Posts for April 23, 2017

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 (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:

New Justice on the Block [Slate, 4/22/17]: Gorsuch's first-day performance was self-assured -- and slightly irritating to his colleagues.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2017/04/justice_gorsuch_s_self_assured_first_day_on_the_bench.html

Forget Trump's first 100, what about Gorsuch's first 10? [CNN, 4/21/17]: On Monday, Gorsuch appeared from behind the flowing red curtain for his debut, wearing his black robe and pausing for a moment to gaze out into the audience and take it all in. Then, after about 13 minutes, he launched into arguments, asking his first question. And then a second. And a follow-up.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/21/politics/neil-gorsuch-supreme-court-first-week/index.html

Whose money is it?: Clarence Thomas and the due process clause [Volokh Conspiracy, 4/21/17]: “A few days ago, I wrote about the Supreme Court’s decision in Nelson v. Colorado (the “exonerated criminal defendant’s refund” case), and the comments on that post illuminated a rather interesting fault line in the opinions to which I had not paid much attention.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2017/04/21/whose-money-is-it-clarence-thomas-and-the-due-process-clause/

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:

How Texas is beating the Supreme Court on abortion [Politico, 4/17/17]: ‘Texas has taken what might have happened in a decade or more in another state and collapsed it into a year.'

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/texas-supreme-court-abortion-237306

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

Trump to hold rally same night as White House Correspondents' Dinner [Politico, 4/22/17]: President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he is holding a rally the same night as the White House Correspondents' Dinner. "Next Saturday night I will be holding a BIG rally in Pennsylvania. Look forward to it," the president tweeted.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/22/trump-rally-100-day-white-house-correspondents-dinner-237483

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 could tighten grip on California political control [AP, 4/22/17]: Republicans have a lock on power in Congress and the White House. But far across the country in California, the party of Reagan is seeing yet another threat to its fraying relevance. Democrats who control every statewide office and command the Legislature are pushing changes in two of the state's largest counties that could leave California even more tightly in a Democratic vice.

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CALIFORNIA_DEMOCRATIC_DOMINANCE_NCOL

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

Conservative groups open to new Obamacare repeal push [Politico, 4/21/17]: The same groups that encouraged conservatives to buck the president on the last health care bill say they’re ready to see a deal. 

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/21/obamacare-repeal-conservatives-237472

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

Virginia governor commutes death row inmate sentence [Jurist, 4/22/17]: Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe commuted a death row inmate's sentence on Thursday stating the conviction was flawed. 

http://www.jurist.org/paperchase/2017/04/virginia-governor-commutes-death-row-inmate-sentence.php

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:

The wittiest signs from the San Francisco March for Science [SF Chron, 4/22/17]: Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of San Francisco on Saturday to participate in the March for Science. Walking from Justin Herman Plaza to Civic Center, many of the peaceful marchers were armed with clever signs.

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/The-wittiest-signs-from-the-San-Francisco-March-11091974.php

How the Coming Church-State Showdown Could be Avoided [The Atlantic / Bloomberg, 4/22/17]: The Supreme Court has ample reason to avoid deciding a case that could erode the Establishment Clause.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/04/how-the-coming-church-state-showdown-could-be-avoided/523941/

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-04-20/church-playground-case-is-a-constitutional-seesaw

Willie Brown: Berkeley betrays its free speech legacy [SF Chron, 4/22/17]: The descendants of those who fought for free speech now say there shouldn’t be speech unless it fits their own political agenda. If it doesn’t, then it’s not free speech, it’s hate speech — and it must be stopped, even if it means violence and damage.

http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/williesworld/article/Berkeley-betrays-its-free-speech-legacy-11091114.php

Supreme Court Asked to Save Abbott and Costello 'Who's on First?' Copyright [THR Esq. blog of the Hollywood Reporter, 4/20/17]: Heirs to the comedic duo present a "critically important" question about a "new rule" robbing contributors to old movies of ownership rights.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/supreme-court-asked-save-abbott-costello-whos-first-copyright-995770

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: