Posts for August 1, 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:
A Conversation with
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg about the 2016-17 term [Duke Univ. on YouTube,
7/31/17]: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
recapped the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2016-17 term and discussed its recent
consensus among the justices, its rulings on the scope of the Trump
administration’s “travel ban” executive order, and her legal legacy.
Posner says 'highly politicized' Supreme Court should grow to
19 justices [Chicago Trib, 7/31/17]: Chicago's
favorite smarty pants judge says the Supreme Court should have 19 members, not
9. Whoever could U.S. Appellate Court Judge Richard Posner have in mind to fill the extra spots? Probably
not himself – he thinks all judges should retire at 80.
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:
Slavery and the Right to
Travel Armed: A Short History Lesson [“Take Care” blog, 7/31/17]: The scope of the right to keep and bear arms outside
of the home after District of
Columbia v. Heller remains one of the most contested issues in
American law.
15 States Appeal EPA's Delay of
Stricter Air-Quality Standards [CNS, 8/1/17]: Attorneys general from
15 states filed a legal challenge on Tuesday over the Trump administration’s
delay of Obama-era rules reducing emissions of smog-causing air pollutants.
The
American Presidency [TOPIC 15]
Trump Is Winning On Judges [BuzzFeed, 7/31/17]: It's not all chaos at the White
House: Trump has been steadily delivering on his promise to appoint
conservative judges.
Trump Ousts
Scaramucci as White House communications director [AP / Politico, 7/31/17]: President
Donald Trump has removed Anthony Scaramucci as communications director, a
little more than a week after the former financier was named to the post, the
White House said on Monday.
What Donald Trump
Mocking Reince Priebus Reveals About His Presidency [TIME, 7/31/17]:
Working for the people requires awe and humility,
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)
Republicans ignore Trump's Obamacare taunts [Politico,
7/31/17]: Senate Republicans have no plans to revive their party-line attempts
to repeal Obamacare this summer, despite President Donald Trump’s increasing
frustration over the chamber’s failed attempts last week to gut the law.
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
Former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio found guilty of
contempt [CNN, 7/31/17]: Arpaio was
accused of violating a court order in a racial profiling case by continuing
patrols targeting immigrants. US District Court Judge Susan Bolton
handed down her ruling in court papers signed on Monday.
Supreme Court rulings
reshape penalties for young offenders [AP, 7/31/17]: Among
the U.S. Supreme Court's many rulings on juveniles and crime, several big cases
over the last dozen years have narrowed the instances in which those who commit
offenses under age 18 can be subject to the harshest penalties. A look at
these recent cases:
The justices return to cellphones and the Fourth Amendment: In
Plain English [SCOTUS blog’s Amy Howe, 7/31/17]: An excellent
summary of the issues involved in Carpenter v. U.S.
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:
Austria court convicts man for violating anti-nazi laws
with Facebook post [Jurist, 7/31/17]: An
Austrian court in the District of Feldkirch found a man guilty of violating the
country's anti-Nazi laws on Monday for his claims that the mass killing of Jews
in gas chambers is a fictitious story. Austria's Prohibition Act of 1947
provided a legal framework for the denazification of Austria.
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:
Unsolicited Opinion:
The Department of Justice Files Brief Urging Court to Block Rights for LGBT
Employees [Justia, 8/1/17]: Professors Grossman and Kreis comment on a
brief recently filed by the U.S. Department of Justice arguing that Title VII
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not protect against sexual orientation
discrimination. They point out the flaws in the DOJ’s arguments and explain the
dangerous consequences its position will have if it prevails.
International Law, Citizenship
and Immigration [TOPIC 40-42]
UK court: Tony Blair not to be prosecuted over Iraq War [Jurist, 8/1/17]: The UK High Courtrejected a "crime of
aggression" allegation Monday against former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair
by a former Iraq General Abdul Wahed Shannan Al Rabbat. The two justices
dismissed the claim as UK law does not recognize a crime of aggression:
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