Thursday, December 29, 2016

Posts for December 29, 2016
These are the posts that are accumulated in our weekly newsletter which goes out throughout the school year. The posts are organized by the major units in our Constitutional 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:

How will Trump shape the Supreme Court? [ABA Journal, 1/1/17]: The surprise election of Donald J. Trump to the presidency caused tremors at the White House, in Congress and in world capitals. But the most lasting impact may be at the Supreme Court.

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:

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

NY AG: Trump can't dissolve foundation during investigation [AP, 12/27/16]: Donald Trump cannot move ahead with his plan to dismantle his charitable foundation because state prosecutors are probing whether the president-elect personally benefited from its spending, the New York attorney general's office said Tuesday.

Corruption in the White House [Amicus (Slate) podcast, 12/27/16]: The founders were so adamant about preventing the kind of presidency we're about to witness; Plus, reflecting on the climate for free speech on college campuses.

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:

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

The North Carolina Legislature’s Power Grab is Unfair and Undemocratic. Is it Also Illegal? [Justia, 12/28/16]: Professor Dorf discusses the recent actions by the GOP-controlled North Carolina legislature stripping the newly elected Democratic Governor Roy Cooper of much of the power of his office. Dorf explains some of the potential legal challenges to this legislative action and argues that this reckless attitude is a danger to democracy.

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

A shot fired into Mexico killed a teenager, and now, the Supreme Court will weigh in [Dallas Morning News, 12/27/16]: It sounds like the beginning of a riddle: An American border patrol agent, standing in America, shoots a Mexican teenager, standing in Mexico. But that’s exactly what happened on the El Paso-Juárez border. Now, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether the teen’s grieving parents are allowed to sue the man responsible.

Federal prosecutor charges foreign hackers for cyber-attack [Jurist, 12/29/16]: The Manhattan US Attorney Tuesday announced charges against three foreign nationals for insider trading, wire fraud, intentional damage, unlawful access, and related conspiracy acts. The defendants are Iat Hong and Chin Hung of Macau, and Bo Zheng of China. Iat Hong was arrested on Christmas Day in Hong Kong. 

Judge Won’t Block S.F. Police Chokehold Ban [CNS, 12/29/16]: A judge Tuesday refused to block a new policy that bars San Francisco police from shooting at moving vehicles or using chokeholds.

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:

Erasing the News: Should some stories be forgotten? [ABA Journal, 1/1/17]: In September 2016, a newly formed committee of four editors at the Tampa Bay Times hosted the first of what will be quarterly meetings to develop policies for requests to remove or alter stories in online archives. This is yet another disruptive twist for journalism in the digital age: the possibility of erasing the historical record.

The Religious-Liberty Showdowns Coming in 2017 [The Atlantic, 12/28/16]: From mosque surveillance to new religious-exemption laws, a look at some of the issues likely to come up under Trump.

Utah asks U.S. Supreme Court to uphold polygamy ban in ‘Sister Wives’ appeal [Fox 13 Salt Lake City, 12.28.16]: he state of Utah is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold its historic ban on polygamy, citing the ban on plural marriage as a condition of statehood. The brief filed Tuesday is Utah’s response to a petition by reality TV polygamist Kody Brown and his four wives, who sued the state over its polygamy ban. The U.S. Supreme Court signaled its interest in the case by asking the Utah Attorney General’s Office to reply.

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:

N.J. college wins immunity in lawsuit from fired employee [NJ.com, 12/28/16]: One of New Jersey's largest public colleges can't be sued for discrimination in federal court because its an arm of the state, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled Tuesday.

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