Posts November, 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 (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:

Making the judiciary great again [“Democracy in America” blog in The Guardian, 11/20/17]: Donald Trump's new contenders for the Supreme Court; The president's new list sends an unsubtle message to Justice Anthony Kennedy.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2017/11/making-judiciary-great-again

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:

U.S. threatens localities with sanctuary policies, despite previous court rulings [SF Chron, 11/16/18]{The Trump administration on Wednesday told 29 local and state governments with “sanctuary” policies, including San Francisco, Berkeley and Contra Costa County, to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement or forfeit some federal grants — despite federal court rulings that such demands are unenforceable.

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/U-S-threatens-localities-with-sanctuary-12361308.php

The American Presidency [TOPIC 15_

et's Settle the Legality of DACA Now ]Nat. Rev., 11/21/17]:The Trump administration can bypass lower courts by asking the Supreme Court to hear an Arizona case.

http://www.stcl.edu/about-us/faculty/josh-blackman/

III. The Political System: Voting and Campaigns (See Topic 16-20 in the 5^th edition of Constitutional Law] Here are someecent articles that are relevant to this unit:

Seek balance on polling place speech [Nunn. Star Trib., 11/21/17]:: Preserving free speech while protecting voters is a balance that deserves careful co [Minn. Star Trib., 11ideration.

http://www.startribune.com/seek-balance-on-polling-place-speech/458934153/

Roy Moore misconduct, assault allegations continue to rile campaign [Montgomery Advertiser, 11/21/17]: Doug Jones’ campaign wants to talk about sexual harassment and abuse allegations leveled against Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore. And on Tuesday, at least, so did Roy Moore's.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/politics/southunionstreet/2017/11/21/roy-moore-misconduct-assault-allegations-continue-rile-campaigns/887043001/\

Legislation and the Legislative Process (TOPIC 20)

Congress speeds toward shutdown over Dreamers [Politico, 11/21/17]: Concern is growing in both parties that a clash over the fate of Dreamers will trigger a government shutdown this December.

https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/21/congress-dreamers-government-shutdown-daca-250758

Secrecy surrounds sexual harassment settlements in Congress ]MccCatchy  State governments’ practice of spending taxpayer funds to settle sexual harassment lawsuits against legislators and staff has created an uproar in California’s Legislature and other statehouses around the country. Now a picture is emerging of how the U.S. Congress is doing the same thing, with less fanfare and even less transparency. 

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article184870288.html

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 Profs Blawf] Here are some recent articles that are relevant to this unit :

What will happen to Charles Manson's remains? [AP, 11/20/17]” According to state law, Manson's next of kin has 10 days — or until Nov. 29 — either to claim or decline to take possession of the body. If his relatives decline, prison officials must make arrangements for cremation or burial. 

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-charles-manson-body-20171120-story.html\

Carpenter v. United States and the positive law model[ “Volokj Conspiracy” blog in the Wash Post, 11/2-/17]:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2017/11/21/carpenter-v-united-states-and-the-positive-law-model/?utm_term=.c9071884786f

Will the Supreme Court Kill The Death Penalty This Term? [Bloomberg,. 112117]: Will the U.S. Supreme Court add the fate of the death penalty to a term already fraught with hot-button issues like partisan gerrymandering, warrantless surveillance, and a host of contentious First Amendment disputes?

https://www.bna.com/supreme-court-kill-n73014472287

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

Fighting Gay Rights and Abortion With the First Amendmen [NY Tinesm 11/21/17]”: The details were spare when the event appeared this past summer on Attorney General Jeff Sessions’s public schedule. He would speak to a group called Alliance Defending Freedom at a summit on religious liberty. It would be in Orange County, Calif., but no exact location was specified. No news media would be allowed in.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/22/us/politics/alliance-defending-freedom-gay-rights.html?_r=0

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:

Justice Dept. investigating Harvard over affirmative action policies [CNN, 11/21/17]: The Justice Department is actively investigating Harvard University's use of race in its admissions policies and has concluded the school is "out of compliance" with federal law, according to documents obtained by CNN.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/21/politics/harvard-affirmative-action-justice-department/index.html