Posts for April 24, 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 (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:
Announcing Supreme Court
Opinions [Gerard Magliocca in Concurring Opinions, 4/24/17]: “While these statements are interesting historical
artifacts and do convey the personalities of the Justices to some extent, I’m
left to wonder why the Court still goes through this old-fashioned exercise.”
Judge Alex Kozinski's advice for President Trump [CBS News: 50 Minutes, 4/23/17]: Ninth Circuit Court
of Appeals judge tells 60 Minutes it's not the judiciary's job to be a
political counterforce, but to protect against abuses.
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]
Trump reschedules dinner
with Supreme Court justices [The Hill, 4/23/17]: President
Trump planned to have dinner with the justices of the Supreme Court on
Thursday evening, but the White House said Sunday evening the
event will take place on a future date because of scheduling conflicts.
Responding to the
Banned Use of Chemical Weapons: When All Else Fails
[Justia, 4/24/17]: Professor Rotunda
explains the difficulty of determining whether a nation has chemical weapons
and praises President Trump’s recent military response to the use of chemical
weapons in Syria.
Disapproval of President Donald Trump Grows in Latest
WSJ/NBC News Poll [WSJ, 4/23/17]: Americans are dissatisfied with
President Donald Trump as he nears his 100th day in office, with views of his
effectiveness and ability to shake up Washington slipping, a new Wall Street
Journal/NBC News poll finds.
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)
Will the Government Be Open in a Week? Here Are the
Dividing Lines [NY Times, 4/24/17]: Congressional leaders and White
House officials have steered the nation to the brink of a government shutdown
that virtually all parties agree would be a terrible idea.
Charters vs. CTA heads for Capitol showdown pCabinet
Report, 4/24/17]: The growing struggle between charter schools and opponents
within the traditional system will spill into legislative chambers this week as
lawmakers consider several bills that would put new regulations on charters and
their operators.
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
At Least 61,000 Nationwide Are in Prison for Minor Parole
Violations [Marshall Project, 4/24/17]: Among
the millions of people incarcerated in the United States, a significant portion
have long been thought to be parole violators, those who were returned to
prison not for committing a crime but for failing to follow rules: missing an
appointment with a parole officer, failing a urine test, or staying out past
curfew.
Supreme Court To Decide If
Prosecution, Defense Can Share Experts in Capital Case [Nina Totenberg on NPR,
4/24/17]: In a time of high drama over
executions in Arkansas, the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments Monday in a case
that could determine the fate of two of the condemned men in the Razorback
state, as well as others on death row elsewhere.
Texas man convicted in double slaying to get
Supreme Court hearing [Texas Tribune, 4/20/17]:
The U.S. Supreme Court, including its newest justice, Neil Gorsuch, will decide
on a legal technicality in the case of a Fort Worth man who killed a 5-year-old
girl and her grandmother.
Liberal Justices Slam Lack of Review in Police Shooting [CNS, 4/24/17]: The Supreme Court’s
decision Monday not to hear an excessive-force case drew a fiery dissent from
two left-leaning justices, who say the lower courts should have let a jury
decide instead of taking the word of a police officer over that of the man he
shot.
Breyer Stands Up for Death-Row Inmates in Solitary [CNS, 4/24/17]: Speaking out about
the constitutionality of isolating prisoners before killing them, Justice
Stephen Breyer said Monday that the high court must soon step in.
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:
A popular public school
Bible class in West Virginia faces legal challenge [Wash Post, 4/23/17]: Gym
is Trenton Tolliver’s favorite class. But the 7-year-old is also a huge fan of
the weekly Bible course at Princeton Primary, his public elementary school. He
gets to play matching games about Bible stories and listen to classic tales.
Noah and the Ark is a favorite. Adam and Eve and the garden of Eden, of course.
And the story about how their son Cain killed his brother, Abel.
Judges panel gives ringing boost to Berkeley's cell
phone disclosure ordinance [East Bay
Times / Ars Technica, 4/22/17]: A federal court panel found that Berkeley's
cellphone disclosure ordinance does not violate the First Amendment.
The decision in CTIA v. City of
Berkeley can be found at:
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:
International Law, Citizenship
and Immigration [TOPIC 40-42]
1 in 8 children in California schools have an
undocumented parent [EdSource, 4/23/17]: Posing significant challenges for
educators, about 1 in 8 students in California schools has at least one parent
who is undocumented, according to a new brief from the Education Trust-West.
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