Posts for August 3, 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:

A Very Different Court [Erwin Chemerinsky in Calif. Bar Journ., 8/1/16]: From 1971, when President Richard M. Nixon had his fourth nominee confirmed for the U.S. Supreme Court, until Justice Antonin Scalia died on Feb. 13, there were at least five justices appointed by a Republican president and who were ideologically conservative. But no longer.

http://calbarjournal.com/August2016/TopHeadlines/TH1.aspx

Would Tom Brady have won in the Supreme Court? [Constitution Daily, 8/2/16]: Constitution Daily Supreme Court correspondent Lyle Denniston looks at a legal hypothetical about Tom Brady’s chances of winning a Supreme Court case about his NFL suspension – if Brady had opted to appeal.

http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2016/08/would-tom-brady-have-won-in-the-supreme-court/

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:

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

Obama Urges GOP Lawmakers to Abandon Trump as 'Unfit' [CNS, 8/2/16]: President Barack Obama on Tuesday offered his strongest denunciation to date of Republican nominee Donald Trump, urging GOP lawmakers to abandon support of their party's candidate. And a Republican congressman said he'll vote for Hillary Clinton.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2016/08/02/obama-urges-gop-lawmakers-to-abandon-trump-as-unfit.htm

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:

Why Trump says it's all 'rigged' [Politico, 8/2/16]: Facing a difficult stretch and daunting electoral map, the GOP nominee lands on a safe talking point, a rallying cry — and an excuse.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/donald-trump-rigged-election-226588

Trump Effectively Declares War on Concept of Republican Party Unity [CNS, 8/2/16]:  The candidate who keeps on giving -- to the news media, anyway -- effectively declared war on the concept of Republican party unity Tuesday, refusing to endorse three of the GOP's leading lights -- House Speaker Paul Ryan, Arizona Sen. John McCain and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2016/08/02/trump-effectively-declares-war-on-concept-of-republican-party-unity.htm

Is Trump a threat to the constitutional order? [Eric Posner’s blog, 8/2/16]: Even in our democratic age, it seems that some people are coming to appreciate the vision of elite-led democracy that these institutions were meant to sustain. Trump may not threaten the constitutional order himself, but he is provoking the elites to reconsider their support for a constitutional order in which someone like Trump could be elected president.

http://ericposner.com/is-trump-a-threat-to-the-constitutional-order/

Court: Super PACs can be named after candidates [Politico, 8/2/16]: A federal appeals court has blocked a rule banning so-called super PACs from naming their groups after candidates for office.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2016/08/super-pac-candidate-name-court-ruling-226563

Voter Access In 2016: Latest On Restrictions Across The Country {Audiocast from the Diane Rehm Show, 8/2/16]: Comments on recent cases.

https://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2016-08-02/voter-access-in-2016-latest-on-restrictions-across-the-country

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

Delaware court says state death penalty law unconstitutional [AP / Jurist, 8/2/16]: A majority of Delaware Supreme Court justices said the state law violates the U.S. Constitution because it allows a judge to sentence a person to death independently of a jury's recommendation.

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

http://www.jurist.org/paperchase/2016/08/delaware-top-court-strikes-down-death-penalty-law-as-unconstitutional-1.php

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:

Fighting for Free Speech on America’s Campuses [NY Times, 8/1/16]: The First Amendment watchdog Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) wants students to understand not just their own rights, but yours.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/07/education/edlife/fire-first-amendment-on-campus-free-speech.html?_r=0

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: