Posts for July 22, 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:
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:
Abortion rights
groups file lawsuit to block Texas ban on second-trimester procedure [Jurist,
7/21/17]: Abortion rights groups filed a lawsuit on Thursday that seeks an
injunction against against a Texas law that bans a common method of
second-trimester abortions. The complaint was filed in response to Senate Bill
8, which was signed in law in June by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
The
American Presidency [TOPIC 15]
Jeff Sessions just got in more trouble — and now he’s put
Trump in a box, too [Wash Post, 7/21/17]: The Washington Post is reporting
that Russia's ambassador has said he and Sessions discussed the 2016 campaign
during two meetings last year. That is contrary to multiple public comments
made by Sessions in March, when he recused himself from oversight of the Russia
investigation.
Spicer quits amid White House feud [Politico,
7/21/17]: The beleaguered press secretary resigns after Trump settles on
Scaramucci for communications director, splitting aides.
Trump's public Russia comments could cause legal
headaches for him — and his kids [Politico, 7/20/17]: Investigators
can use the president's interview to establish facts and intent, potentially
creating stumbling blocks for others touched by the case and making it harder
for the many lawyers involved to coordinate.
Trump Can't Escape the States [Slate, 7/21/17]:No matter whom he fires or pardons,
the president won't be able to hide from state attorneys general.
Lawyers Aren't Wizard [Slate, 8/21/17]: There's no magic legal spell to
remove Donald Trump from office. Americans are just going to have to stand up
and fight his abuses of power.
Yes, Trump Could Pardon Himself. Then All Hell Would
Break Loose [Politico / Bloomberg / Eric Posner, 7/21/17]: It’s never been
tried. Here’s how it could blow up his presidency, or blow up the system.
Circuit Court Nominees In The Trump Administration [“Above the Law” blog, 7/21/17]: The Latest News And
Rumor (Part 1); What are the chances of these folks getting confirmed?
Ginsburg: Justices felt
Trump travel ban 'too restrictive [AP, 7/21/17]: Supreme
Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg says the Trump administration was "too
restrictive" in deciding what family relationships qualify as close enough
to avoid the ban on travel from six mostly Muslim countries.
Trump’s Mueller
Scheming Will Fail [Justia, 7/21/17]: John Dean
comments on President Trump’s expressed displeasure with his attorney general,
Jeff Sessions, and his apparent concern about the investigation by special
counsel Robert Mueller. Dean answers several questions raised by these and
related stories.
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:
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
Kamala Harris and Rand Paul Introduce National Bail
Reform Bill [McClatchy DC, 7/21/17]: The bill would allocate $10
million over three years to fund federal grants for courts instituting pretrial
services and data-driven risk evaluations thought to reduce racial and economic
disparities between defendants who are held and those who are released pending
trial.
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:
After Supreme Court
Decision, People Race To Trademark Racially Offensive Words [NPR’s “All Things
Considered,” 7/21/17]: Racially offensive trademark applications are piling
up at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The Supreme Court decided last
month the federal government couldn't ban trademarks simply because they're
disparaging. NPR's Planet Money team talks to some of the people trying to
trademark racial slurs.
Fake News is 'Viral Deception,' 9th
Circuit Conference Hears
[CNS, 7/20/17]: While misinformation spread by fake news has
polluted electoral politics, its dangerous implications extend well beyond that
into the realm of business and national security, law and media experts said at
the Ninth Circuit’s Judicial Conference Thursday.
Survey:
More Americans See Less Media Bias—But Why? [Newseum, 7/20/17]: Our
annual survey found a significant rise in the number of Americans who believe
the media tries to report without bias. What’s behind this sudden surge in
trust?
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:
Kentucky told to pay attorney fees in same-sex marriage case [AP, 7/20/17]: A
federal judge has ordered Kentucky taxpayers to pay more than $220,000 in legal
fees because a county clerk refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex
couples in 2015.
Fired LAUSD teacher can sue district for alleged
discrimination, court says pLA Daily News, 7/20/17]: A state appellate
court panel Thursday upheld a trial judge’s ruling that a former Los Angeles
Unified School District teacher can move forward with his lawsuit alleging he
was removed from his classroom for criticizing many of the school district’s
policies and initiatives.
PERB: Unlawful to “Blacklist” Former
Employees [Calif. PERB blog,
7/21/17]: Eric Moberg was a former employee of the Monterey Peninsula Unified
School District (MPUSD). Moberg alleged that the MPUSD “blacklisted” him
because of his protected activities which caused him to lose jobs with subsequent
school districts. The key issue addressed by the Board was whether Moberg had
standing, as a former employee, to bring an unfair practice charge
against the MPUSD for retaliation. The Board held that he did.
International Law, Citizenship
and Immigration [TOPIC 40-42]
A Step Backward: The Closure of the Office of Global
Criminal Justice [Jurist, 7/21/17]: Guest
Columnists, David M. Crane, of Syracuse University School of Law, and Richard
Goldstone, former Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, discuss
the widespread implications of the US decision to close the Office of Global
Criminal Justice.
Court Deals Another
Blow to Trump’s Sanctuary City Order [CNS,
7/21/17]: A federal judge Thursday refused to lift an injunction
blocking part of President Donald Trump’s executive order against sanctuary
cities, calling the government’s pledge to cut only limited funds from
jurisdictions that won’t help enforce immigration laws an “illusory promise.”
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