Posts for September 6, 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:

Remember Merrick Garland? Supreme Court nominee waits (and waits) [CNN, 9/6/16]: A relaxed Merrick Garland dispensed some advice last month to a roomful of Harvard Law students eager to hear about his journey from litigator to federal prosecutor to top judge on one of the most powerful appellate courts in the country.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/06/politics/merrick-garland-supreme-court-wait/index.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:

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:

Tucson's hybrid city elections upheld by full 9th Circuit [Tucson Sentinel, 9/2/16]:]: A federal appeals court reaffirmed Tucson’s hybrid city election process Friday, rejecting Republican claims that it violates the one-person, one-vote principle.

http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/090216_tucson_elections/tucsons-hybrid-city-elections-upheld-by-full-9th-circuit/

The unanimous 9^th Circuit ruling in Public Integrity Alliance v. City of Tucson can be found at:

http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2016/09/02/15-16142.pdf

Clinton suggests Russia working to elect Trump [Politico, 9/5/16]: During her first press conference in 275 days, she expresses concern about the intervention of Vladimir Putin's government in the election.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/09/hillary-clinton-press-russia-putin-227748

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

California Assembly Dems Eye Supermajority [CPR, 9/6/16]: Democrats in the California Assembly need to pick up only a couple of seats in the November elections to win two-thirds control of the chamber. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has performed terribly against Hillary Clinton in the last few California polls. In a normal election year, that would be a bad sign for Republicans running down-ticket. Typically, the most high-profile races drive turnout. 

http://www.capradio.org/80941

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

Racism, Classism, Feminism … and Brock Turner [Jurist, 9/6/16]: Professor Margulies responds to two of the most common criticisms of the trial and sentencing of former Stanford undergrad Brock Turner, who was convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. Margulies explains why a change to California law imposing a mandatory minimum sentence for this crime actually does not address these criticisms, and in fact exacerbates one of them.

https://verdict.justia.com/2016/09/06/racism-classism-feminism-brock-turner

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: