Posts for October 17, 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:

Divided Government is Great so Why not for SCOTUS [Dorf on Law, 10/16/16]: One of the bedrock principles underlying our Constitution is that separated (and shared) powers protect liberty while also allowing our leaders to act effectively when the need arises. 

http://www.dorfonlaw.org/2016/10/divided-government-is-great-so-why-not.html

Safeguard Needed for Racism in Jury Room [Jost in Justice, 10/15/16]: Race is different: different from any of the other categories of prejudice that lurk in our individual or collective subconscious. That is the undeniable lesson of 400 years of American history from slavery through Jim Crow to the present. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. resisted the import of this undoubted truth, however, in a closely watched case [Oct. 11] challenging what may have been a racism-infected guilty verdict in a weak criminal case against a Mexican American defendant.

http://jostonjustice.blogspot.com/2016/10/safeguard-needed-for-racism-in-jury-room.html

As time runs out, dozens of judge nominees waiting on Senate [AP, 10/17/16]: Senate confirmation of President Barack Obama's nominees slowed to a halt this election year, a common political occurrence for the final months of divided government with a Democratic president and a Republican-controlled Senate. 

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

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:

Connecticut judge dismisses Sandy Hook suit against gunmakers [Jurist, 10/15/16]:  Connecticut Superior Court ] Judge Barbara Bellis on Friday dismissed a suit filed against gunmakers, including Remington Outdoor, by the families of some of the young children and adults killed at the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting.

http://www.jurist.org/paperchase/2016/10/connecticut-judge-dismisses-sandy-hook-suit-against-gunmakers.php

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

And Now a Word From the White House [Slate’s “Amicus” podcast, 10/14/16]: Merrick Garland has been waiting seven months for a Senate hearing, but the president's advisers say Obama has no regrets about the nomination.

http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/amicus/2016/10/obama_s_aides_on_the_politics_of_the_merrick_garland_nomination.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:

Democrats try to taint California opponents with Trump links [AP, 10/16/16]: Donald Trump is playing a starring role in at least five of the most hotly contested races for the California Assembly and Senate.

http://www.scpr.org/news/2016/10/16/65637/democrats-try-to-taint-california-opponents-with-t/

The Fury of the Mob: Comparing the Calls to Prosecute Clinton and Bush [Justia, 10/17/16]: Professor Margulies compares and contrasts Donald Trump’s call for Hillary Clinton’s imprisonment and the same call against George W. Bush. Although he disagrees with both attempts to seek prosecution, Margulies argues that the call for Clinton’s imprisonment is at best akin to a lynch mob, whereas at least the desire to have Bush prosecuted reflects a good-faith attempt to use the law to punish war crimes.

https://verdict.justia.com/2016/10/17/fury-mob-comparing-calls-prosecute-clinton-bush

Analysis: Trump 'rigged' vote claim may leave lasting damage [AP, 10/16/16]: Donald Trump keeps peddling the notion the vote may be rigged. It's unclear whether he understands the potential damage of his words, or simply doesn't care.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/dcd99829359644a1b3277f9506ef973a/analysis-rigged-election-claims-may-leave-lasting-damage

As Trump stumbles, Clinton weighs a striking choice: Expand the map or stick to the plan [Wash Post, 10/16/16]: Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton faces a striking choice in the final three weeks of the campaign: to expand her efforts to states that Democrats haven’t won in a generation, or to stay a current course that, if conditions hold, would deliver her a resounding electoral college victory. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-trump-stumbles-clinton-weighs-a-striking-choice-expand-the-map-or-stick-to-the-plan/2016/10/16/f0f77470-93a7-11e6-bb29-bf2701dbe0a3_story.html

Trump faces his fate [Politico, 10/16/16]: With three weeks to go, the GOP nominee stokes anger, conspiracy theories and chaos.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/trump-clinton-election-countdown-229867

Trump loses grip on Ohio [Politico, 10/16/16]: Two weeks ago, Ohio looked to be Donald Trump’s best big-state bet. The Republican rank and file appeared to be getting on board, and the state seemed to be fading out of reach for Hillary Clinton. All that’s changed.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/donald-trump-ohio-clinton-229859

The county that's ground zero for Trump's suburban woes [Politico, 10/16/16]: For a certain kind of GOP voter, Donald Trump is not an option.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/the-county-thats-ground-zero-for-trumps-suburban-struggles-229843

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:

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: