WHAT IS THE PROPER ROLE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT?

In this Google Meet videoconference, we will discuss what role, if any, the federal government should have in local law enforcement. We will consider federal constitutional and statutory provisions, current federal action, proposed federal action (by President Trump), and historical precedents.

Some references (not required reading):

• Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: https://constitution.findlaw.com/amendment4.html
• Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: https://constitution.findlaw.com/amendment10.html
• 1807 Insurrection Act: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurrection_Act_of_1807
• 1878 Posse Comitatus Act: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comitatus_Act
• 2020 protests in Portland and elsewhere:
• • https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-07-24/donald-trump-portland-border-patrol-constitution (July 24, 2020 op-ed by law professor Erwin Chemerinsky arguing that federal intervention is unconstitutional and illegal)
  • https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/07/31/trump-portland-protest-dhs-legal-expert-national-security-389212 (law professor Stephen Vladeck argues that such federal intervention is “lawful but awful”)
• 2014 Bundy Ranch standoff: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundy_standoff
• 1993 Waco siege: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waco_siege
• 1962 Ole Miss riot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ole_Miss_riot_of_1962
• 1957 Little Rock crisis: https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/research/online-documents/civil-rights-little-rock-school-integration-crisis