Posts for October 5, 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 (5th
ed.) student textbook.
I. Introduction to Law, the Constitution,
and the Supreme Court [See TOPICS 1-10 in the 5th edition
of Constitutional Law]
Here are some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:
Should Self-Driving
Cars Be Mandatory? [Justia, 10/5/16]:
Professor Dorf discusses the proposed policy guidelines the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration recently released that relate to the logistics of
self-driving cars. In this column, He looks ahead to a time when the majority
of vehicles on the road will be self-driving and considers the potential
consequences of regulating the few manual cars that will remain. While there is
an argument to be made that people's choices and personal freedom should
outweigh government interference, he explains that the benefits to the larger
population's welfare that self-driving cars may one day offer is likely to win
out over time. This would be an interesting “Hot Topic” discussionin your class
regarding the power of government!
Supreme Court Hears First
Round Of Arguments In New Term [Nina Totenberg on NPR’s”All Things
Considered,” 10/4/16]: “Perky, lively, asking
lots of questions in the two cases they heard this morning. Justice Ginsburg
even had on a new and festive multicolored collar over her robe given to her
this summer, I understand, by the New Mexico Bar Association.”
Supreme Court starts new term with more questions than
answers [CNN, 10/4/16]:
The Unexpected Importance of Clarence Thomas [Politico, 10/4/16]: Long overshadowed by Scalia, the
quiet radical is poised to shape his legacy.
II. Defining the Political
System: Federalism and Checks and Balances [See TOPICS 11-15
in the 5th 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 5th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent articles that are
relevant to this unit:
Tim Kaine attacks, Mike Pence fights back in VP debate [AP
/ CalBuzz, 10/4/16]: Democrat Tim Kaine aggressively challenged Republican Mike
Pence over a long list of Donald Trump's controversial positions and statements
Tuesday night, drawing a vigorous defense of Trump's tax history. But Pence
sidestepped criticism of Trump's demeaning comments about women, his public
doubting of Barack Obama's citizenship and broader questions about his
temperament.
Why Can’t We Vote Online? [KQED, 10/4/16]: We
can bank online and we can shop online so why can’t we vote online? To answer
that question, we first need to agree on what it means, said David Dill, a
computer science professor at Stanford and the founder of the Verified Voting
Foundation.
Tapes Show Voter-ID
Mischief in Wisconsin [CNS, 10/4/16]:
Pointing to evidence that Wisconsin is still denying eligible citizens the
identification they need to vote in November, as required by an
unconstitutional voter-ID law the state must still reform, a federal judge is
demanding answers.
Podcast of 2nd UCLA Extension Class "The November
Election" with Mickey Kantor [UCLA Extension, 10/4/16]: Here is
the second class (22 minute highlights out of the two hour class) that features
former Bill Clinton campaign manager and Secretary of Commerce Mickey Kantor,
who told stories of preparing Bill Clinton for his debates, his view on trade
and whether Trump can win the election. Mickey was fascinating.
IV. Criminal Law and Procedure (4th, 5th,
6th, and 8th amendments) [See TOPICS 21-28 in
the 5th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some
recent articles that are relevant to this unit
Should Racism in the Jury Room Lead to a New Trial? [The Atlantic, 10/4/16]: The Supreme Court will hear
the case of a Latino man convicted after racist sentiments were allegedly
expressed during deliberations, but longstanding rules about juries would
prevent him from getting a new day in court.
Supreme Court To Hear
Death Penalty Case Based On Racially Tainted Testimony [NPR / Mother
Jones, 10/5/16]: The U.S. Supreme Court hears
arguments Wednesday in the case of Duane Buck, a convicted Texas murderer who was sentenced to die
after an expert witness testified that Buck was more likely to commit violent
crimes in the future because he is black.
For some, fixing the death penalty means speeding up
executions [KPCC, 10/4/16]: Kate and Richard Riggins’ son, John, was
murdered along with his girlfriend, Sabrina Gonsalves, in 1980. At the time,
John was a freshman attending the University of California at Davis.
V. 1st Amendment
(Speech, Religion, Press and Assembly)
[See TOPICS 29-33 in the 5th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent articles that
are relevant to this unit:
Valencia ultrasound case becomes lightning rod on
campus free speech [Orlando Sentinel,
10/5/16]: A battle over First Amendment rights for students has emerged from a
controversial lawsuit against Valencia College over forced physical probes in a
medical technology class.
Read the unanimous 11th Circuit opinion in Jane
Doe v. Valencia College at:
If Donald Trump Sues The Times Over His Tax Returns, He'll
Probably Lose Badly [Huff Post / FAC, 10/4/16]: First
Amendment experts overwhelmingly say the businessman almost stands no chance in
court.
VI. 14th Amendment,
Discrimination, Privacy, Working, Citizenship & Immigration [See TOPICS 34-41 in the 5th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to
this unit:
Gender discrimination at 30,000 feet: Orange County moves
to end airline seating changes based on sex [OC Register, 10/4/16]: A
showdown over sex discrimination is heating up between Orange County and United
Airlines after the company forced a woman into a different seat when two men
said they couldn’t sit near females.
Governor signs anti-bullying bill in response to
Islamophobia [SD Union-Trib, 10/4/16]: California’s legislature has
moved to protect students from bullying based on religion, responding to what
the new law’s author says is an increase in Islamophobia.
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