Posts October 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 (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:

My attempt at jury duty failed -- because I'm a nursing mother [Chicago Trib, 10/13/17]: A Monday morning, 8:10 a.m. I step out into a gorgeous, sunny day, stressed out that I’m running late for jury duty at the Daley Center. It was going to be a whole day away from my newborn, the longest time we’d spent apart in the 11 weeks since he was born. I’d already gotten up extra early to nurse him, burp him, change him, and, of course, snuggle him before gathering up my breast-pumping equipment for my day away.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-jury-duty-breastfeeding-1015-story.html

In 'Marshall,' a young Thurgood in Connecticut [AP, 10/13/17]: Thurgood Marshall, a titan of 20th-century law and a civil rights pioneer, has until now largely eluded Hollywood’s notice. Despite its title, “Marshall,” too, is wary of taking on the Supreme Court justice in full, sticking to a minor case from Marshall’s early career as counsel for the NAACP. That makes, for better and worse, a sometimes slight, sometimes serious courtroom drama, shot through with bright certainty in the coming triumphs for Marshall and the civil rights movement. It’s a superhero-style origin story: Thurgood, pre-“Brown v. Board of Education,” pre-black robe.

https://apnews.com/044bb390cb6947e29e3debecc0139771/Review:-In-'Marshall,'-a-young-Thurgood-in-Connecticut

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 fails to honor U.S. flag during military ceremony after weeks of griping about NFL players kneeling for national anthem [NY Daily News, 10/13/17]: President Trump’s ire over disrespecting the American flag doesn’t extend to himself. The President on Wednesday remained seated and talked while “Retreat” and “To the Colors” were played at an Air National Guard hangar in Middletown, Pa. “What a nice sound that is,” Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity as he watches the crowd stand. 

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/trump-fails-honor-u-s-flag-military-ceremony-article-1.3559254

What are the Obamacare subsidies that Trump is trying to eliminate, and why do they matter? [LA Times, 10/13/17]: Patient advocates, insurance regulators and lawmakers, including some Republicans, say the move will send premiums soaring and could destabilize insurance markets. “It’s going to hurt people, it’s going to hurt kids, it’s going to hurt families,” Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, a Republican, told the Nevada Independent. 

http://www.latimes.com/la-na-pol-trump-obamacare-questions-20171013-htmlstory.html

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:

Trump supporters launch recall attempt against Gov. Brown [KPCC, 10/13/17]: Trump supporters in Southern California have launched a recall effort against Gov. Jerry Brown, although it’s a long shot attempt to reign in the popular governor. Organizers say they're fed up with Brown’s liberal-leaning agenda and will work to gather the 878,110 valid signatures that the Secretary of State's office says is needed to trigger a special election and attempt to recall the governo

https://www.scpr.org/news/2017/10/13/76627/trump-supporters-launch-recall-attempt-against-gov/

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

Trump administration reduces support for prisoner halfway houses [Reuters, 10/13/17]: The administration of President Donald Trump has been quietly cutting support for halfway houses for federal prisoners, severing contracts with as many as 16 facilities in recent months, prompting concern that some inmates are being forced to stay behind bars longer than necessary.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-justice-prisons-exclusive/exclusive-trump-administration-reduces-support-for-prisoner-halfway-houses-idUSKBN1CI2ZA

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:

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: