Deep Docket

When first reading my article I had began to like the ideas of what the new term was willing to focus on. It states that the new term will focus more on consequential constitutional issues such as, campaign contributions, abortion rights, affirmative action, public prayer and presidential power. For example the case with abortion and usage of medication has taken a detour due to the fact that the court needs some clarification. So the whole idea is that this new term of justices should shape our governmental system.

Texas University’s Race Admissions Policy Is Debated Before a Federal Court

This article was actually very interesting to me, because it talked about a process that I have just recently finished: the application to college process. I certainly think that affirmative action, or admitting more people from racially minority groups, can be a good thing. However, because of affirmative action, colleges tend to accept minority students over students in the majority race simply because of their race, and not because of their grades, test scores, or extracurriculars. I believe that this way of trying to end racism, is actually, racist itself. Admitting a student into college because of his or her race is racist. Diversity is very important in colleges and universities and one thing I am looking forward to in college is meeting all different kinds of people from all over the world. However, I personally think that school's policies on affirmative action should be reformed.

Court Stuff

This article was a tad bit concerning to read. Reading about the fact that there are vacant seats in the courts is crazy to think about. We need all the seats to be filled to make sure that justice is served. One part that stuck out to me the most was “The prestigious and important United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit offers a particularly striking example of Republican obstructionism. The 11-seat court rules on most appeals from federal regulatory agencies and has exclusive jurisdiction over national security matters. It has four vacancies; the last time the Senate confirmed someone to the court was 2006.” To read that a court that deals with national security has four vacancies is scary. National security is one of the most important issues in our nation. There is no reason to have vacancies on an issue like this. Honestly there is no reason for this, everyone should want to help. This is just too important to have vacancies. 

Justices Weigh Constitutionality of New York Town’s Prayers

This article was about a current supreme court case deciding whether or not a town in New York's prayers before town meeting are unconstitutional. I believe that the town's prayer is unconstitutional, because they are being said at a government event to a public audience, and they are openly advocating christianity, which is against the establishment clause. However, I see why this could be a difficult case for the Supreme Court because, as the article mentioned, the supreme court has an invocation to God before their meetings and they have made decisions before about similar issues that could be conflicting. For instance, the article mentioned a case where a town in Nebraska's prayers were upheld, but at the same time in US History I had to study a case where public prayers before high school football games were deemed unconstitutional, so this will be a difficult case for the Supreme Court.