Posts October 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 (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:

How Badly is Neil Gorsuch Annoying the Other Justices? [Jeffrey Toobin in the New Yorker, 9/29/17]: The Justices, and especially Chief Justice John Roberts, are assiduous defenders of the Court’s reputation. As savvy denizens of Washington, D.C., they understand the political dimension of their work, but they are careful to avoid any taint of outside political activity that might raise questions about their ethics.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/how-badly-is-neil-gorsuch-annoying-the-other-supreme-court-justices

The 20-17-18 Supreme Court Term

The Supreme Court Term RBG Is Calling 'Momentous' [“Amicus” podcast at Slate, 9/30/17]: The ACLU's national legal director, David Cole, on the start of the high court's next term.

http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/amicus/2017/09/the_aclu_s_david_cole_on_the_cases_the_supreme_court_will_face_in_its_2017.html

The Supreme Court's New Term [“Balkinization” blog, 9/29/17]: Even with the removal of the challenge to President Trump’s Muslim travel ban, it’s hard to remember a single month with so many important cases. These October cases aren’t the only big cases on the docket this Term, but they will certainly define this year at the Supreme Court.   

https://balkin.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-supreme-courts-new-term.html

Trump administration in spotlight as U.S. top court returns [Reuters, 9/30/17]: President Donald Trump’s Justice Department already has flipped the government’s position in some important cases, reversing the stance taken under Democratic former President Barack Obama, and could have a receptive audience on the court, whose term runs through June.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-term/trump-administration-in-spotlight-as-u-s-top-court-returns-idUSKCN1C41ZL

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:

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

Trump picks risky Puerto Rico fight [Politico, 9/30/17]: The natural disaster in Puerto Rico has escalated into a firestorm for President Donald Trump, whose Saturday Twitter attack on the mayor of San Juan drew harsh condemnations, new charges of insensitivity, and warnings about political fallout.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/30/trump-attacks-mayor-san-juan-puerto-rico-hurricane-243329

Trump Lost in Alabama but Is Winning the Wider War [New Yorker, 9/29/17]: The lesson of Roy Moore’s victory is that Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, and the G.O.P. establishment no longer control the Republican Party.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/ryan-lizza/how-trump-lost-in-alabama-but-is-still-winning-the-wider-war

Lessons From a Travel Ban Clash That Wasn't [Linda Greenhouse in the NY Times, 9/28/17]:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/28/opinion/contributors/travel-ban-lessons-trump.html

At high court and others, Trump reverses legal course [AP, 9/30/17]: Backing employers over employees. Backing the state of Ohio over groups involved in voter registration. Backing a narrow reading of a sexual discrimination law over a broad one. Those are just some of the legal about-faces President Donald Trump’s administration is making at the Supreme Court and in lower courts.

https://www.apnews.com/2185ac3d4798476dacf4657499cf4d5b

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:

Supreme Court justice holds key vote on districts drawn to help parties [USA Today, 9/30/17]: The building blocks of the American political system go on trial at the Supreme Court Tuesday, and it's not speculative to suggest that Justice Anthony Kennedy represents the deciding vote. He claimed that role 13 years ago.

i https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/09/29/supreme-court-justice-holds-key-vote-rigged-elections-starting-wisconsin-case/704399001/

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

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:

‘Let’s race our slaves.’ Were these messages sent by Clovis Unified students? [Fresno Vee, 9/30/17]: The Clovis Unified School District said Saturday that it is investigating social media messages that may have come from students in the district and are racially demeaning.

http://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article176383386.html

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:

California expands Japanese internment education to current rights threats [SF Chron, 9/30/17]: The films, plays and public broadcasts California now funds to enlighten students and the public about the horrors of Japanese American internment camps in World War II will soon be expanded to illuminate more recent examples of persecution — including the Muslim immigrants targeted by President Trump. 

http://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/California-expands-Japanese-internment-education-12242225.php

The Fight for $7.25 [Slate, 9/28/17]: The Supreme Court is poised to deal a devastating blow to minimum wage workers.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2017/09/the_supreme_court_is_poised_to_deal_a_devastating_blow_to_minimum_wage_workers.html