Posts for June 14, 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:
Justice Neil
Gorsuch's first ruling shows strict use of language [USA Today, 6/13/17]: His reasoning had less to do with the practices
of the profession than it did the precise meanings of words, the printed
text of statutes, and the proper roles of Congress and the courts.
The Saucy Sock Puppet of the Trump-Nominated Judge [Daily Beast, 6/14/17]:An attorney up for a federal
bench seat made his views plain while writing blog posts under a pseudonym.
The Strange Civil Rights Views of Trump's Latest Court
Nominees [Politico, 6/13/17]:On Wednesday,
three of those nominees will appear before the Senate; Together, they evince a
deep hostility toward civil rights.
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]
Sessions Contradicts Comey on Key
Exchange [CNS, 6/13/17]: Attorney General Jeff Sessions told the
Senate intelligence committee on Tuesday he never had any conversations with
Russians or anybody else about interfering with the 2016 election — calling the
suggestion an “appalling and detestable lie” — he then went on to contradict
fired FBI director James Comey’s testimony about his concerns over a meeting he
had with President Donald Trump.
Appeals Court Avoids Moral Issue of Travel Ban [Bloomberg, 6/13/17]: The 9th Circuit's ruling
against Trump, based on details of immigration law, is a risky way to shut down
a troublesome order.
Trump criticizes latest
court ruling against travel ban [CNN, 6/13/17]: "Well, as predicted, the 9th Circuit did it again - Ruled against
the TRAVEL BAN at such a dangerous time in the history of our country.
S.C.," he tweeted.
Pelosi predicts Trump will 'self-impeach' [Politico,
6/13/17]: House Minority Leader Nancy
Pelosi believes President Donald Trump will “self-impeach” and that Democrats
should wait for the Russia investigations — especially special counsel Robert
Mueller's probe — to play out before pushing to remove him from the Oval
Office.
Trump faces swift backlash after allies push Mueller
firing [Politico, 6/13/17]: ‘The best advice would be to let Robert
Mueller do his job,’ Speaker Paul Ryan said.
Trump Stews, Staff Steps In, and Mueller Is Safe for Now [NY
Times, 6/13/17]: But people close to Mr. Trump say he is so volatile they
cannot be sure that he will not change his mind about Mr. Mueller if he finds
out anything to lead him to believe the investigation has been
compromised.
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)
Sen. Kamala Harris leaves Sessions 'nervous' in
interrogation over his refusal to disclose conversations with Trump [KQED
/ SF Chron, 6/13/17]: Sen. Kamala Harris of California turned her aggressive
prosecutor tactics on Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions in a tense interrogation Tuesday
at a Senate hearing on Russia and the Trump campaign.
'Sanctuary State' Bill Passes First Assembly Committee [CPR,
6/13/17]: It didn’t garner much attention amid the news of a state budget deal,
but a bill to make California a “sanctuary state” has passed its first
committee in the Assembly.
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
For Corrections
Officers and Cops, a New Emphasis on Mental Health [Marshall Project,
6/13/17]: An intensive study and new
programs to combat stress that often goes overlooked.
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:
Retired Indiana
Teachers Sue School District Over Free Speech Violations [Newseum, 6/12/17]:
Former Indiana public school employees filed a
lawsuit against the school after they were banned from school property for “disruptive”
protesting of the school’s Superintendent.
Florida
Religious Liberty Bill Signed into Law [Newseum, 6/12/17]: A new religious liberty
bill was passed in Florida on Friday requiring public schools to allow students
to lead prayers during school events.
Arkansas Judge
Punished for Anti-Death Penalty Views Gain Support from Religious Leaders [Newseum, 6/13/17]: An Arkansas
judge who is facing disciplinary action for his participation in an anti-death
penalty march argues that his actions are protected under the state’s religious
freedom law at a news conference on Friday, supported by religious leaders from
across the state.
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:
Supreme Court Rules
That Citizenship Must Be Equally Heritable Through Fathers and Mothers
[Justia, 6/14/17]: Professor Dorf comments on a recent decision by the U.S.
Supreme Court on the heritability of citizenship and explains why the decision
might have implications for other immigration issues, such as the “Muslim ban”
executive order. Dorf argues that the precedents the Court had to distinguish
to reach its conclusion might give some insight into whether and how it might
defer to other political branches on immigration issues.
Supreme Court strikes down gender inequality in
citizenship law [Jurist, 6/13/17]: The US Supreme
Court ruled 8-0 Monday in Sessions v. Morales-Santana that a gender-based differential in the US citizenship
law concerning children born abroad violates the constitution.
Read the opinion:
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Affirms the 'Equal Dignity' of
Mothers and Fathers [Slate, 6/13/17]:
Her landmark decision in Sessions
v. Morales-Santana bolsters constitutional protections against sex
discrimination -- but leaves Morales-Santana himself out in the cold.
International Law, Citizenship
and Immigration [TOPIC 40-42]
Justice Department Defends Surveillance
Court Secrecy [CNS,
6/13/17]: The American Civil Liberties Union’s latest bid to
declassify a host of sensitive rulings by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Court spurred a pointed rebuttal from Justice Department officials.
UN report: Israel and Palestine have
failed to prosecute war crimes [Jurist, 6/14/17]: Both Israel and Palestine have failed to
prosecute war crimes, according to a report presented Monday to the Human
Rights Council. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein
submitted the report, reviewing the compliance of Israel and Palestine with
recommendations made by the Council dating back to 2009.
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