Civil Rights News: Unions Focus on Jobs; SCOTUS Weakens ‘Search & Seizure’ Amendment; GA Court Rules No Charter Schools Commission

Post-reform, labor’s role is a-changin’
Politico

Labor unions top concern is simple: “At this point, it is jobs, period,” said Alison Omens, the AFL-CIO deputy director of public affairs. Unions, which were instrumental in the passage of the Affordable Care Act, usually regarded health care as top priority during the 2008 presidential election, but that has changed. “84 percent of unionized workers had [health care] coverage in 2010, according to the AFL-CIO, compared with a little more than 55 percent of nonunion workers.” For the 2012 elections, the focus will be on creating and keeping jobs.

Supreme Court gives police leeway in home searches
The Los Angeles Times

“The Supreme Court gave police more leeway to break into homes or apartments in search of illegal drugs when they suspect the evidence otherwise might be destroyed.” The Supreme Court’s 8 to 1 vote weakens the 4th Amendment, which guarantees “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause… particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

Georgia Supreme Court Overturns Charter-Schools Law
The Wall Street Journal

“The Georgia Supreme Court’s 4-3 decision overturned the law creating the Georgia Charter Schools Commission, which allowed the state to approve and fund charter schools over the objection of local school boards. The decision promises to reshape how public schools are funded by concluding that only local boards of education have the power to open and pay for public schools.”

Compiled by Sergio Azcona, a Spring intern