Posts for September 23, 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:

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:

Constitution Check: Might the Supreme Court overrule its own gun rights ruling? [Constitution Daily, 9/22/16]: Lyle Denniston, Constitution Daily’s Supreme Court correspondent, examines the future of a 2008 Supreme Court decision recognizing, for the first time, an individual right under the Second Amendment to have a gun for personal use.

http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2016/09/constitution-check-might-the-supreme-court-overrule-its-own-gun-rights-ruling/

When Second Amendment Rights Need Defending [Slate, 9/22/16]: Liberals are failing immigrants, medical marijuana users, and the disabled on gun rights.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2016/09/the_liberal_second_amendment.html

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:

Prisoners Can't Vote, But They Can Be Redistricted [Bloomberg, 9/22/16]: Prisoners can be counted in population totals for determining a voting district, even though they can’t cast ballots in the place where they’re being held.

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-09-22/prisoners-can-t-vote-but-they-can-be-redistricted

Sen. Mike Lee shoots down Trump Supreme Court trial balloon [Politico, 9/23/16]: Utah Sen. Mike Lee on Friday swiftly shot down the idea that he would accept a nomination to the Supreme Court from Donald Trump.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/mike-lee-no-trump-supreme-court-228573

Inside Hillary Clinton’s debate prep [Politico, 9/23/16]: They know that Trump – a quick-study political novice participating in the first one-on-one debate of his life – is a wild card who can turn weeks of pouring over briefing books into mockery with a single, brilliant and bullying punch. 

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/hillary-clinton-debate-prep-228558

Hillary Clinton Deadpans On 'Between Two Ferns' [NPR, 9/22/16]: In a new episode of Web comedy show Between Two Ferns, Hillary Clinton jokes about what she should wear at next Monday's debate, attending Donald Trump's wedding and Chelsea Clinton's friendship with Ivanka Trump.

http://www.npr.org/2016/09/22/495008808/watch-clinton-deadpans-on-between-two-ferns

Clinton Leads Nationally in Latest Marist Poll [CNS, 9/23/16]: Hillary Clinton is heading into the weekend before the first presidential debate with a 7-point lead over Donald Trump, but lingering concerns about trustworthiness suggests the stakes in first televised one-on-one clash between the Democrat and her GOP rival could not be higher.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2016/09/23/clinton-leads-nationally-in-latest-marist-poll.htm

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

California Propositions 2016 [CalMatters, 9/22/16]: Ready to make your way through a thicket of 17 California propositions on the November ballot? CALmatters is here to help you sort through the many thorny questions: Should we end the death penalty? Legalize marijuana? Extend taxes on the wealthy? Ban plastic bags? Raise taxes on cigarettes? Require actors in porn films to wear condoms? 

https://calmatters.org/elections/

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

Is ‘Bite and Hold’ Excessive Force? ]Trial Insider, 9/19/16]: Just what counts as excessive force by a police dog will be resolved by an 11-judge appeals panel in the case of a San Diego woman asleep in her office when her lip was torn open by a police dog.

http://www.trialinsider.com/?p=6478

Incorrigible' public masturbator shouldn't be locked up for life, Oregon Supreme Court says [The Oregonian, 9/22/16]: The Oregon Supreme Court on Thursday for the first time reversed a life prison sentence for an unstoppable public masturbator -- saying Oregon's three-strikes-you're-out law for repeat sex offenders isn't always constitutional.

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2016/09/incorrigible_public_masturbato.html

Parking While Black [Slate, 9/22/16]: The courts are about to decide if police have another legal method for harassing black citizens.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2016/09/will_parking_while_black_become_a_new_form_of_police_harassment.html

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:

Anonymous online critics can't be easily unmasked, Kentucky Supreme Court rules [Lexington Herald-Leader, 9/22/16]: Anonymous critics on the internet can't be unmasked by a defamation lawsuit unless the plaintiff proves with evidence that what they said was false, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled in a significant First Amendment decision released Thursday.

http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article103399312.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:

In a Case with Blockbuster Potential, Detroit School Children Assert a Federal Constitutional Right to Literacy [Justia, 9/23/16]: Professor Amar takes an early look at Gary B. v. Snyder, a case recently filed in federal district court that addresses a child’s fundamental right to literacy. Amar explains how the timing may be ideal for a case of this nature, should it ultimately reach the Supreme Court, since the Court seems increasingly willing to recognize new liberties not mentioned in the Constitution, among other compelling reasons.

https://verdict.justia.com/2016/09/23/case-blockbuster-potential-detroit-school-children-assert-federal-constitutional-right-literacy