Asian Americans turn Democratic

Taeku Lee and Karthick Ramakrishnan write for Los Angeles Times, November 23, 2012

The fact that nearly three out of every four Asian Americans voted for Obama caught most pundits by surprise. Moreover, Asian Americans, who voted in record numbers in 2008, appear to have mobilized an even higher turnout in 2012. Asian Americans are no longer a swing vote or a crouching tiger in the electorate; their political stripes are now distinctly Democratic blue.

A quote from Taeku Lee also appeared in San Francisco Chronicle.

Want American exceptionalism? Fix immigration

Jennifer Granholm writes for POLITICO, November 21, 2012

In order to keep America competitive — in order to remain “exceptional” — we must leverage the key strand of our national DNA: our global diversity. Our major national competitors are mostly homogeneous. Our diversity is our competitive advantage. Our blend of people and cultures and talent and perspectives can keep us the strongest, the smartest, the most advanced nation on Earth — if we have the right immigration policies.

Wukan: still unsolved, and still significant

Stanley Lubman writes for The Wall Street Journal, November 19, 2012

The Wukan events and the lack of progress a year after they first arose suggests the extent to which the protests, the institutions involved and the stark policy issues confronting the Party-state present major challenges to China’s new leadership.

Oakland police union sides against brass

Franklin Zimring quoted in San Francisco Chronicle, November 18, 2012

Franklin Zimring, a UC Berkeley criminologist, said that despite the notion of the “thin blue line” where all those in uniform share an allegiance, the union was positioning itself for a future with a receiver who may make drastic personnel changes. “What they’re really saying here is, ‘If someone has to pay —them first,’ ” Zimring said of the union.

Your online attention, bought in an instant

Chris Hoofnagle study cited in The New York Times, November 17, 2012

Among the trackers setting the most cookies on the top 1,000 Web sites in the United States, for example, BlueKai was first, with 2,562 cookies, while Rubicon came in second, with 2,470, according to research conducted last month by the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology.

The GOP’s credibility gap

Jennifer Granholm writes for POLITICO, November 16, 2012

I’m loath to give the Republicans advice, but I’d humbly suggest that rather than giving their organization an uncomfortable exam just to change their tone, technology and turnout, they consider changing their ideas. And I’d suggest they start by looking at their position on freedom. The Republican Party has a major credibility gap on that issue. Why? The Republicans are for free enterprise, but not free people. And that is their fundamental problem.

Summer hiring reflects sluggish demand at most Bay Area firms

Terrence Galligan quoted in The Recorder, November 16, 2012 (registration required)

The students with the highest GPAs at UC Berkeley School of Law still receive eight to 10 offers for the summer, as they did before the recession, said Terrence Galligan, assistant dean of career development at UC-Berkeley. “Even if the market were to shrink more, I don’t think that would change,” he said.

Open child dependency courts to media

Barry Krisberg quoted in San Francisco Chronicle, November 16, 2012

Barry Krisberg, a UC Berkeley law professor, suggested there was irony the way a system that was closed to protect children and families has “too often been used to protect workers in this system.” He characterized the child-welfare system as being “in chaos and disarray”—and the way to change it would be to open the windows and “show how bad it is.”

Adultery, an ancient crime that remains on many books

Melissa Murray quoted in The New York Times, November 14, 2012

But Melissa Murray, a professor of law at the University of California, Berkeley, said she thought “most courts in light of Lawrence are going to give adultery a wide berth.” Professor Murray added: “It is an open question whether adultery continues to be viable as criminal law even though it remains on the books in 24 states and territories. Nobody is going to be going to jail for it. But it is used in divorce and custody cases and even in some employment cases.”