All posts by Rick Hasen

The Despicable Violence Against Former President Trump

July 13, 2024, 7:48 pmauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

Political violence has no place in our society. The attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump is despicable and deserves our condemnation. No ifs, ands, or buts. Political competition must respect the rule of law and peaceful competition for power.… Continue reading

My New One at Slate: “Democrats Sure Aren’t Acting as if Trump Beating Biden Is an Existential Threat to Democracy”

July 10, 2024, 9:00 amauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

I have written this piece for Slate. Some snippets: But more recently, Democrats have not done nearly enough to deal with the ongoing risks to democracy that they themselves repeatedly raise. They have supported election deniers running in Republican primaries… Continue reading

Congratulations to Election Law Profs Justin Levitt, Carolyn Shapiro, and Kate Shaw, Elected to the American Law Institute

July 8, 2024, 1:35 pmelection law bizRick Hasen

They are among the great choices announced today who write (at least partially) in the area of election law.

Eric Segall Contrasts the Speed of the Trump Disqualification Case with the Slow Walk of the Trump Immunity Case at the Supreme Court

July 8, 2024, 1:33 pmSupreme CourtRick Hasen

Eric writes: There is simply no doubt that the Court’s fast-tracking of the disqualification case way back in February combined with the slow-walking of the immunity case and its eventual holding (the last case of the term) had the… Continue reading

“Top Democratic lawyer backs mysterious news site”

July 7, 2024, 8:14 pmcheap speechRick Hasen

Semafor: A secretive local media network with ties to high-profile national Democratic operatives wants to convince regulators in Arizona that despite the political tilt of its stories, it is not a political entity and should not be subject to campaign… Continue reading

Elon Musk Tweets that Those Who Oppose House Republican Bill That Would Require Documentary Proof of Citizenship to Register to Vote are “TRAITORS” and Asks “What is the penalty for traitors again?”

July 7, 2024, 3:38 pmfraudulent fraud squad, voter registrationRick Hasen

Despicable tweet, via Fox News (which notes that Democrats are whipping against the bill). This bill won’t go anywhere in the Senate, but this rhetoric is toxic, especially from the owner of a major social media platform. (Yes, he… Continue reading

Second Circuit Unanimously Upholds New York Law Giving Recognized Political Parties Advantages under State Campaign Finance Laws

July 7, 2024, 1:59 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Read Upstate Jobs Party v. Kosinski, relying in part on the larger potential for corruption of independent groups that are not recognized political parties (via Richard Winger, who finds this decision objectionable in discriminating against unqualified political parties).

“Rich Bernstein: Trump v. United States is the new Roe v. Wade”

July 7, 2024, 1:49 pmauthoritarian threats in US, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Rich Bernstein at the Society for the Rule of Law: On its face, the judicial method employed by Trump v. United States resembles Roe v. Wade in the ways that matter. Like Roe, the Trump majority explicitly relies on its views of wise policy. For example, the Trump majority… Continue reading

Dan Tokaji Blogging Weeks of July 8 and July 15

July 6, 2024, 7:40 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

We will now go into a stretch where ELB contributors will mostly be taking the reins as primary ELB bloggers for the summer. First up is Dan Tokaji. I don’t know how he does it while deaning. Direct your… Continue reading

“There’s Only One Reason Biden Won’t Drop Out”

July 6, 2024, 7:37 amcampaignsRick Hasen

The Atlantic: Why is Joe Biden still in the presidential race? In the days since his disastrous debate performance last week, pressure on the 81-year-old incumbent to step aside has continued to mount, forcing the candidate and his defenders to… Continue reading

“Major Democratic Donors Devise Plans to Pressure Biden to Step Aside”

July 4, 2024, 4:03 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: After several days of quiet griping and hoping that President Biden would abandon his re-election campaign on his own, many wealthy Democratic donors are trying to take matters into their own hands. Wielding their fortunes as both carrot and… Continue reading

“After controversial court rulings, a Voting Rights Act lawsuit takes an unusual turn”

July 4, 2024, 3:52 pmVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

Hansi Lo Wang for NPR: Last Friday, attorneys led by the American Civil Liberties Union let a filing deadline pass at the U.S. Supreme Court, choosing not to ask the justices to review a controversial lower court ruling that threatens… Continue reading

“Let’s apply Trump v. United States to Watergate’s facts. It’s not pretty.”

July 4, 2024, 3:47 pmchicanery, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy analysis.

Wisconsin: “Police in Glendale remove election observers for being disruptive while objecting to ballots”

July 4, 2024, 3:45 pmchicaneryRick Hasen

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Election observers showed up at several polling locations in the Milwaukee area Tuesday, and two of them were removed by police in Glendale for being disruptive while objecting to absentee ballots, Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy said. Glendale… Continue reading