_{Posts February  8,  2018}

_{These are the 2,18 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] Some recent articles that are relevant to this unit}

Baby judges [AP, 2/8/18]: In this courtroom, every student’s name is “Judge.”

https://apnews.com/fce2e7b2cf1f493db1183e6202549a68/In-this-classroom,-every-student's-name-is-'Judge'

_{II.               Defining the Political System: Federalism and Checks and Balances [See TOPICS 11-15 in the 5th edition of Constitutional Law] Some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:}

_{The American Presidency [TOPIC 15]}

_{III. The Political System: Voting and Campaigns}

Senate 2018: Republicans Still Have Plenty of Targets  [Sabato’s Crystal Ball, 2/8/18]: And Democrats need all the breaks to win a majority.

http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/senate-2018-republicans-still-have-plenty-of-targets/

Why Pa.'s gerrymandered map went too far, acccording to state Supreme Court [Philly Inquirer / Jurist, 2/8/18]:  Pennsylvania’s congressional map, as adopted in 2011, violates the state constitution’s guarantee that “elections shall be free and equal,” the state Supreme Court said Wednesday in an opinion explaining its gerrymandering order overturning the map more than two weeks ago.

_{http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/pa-supreme-court-releases-gerrymandering-opinion-2011-map-violates-free-and-equal-elections-20180207.html}

_{http://www.jurist.org/paperchase/2018/02/pennsylvania-supreme-court-equal-compact-and-contiguous-districts-are-a-constitutional-requirement--.php}

_{Why the Supreme Court Was Right to Stay out of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Districting caseand Why State Courts Have Inportant Roles in this Area}  [Justia, 2/8/18]: Professor Amar explains why the US Supreme Court was right to leave undisturbed the recent congressional redistricting ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Amar describes the important role (and limitations) of state courts and state legislative bodies in our federal system.

_{https://verdict.justia.com/2018/02/08/supreme-court-right-stay-pennsylvania-supreme-court-districting-case-state-courts-important-roles-arena}

With 14 harassment investigations underway, how do lawmakers handle the accused? pCalMatters, 2/7/18]: Under investigation for sexual harassment—including allegations that he invited a young staffer to come home with him—state Sen. Tony Mendoza agreed on Jan. 3 to take a month-long leave of absence from the California Legislature. But a week later, the Democrat from Artesia showed up in the Capitol and lingered until the leader of the Senate told him to leave.

_{https://calmatters.org/articles/14-harassment-investigations-underway-lawmakers-handle-accused/}

Pelosi's Dreamers protest leaves some Democrats wanting [Politico, 2/7/18]: But other lawmakers praised her eight-hour talkathon, even if it failed to produce the desired result. 

_{https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/07/nancy-pelosi-dreamers-democrats-398166}

_{IV.              Cminal Law and Procedure (4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th amendments) [See TOPICS 21-28 in the 5th edition of Constitutional Law] Some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:}

_{V.               1st Amendment (Speech, Religion, Press and Assembly) [See TOPICS 29-33 in the 5th edition of Constitutional Law] Some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:}

_{1st Amendment News: “Make No Law….” Podcasts [Concurring Opinions, 2/7/18]:} Over at Popehat a new First Amendment podcast series has been launched; it’s titled “Make No Law” and is hosted on the Legal Talk Network. The podcasts are conducted by Kenneth P. White, a criminal defense and First Amendment lawyer at Brown White & Osborn.

_{https://concurringopinions.com/archives/2018/02/fan-177-first-amendment-news-make-no-law-first-amendment-pocast-series-launched.html}

_{VI.              14th Amendment, Discrimination, Privacy, Working, Citizenship & Immigration [See TOPICS 34-41 in the 5th edition of Constitutional Law] Some recent articles that are relevant to this unit:}

Anti-union challengers are on the verge of victory at Supreme Court[USA Today, 2/8/18]: Dianne Knox describes herself as "a child of the '60s." Pam Harris grew up a butcher's daughter in a proud union household. Rebecca Friedrichs was secretary of her local teachers' union. Mark Janus supports the rights of workers to organize.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/08/anti-union-challengers-verge-victory-supreme-court/312042002/

_{Internat ional Law, Citizenship}

The Meaning of Trump’s Plan to Keep Gitmo Open [Justia, 2/7/18]:   Professor Dorf explains the symbolism of President Donald Trump's announcement during his State of the Union address that he would be keeping the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay open. Dorf points out that despite the extraordinarily high cost of keeping the facility open, Republicans support its continued operation simply as repudiation of President Obama, who wanted to close it. Dorf points out that Republicans' opposition to closing Gitmo during the Obama presidency also jibed with the not-so-veiled racism of many Republicans who questioned Obama's citizenship and commitment to the US (disregarding the fact that President Bush actually released more Gitmo detainees than President Obama did).

https://verdict.justia.com/2018/02/07/meaning-trumps-plan-keep-gitmo-open