time favorites who dropped out of the race after getting throttled by Donald Trump. 

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/277312-fed-up-gop-mega-donors-sitting-on-their-checkbooks

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

Madness [New Yorker, 5/2/16]: In Florida prisons, mentally ill inmates have been tortured, driven to suicide, and killed by guards.

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/02/the-torturing-of-mentally-ill-prisoners

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:

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:

Due Process: Anti-Male Bias Alleged in Education Office [CNS, 4/25/16]:  A Colorado State student who claims he was falsely accused of rape says a "Dear Colleague" letter from an assistant secretary of the Department of Education encourages colleges to deny male students due process.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2016/04/25/anti-male-bias-alleged-in-education-office.htm

A Shy Teen's Stand for Transgender Rights [Jost on Justice, 4/24/16]: In years to come, Gavin Grimm may be remembered just as Rosa Parks is today for a seemingly simple act of self-assertion that helped bring the country closer to the Pledge of Allegiance ideal of liberty and justice for all.

http://jostonjustice.blogspot.com/2016/04/a-shy-teens-stand-for-transgender-rights.html