David Sklansky Examines Prosecutors’ Dual Roles

The New York Times, Room for Debate, April 1, 2009 by David Alan Sklansky
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/01/when-prosecutors-step-over-the-line/

“These two roles can pull prosecutors in opposite directions. The habits of combat we encourage in prosecutors, and that they need if they are to succeed in hard-fought cases, can tempt them to be less than painstaking about their broader set of obligations—the requirements imposed on them, for example, to disclose all potentially exculpatory information to the defense.”

Alan Auerbach Explains Impact of California’s Sales Tax Increase

Contra Costa Times, March 31, 2009 by John Simerman
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_12032567

The increase has little to do with monetary policy, said Alan Auerbach, a UC-Berkeley economics and law professor. “The state’s in a tough position. There are no good choices,” he said. Some people may hold off on big-ticket buys for a few years until the tax bump ends. Others may buy out of state or online, ignoring tax laws that require self-reporting. “It’s not just Nevada, it’s Amazon.com,” Auerbach said. “It’s going to have a negative impact.”

Jonathan Simon Thinks California’s Parole Problem Due to Overcrowded Prisons

KQED, Forum with Michael Krasny, March 26, 2009 Host Scott Shafer
http://www.kqed.org/epArchive/R903260900

“We sent too many people to prison to begin with. We don’t do much with them while they’re there. Half of all prisoners coming out of the system haven’t done any programming because there’s no incentive. Often we just can’t provide it for them given the current state of our prisons, which were designed very badly; they’re chronically overcrowded. They have about twice as many people in them as they should, so when they’re coming out on parole there’s been very little effort to get them ready for that.”

Mary Ann Mason Stresses the Importance of Female Role Models

The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 25, 2009 by Mary Ann Mason
http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2009/03/2009032501c.htm

Role models, particularly ones with children, can make the difference in whether a female graduate student takes the next big step along the tenure track. While undergraduates are influenced simply by seeing a female faculty member, graduate students need to see that she is able to have children as well as a career.

Jacob Hacker Supports a Federal Medicare-Like Insurance Plan

The New York Times, March 24, 2009 by Reed Abelson
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/25/health/policy/25medicare.html?pagewanted=print

“The Medicare program is a real success story,” said Jacob S. Hacker…. While private health insurance premiums increased an average of 7.3 percent annually from 1997 to 2006, Mr. Hacker said, Medicare spending per enrollee rose only 4.6 percent a year for the same benefits. Private insurers will be able to compete with a federal plan, he said, by offering a wider range of benefits and being more flexible in how they work with doctors and hospitals. “A lot of people are going to want to be in a private plan,” he said.

Chris Kutz and Christopher Edley Address Questions about Professor’s Off-Campus Legal Work

San Jose Mercury News, March 20, 2009 by Matt Krupnick
http://www.mercurynews.com/education/ci_11962421

Edley, who was on President Barack Obama’s transition team and who has held positions in two Democratic administrations, said he and others on campus are conflicted about how to handle Yoo…. “All of us need to work through the tension of the principles that preserve the excellence and independence of the university versus the principles that govern society.”

“A criminal conviction is not necessary,” said Christopher Kutz, a law professor and vice chairman of the UC Berkeley Academic Senate. But discipline based on anything less is “new territory, and it’s dangerous territory,” Kutz said.

Robert Berring Searches for a Visionary to Lead Journalism School

The Daily Californian, March 20, 2009 by Arielle Turner
http://www.dailycal.org/printable.php?id=104964

Berring said the committee is looking for someone with a line of respected work and experience in the journalism industry. “You want a visionary that can come and make sure that the journalism school at Berkeley, which has been a leader in the field, stays a leader in the field,” Berring said. “Someone who … can help raise money to make that a reality.”