Posts for August 10, 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:

Justice Breyer Uses Trans Restroom Case to Revive “Courtesy Fifth Vote” [Justia, 8/10/16]: Professor Dorf comments on Justice Stephen Breyer’s use of a “courtesy fifth vote” to stay lower court rulings that would have allowed a trans student to use the restroom corresponding to his gender identity. Dorf explains the origin and history of the “courtesy” vote in the U.S. Supreme Court and argues that Justice Breyer’s attempt to invoke and expand it is inappropriate in this particular context.

https://verdict.justia.com/2016/08/10/justice-breyer-uses-trans-restroom-case-revive-courtesy-fifth-vote

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:

Trump team tries to knock down suggestions he joked about Clinton assassination [Politico / AP, 8/9/16]: Donald Trump’s rapid response team on Tuesday tried to walk back the candidate’s suggestion that Second Amendment enthusiasts could stop Hillary Clinton, remarks interpreted widely as the GOP nominee joking about an assassination.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/trump-clinton-assassination-joke-response-226835

http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_30225138/trump-comments-second-amendment-solution-clinton-judges-draw

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/donald-trump-campaign-statements-226840

Trump’s Assassination Dog Whistle Was Even Scarier Than You Think [Rolling Stone, 8/9/16]: Republican nominee engaged in so-called stochastic terrorism with his remarks about "Second Amendment people" and Clinton.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/features/trumps-assassination-dog-whistle-was-scarier-than-you-think-w433615

Were Trump's Comments 'Stochastic Terrorism'? ]Merriam-Webster, 8/1-/10]: Lookups for 'stochastic' spiked after journalists used the term.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/news-trend-watch/were-trumps-comments-stochastic-terrorism-20160810

Trump wavers on debates: ‘I have to see the conditions’ [Politico, 8/9/16]: Trump’s wavering comes amid increasing concern that the often erratic political outsider could forgo his chances to spar with Clinton on the national stage, breaking a historic precedent.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/donald-trump-debates-226834

More swing state polling blues for Trump [Politico, 8/9/16]: Hillary Clinton leads Donald Trump in three key battleground states, according to new polls released Tuesday — including a commanding advantage in vote-rich Pennsylvania.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/swing-states-2016-election/2016/08/clinton-trump-battleground-polls-226826

Constitution Check: Is Section 3 of the Voting Rights Act a dead letter? [Constitution Daily, 8/9/16]: Constitution Daily Supreme Court correspondent Lyle Denniston explains why a little-used section of the Voting Rights Act may not have much, if any, impact on federal voter identification lawsuits.

http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2016/08/constitution-check-is-section-3-of-the-voting-rights-act-a-dead-letter/

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 [Capitol Weekly, 8/10/16]: When we put out our first Top 100 list, we wanted to give a mischievous, behind-the-scenes view of players in [California] state politics that the public usually doesn’t see. We succeeded, we had fun. Seven years later later, we’re still having fun – okay, not as much as before – but we think this list has value and is becoming something of an institution. Some use it as a primer for new staffers. Some send it to clients. Some send it back to us with curt advice about where to put it.

http://capitolweekly.net/capitol-weeklys-top-100/

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

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:

Judge: Glenn Beck must identify sources on Boston Marathon bombing [Politico, 8/9/16]: A looming First Amendment showdown drew closer Tuesday as a federal judge ordered conservative media host Glenn Beck to identify at least two confidential sources in connection with a defamation lawsuit stemming from Beck's reporting on the Boston Marathon bombing.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2016/08/glenn-beck-boston-marathon-bombing-226841

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: