Commentary: Hobby Lobby is only the beginning
New York Times – July 1
The United States Constitution speaks of the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction over “cases” and “controversies.” But when social controversies do come before the court, its powers are limited. In Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, which concerned the dispute over the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate, the court may have decided the case. The larger controversy, however, won’t be settled so easily. By a 5-to-4 vote, the court on Monday held that the mandate, which requires employers to provide health insurance coverage for contraception, could not be applied to closely held for-profit corporations with religious objections to some forms of contraception. Religious groups described the mandate as part of a war on religious freedom. Supporters of the mandate countered that a victory for the plaintiffs would allow large corporations, under the cover of religious freedom, not just to impede women’s exercise of their reproductive rights but also to defy civil rights statutes with impunity. Amid this heated talk, it was easy to lose sight of the fact that this was a statutory case, not a case decided under the First Amendment’s protection of freedom of religion. … Paul Horwitz, a professor at the University of Alabama School of Law, is the author of “First Amendment Institutions.”
Boehner lawsuit against Obama administration has hurdles to clear
Wall Street Journal – July 2
House Speaker John Boehner is poised to embark on an unusual constitutional experiment that could test the ability of Congress to defend its legislative power—by taking the Obama administration to court. Republicans say delays of Obamacare deadlines, No Child Left Behind law waivers and other White House actions are executive abuses. And they want the judiciary to stop them, or at least declare the president’s actions unconstitutional. It is not clear, however, whether Mr. Boehner’s proposed lawsuit stands a realistic chance of success. … There is also the question of whether the House could meet the standing threshold without the Senate’s blessing, said University of Alabama law professor Heather Elliott. The Senate is controlled by Democrats and would be highly unlikely to support such a suit by Mr. Boehner.
Professors use technology to give medical care to rural areas
Auburn Plainsman – July 3
Smartphones, laptops, iPads and global positioning systems help people connect and simplify their lives, but even with these tools, people cannot always connect with the help they need. Medical help, in particular, can be hard to come by in rural areas where patients often have to drive long distances to receive medical attention. In Alabama there is only one hospital for every 557 square miles, and the lack of medical coverage has had a negative impact on the state’s overall health. Two professors, from Auburn University and the University of Alabama, have teamed up to find an answer to this problem. Rafay Ishfaq, assistant professor of supply chain management in the Harbert College of Business, and Alabama’s Uzma Raja are using their backgrounds in logistics and business analytics to find a unique alternative to traveling long distances for medical care.
Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club announces scholarship recipients
St. Clair Times – July 3
The Trussville Rotary Daybreak Club recently announced its scholarship recipients for this year. Most of the scholarships are renewable for up to four years if the student remains in good standing, making them a value up to $12,500. . . . Anabeth Friday was captain of the color guard at Hewitt-Trussville High School, secretary of the Student Council Association, a member of the leadership team and was named to Who’s Who, the National Honors Society and the Spanish Honors Society. She was involved with the service team at Faith Community Fellowship, T.E.A.M. (Trussville Ecumenical Assistive Ministry), Special Olympics, and Jessie’s Place. Friday will attend the University of Alabama this fall to study Communications and Broadcast Journalism.
Congrats to … Autumn Forehand
Anniston Star – July 3
Autumn Forehand of White Plains High School was recently accepted into the University of Alabama UA Early College program. UA Early college students are high school students from across the U.S. who earn college credit online, and are eligible for the UA Summer Residential/Honors Ready Experience. The students may earn up to 30 hours of college credit from The University of Alabama, and still enter UA eligible for freshmen scholarships.