All posts by Rick Hasen

New Jersey: “Attorney General says organization lines are unconstitutional”

March 18, 2024, 7:19 amballot accessRick Hasen

New Jersey Globe: Attorney General Matt Platkin has told a federal judge that New Jersey’s county organization line is unconstitutional, and he is not prepared to defend it in court, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed. Platkin sent a letter … Continue reading

“Trump says there will be ‘bloodbath’ if he loses 2024 election, ramps up anti-migrant rhetoric”

March 17, 2024, 12:18 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

ABC News: What was scheduled to be a guest appearance by former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally for Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno quickly turned into Trump saying there would be a “bloodbath” for the country if he… Continue reading

“The Terrifying Legal Election Scenario That Keeps Me Up at Night”

March 17, 2024, 12:11 pmelectoral collegeRick Hasen

Michael Tomasky on a potential 269-269 electoral college tie leading to a contingent election where each state’s U.S. House delegation gets one vote to pick the President.

“Some states are fighting to protect voters from doxxing. They’re losing.”

March 17, 2024, 12:09 pmchicanery, election administrationRick Hasen

See this piece from Politico, with the subhed: “As state leaders move to protect voter data in the interest of privacy, a conservative transparency campaign is winning a battle to put it all on the internet.”

Must-read NYT Deep Dive that Helps Explain SCOTUS Argument Monday in Murthy v. Missouri: “How Trump’s Allies Are Winning the War Over Disinformation”

March 17, 2024, 12:04 pmcheap speech, chicanery, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

It’s a complex story because concern about government jawboning is real but the mendacious attack on those who fought disinformation in the 2020 election is having major reverberations for 2024. Jim Rutenberg and Steven Lee Myers lay it all out:… Continue reading

“Share of Democratic Registrations Is Declining, but What Does It Mean?”

March 16, 2024, 9:48 ampolitical partiesRick Hasen

Nate Cohn for NYT’s “The Tilt:” Newly registered voters, who are disproportionately young and nonwhite, have tended to lean Democratic. That’s been less and less true during the Biden era. A majority of states ask people to select a party… Continue reading

“How Trump Is Scrambling to Raise Cash”

March 16, 2024, 9:46 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: As many as three nights a week, Donald J. Trump has been hosting private dinners at Mar-a-Lago, schmoozing with some of the Republican Party’s biggest financiers as he races to address a sizable cash shortfall against President Biden. There… Continue reading

“Judge redraws WA’s legislative map after lawsuit over Latino voters”

March 16, 2024, 9:44 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

Seattle Times: Washington’s political map is set to change in response to allegations of discrimination against Latino voters, and a result could be Democrats winning more seats in the Legislature. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik approved new boundaries for… Continue reading

“Judge Delays Trump’s Manhattan Trial Until at Least Mid-April”

March 15, 2024, 2:39 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

NYT: A New York judge on Friday delayed Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan until at least mid-April, postponing the only one of Mr. Trump’s four criminal cases that appeared set to begin. The delay — lasting 30 days from… Continue reading

“Prosecutor leaves Georgia election case against Trump after relationship with district attorney”

March 15, 2024, 1:02 pmconflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

AP: A special prosecutor who had a romantic relationship with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis formally withdrew Friday from the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump after a judge ruled one of them had to leave for the… Continue reading

Quote of the Day

March 15, 2024, 10:20 amchicaneryRick Hasen

“They should be getting insurance. They should be filing lawsuits, and getting injunctions in place to make sure that all the state legislatures, election rules are being followed strictly. And that they’re not being waived because of COVID or Chinese… Continue reading

“Judge rules Fulton DA Fani Willis can stay — if Wade steps aside”

March 15, 2024, 7:50 amconflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

AJC: A Fulton County judge on Friday gave District Attorney Fani Willis a stark choice: Either recuse yourself and your office from the election interference case against Donald Trump or cut ties with your lead prosecutor and former lover. The… Continue reading

SCOTUS Justices disagree on the meaning of the word “and,” on application of the rule of lenity, and on the rule on superfluities. And Justice Kagan cites “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”

March 15, 2024, 7:46 amstatutory interpretationRick Hasen

Opinion.

Supreme Court Issues Opinions, Including One on Social Media Use by Public Officials, But Not South Carolina Racial Gerrymandering Case Argued in October

March 15, 2024, 7:38 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

This is particularly interesting because the state in the court below wants to use challenged maps in South Carolina’s elections. I take it this means that the Supreme Court is likely deeply divided over how to resolve the South Carolina… Continue reading