Friday, July 29, 2016

Posts for July 29, 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:

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:

'We can all rise together,' Hillary Clinton proclaims in accepting her historic nomination [SF Chron, 7/28/16]: The first woman to receive the presidential nomination of a major party, Clinton accepts it with “boundless confidence in America's promise.” Her address is a sharp rejoinder to Donald Trump's address last week. 

Clinton’s DNC address: Fact or fiction? [Politico / AP / The Marshall Project, 7/29/16]: Here’s Politico’s fact-check of Clinton’s Democratic National Convention address. 

Trump’s way with words leads him into dicey situation [SF Chron, 7/28/16]: Donald Trump is quickly learning there are no do-overs in politics. A day after suggesting that Russian hackers should break into Hillary Clinton’s private computer system and either recover or release emails she didn’t turn over to the FBI during its investigation, he was frantically trying to walk back the controversial statement.

Mike Pence’s Abortion Law [Justia, 7/29/16]: Professor Colb comments on the Indiana abortion law that Donald Trump’s chosen running mate, Mike Pence, signed into law as governor of that state. Colb explains the different reasons that women have for terminating their pregnancies and argues that while some of the reasons women actually choose abortion might be repugnant to some of us, that should not undermine their right to make that choice.

Clinton's vice-presidential pick could raise profile of K-12 issues in presidential campaign [EdSource, 7/28/16]: One issue that has strangely taken a back seat in the presidential campaign so far has been K-12 education. That could change with the selection of Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., as Hillary Clinton’s running mate. 

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

"[I]f a suspect refuses to take a polygraph examination, the government shouldn't be allowed to introduce the refusal as substantive evidence or to comment on the refusal to the jury.” So states a dissent from a 6-3 decision of the 7th Circuit Appeals Court. The case is U.S. v. Resnick.

Court rejects Ohio law that bans police from sex with minors [AP, 7/28/16]: A divided Ohio Supreme Court on Thursday declared unconstitutional a law that made it illegal for police officers to have sex with minors simply on the basis of their profession.

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:

Federal judge strikes Arkansas provision restricting political 'robocalls' [Jurist, 7/29/16]: A judge for the US District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas ruled Wednesday that an Arkansas law prohibiting political "robocalls" is unconstitutional.

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:

Federal Appeals Court Rejects Protections For Gay People Under Existing Civil Rights Law [Buzzfeed, 7/28/16]: Sexual orientation discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people can only come from the Supreme Court or Congress, the federal appeals court in Chicago rules,

Second Circuit reinstates Title IX suit [2nd Circuit, 7/28/16]: This is brought by male student against Columbia University challenging disciplinary process that found him "responsible" for "sexual assault: non-consensual sexual intercourse" and imposed year-long suspension. The case is Doe v. Columbia Univ.

Court sides with school in prom breathalyzer dispute [Florida News Service, 7/28/16]: Case involved 9 students who traveled on 'party bus' to Martin County high prom.

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

After Supreme Court Ruling, What’s Next for Unauthorized Immigrants Seeking Work? [KQED, 7/28/16]: Many unauthorized immigrants had pinned their hopes on getting work permits through President Obama’s immigration plan, but early this summer the U.S. Supreme Court placed the plan on hold. This month the Obama administration asked the court to reconsider, but that’s considered a long shot. In the meantime, some immigrants in California are finding other ways to work legally.

Ex-Bush official, now judge, OKs torture challenge [SF Chron, 7/28/16]: A federal appeals court in San Francisco revived a challenge to extradition Thursday by a Mexican man who said the evidence against him was obtained by torture, in a ruling written by a judge best known for approving torture of suspected terrorists during the George W. Bush administration.

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