Posts October16, 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:

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:

Two Guns Per Person [Slate, 10/13/17]: A simple, constitutional proposal that protects both Americans' lives and liberty.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2017/10/a_two_guns_per_person_limit_would_protect_americans_lives_and_liberty.html

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]

Trump Closes a Health Dispute, but Leaves Open a Power Struggle [“On Washington” blog in NY Times / Slate, 10/15/17]:  The House won a major institutional victory over the White House on health care spending last week, but it wasn’t really a fair fight in the end. The Trump administration capitulated in a long-running legal dispute over health insurance subsidies paid out under the Affordable Care Act, concurring with House Republicans’ claim that the Obama administration had unconstitutionally spent billions of dollars.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/15/us/politics/trump-congress-insurance-subsidies-lawsuit.html?_r=0

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2017/10/trump_s_plan_to_kill_obamacare_is_likely_to_fail_in_the_courts.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:

How the Supreme Court Can Soothe U.S. Political Strife [Bloomberg, 10/15/17]: Curbing gerrymandering would encourage politicians to reach across the partisan aisle.

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-10-15/how-the-supreme-court-can-soothe-u-s-political-strife

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

Justices Won’t Review Florida Death-Penalty Cases [CNS,10/16/17]:

On Truehill v. Florida Justice Stephen G. Breyer issued a dissent from denial of certiorari. And Justice Sonia Sotomayor also issued a dissent, in which Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Breyer joined, from the denial of certiorari. If Justice Elena Kagan (or any other Justice for that matter) had voted to grant certiorari, this death penalty case would have landed on the Court's merits docket.

https://www.courthousenews.com/justices-wont-review-florida-death-penalty-cases/

Beryer’s dissent: https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/101617zr_6k37.pdf#page=9

Sotomayor’s dissent: https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/101617zr_6k37.pdf#page=10

Meet a convicted felon who became a Georgetown law professor [CBS News “60 Minutes” video segment, 10/15/17]: Shon Hopwood was serving time for armed bank robbery when he discovered he had a brilliant mind for the law; Steve Kroft reports on an improbable tale of redemption.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/meet-a-convicted-felon-who-became-a-georgetown-law-professor/

Virginia Double Jeopardy Case Headed to High Court [CNS, 10/16/17]: The Supreme Court on Monday said it will take up the case of a Virginia man who says his conviction on a federal firearms charge was precluded by his acquittal on two related charges tried separately in the interest of protecting his right to a fair trial.

https://www.courthousenews.com/justices-agree-hear-virginia-double-jeopardy-case/

Read the cert petition in Currier v. Commonwealth of Virginia:

https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Currier-cert-petition.pdf

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:

Texas Engaged In Viewpoint Discrimination In Removal of Bill of Rights Nativity Display [“Religion Clause” blog, 10/15/17]: In Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. v. Abbott, a Texas federal district court held that Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas State Preservation Board violated the free speech rights of Freedom From Religion Foundation when, at the governor's order, FFRF's Bill of Rights nativity display was removed from the state capitol rotunda where it had been erected under a limited public forum policy. 

http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2017/10/texas-engaged-in-viewpoint.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 legally recognizes third gender option [Sac Bee, 10/16/17]: For the first time in state history, California will legally recognize a third gender option for residents who do not identify as male or female next year.

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article179062891.html

Lesson for Ezekiel Elliott: The Contract Always Wins [Bloomberg, 10/13/17]: The appeals court was clear in ruling that the NFL commissioner was within his rights to suspend the Dallas Cowboys player.

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-10-13/lesson-for-ezekiel-elliott-the-contract-always-wins

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