All posts by Justin Levitt

Reactions to Shelby County: Noah Feldman

June 26, 2013, 12:39 pmVoting Rights ActJustin Levitt

His column begins: The civil rights era ended Tuesday — or at least that’s what the historians will say about the U.S. Supreme Court‘s 5-4 decision to strike down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as… Continue reading

Jonathan Weiler on Chief Justice Roberts

June 26, 2013, 12:15 pmSupreme Court, Voting Rights ActJustin Levitt

Reflecting on confirmation hearings and Shelby County.

Reactions to Shelby County: Bob Bauer

June 26, 2013, 9:07 amVoting Rights ActJustin Levitt

Bob assesses the Roberts Court’s take on federalism in the elections arena. It begins: Barely had the Court issued its opinion in the Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder, invalidating Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act and for all practical… Continue reading

BREAKING NEWS: DOMA struck down, Prop 8 case dismissed on standing

June 26, 2013, 7:34 amlegislation and legislatures, voter initiativesJustin Levitt

DOMA has been struck down as unconstitutional. Prop 8 case from California dismissed on standing grounds (initiative proponents have no cognizable injury distinct from the general population). I haven’t yet read thoroughly, but SCOTUSblog reports that neither finds a constitutional… Continue reading

An unusual filibuster

June 25, 2013, 11:38 pmlegislation and legislatures, redistrictingJustin Levitt

Those of you who went to bed early on the east coast to get a bit of rest for SCOTUS missed a wild evening in Texas. Redistricting is apparently not the only topic that prompts unusual legislative procedure in Austin.

“Counting prisoners, political motives at play in redistricting debate”

June 25, 2013, 9:49 pmredistrictingJustin Levitt

After prior districts were struck down, Kentucky is set to take up its state legislative redistricting in a special session. (paywall) Not at issue, yesterday or today? Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. Kentucky wasn’t a covered jurisdiction. It’s… Continue reading

Appellate Court Affirms FEC Disclosure Rules in Wyoming Case

June 25, 2013, 9:47 pmcampaign financeJustin Levitt

The Tenth Circuit issues its ruling on the Free Speech v. FEC case (here and here), finding in favor of the FEC. Actually, it just adopted the district court’s decision as its own.

A change on the disclosure party line?

June 25, 2013, 9:47 pmcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Frank Wilkinson weighs in on the dispute between Sen. McConnell and Norm Ornstein on when, if ever, McConnell’s position on disclosure changed. A lot of this dispute may be about the scope of who discloses what: not all disclosure is… Continue reading

More on the SEC and corporate disclosure

June 25, 2013, 9:46 pmcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Here, from Bruce Freed, of the Center for Political Accountability, and Karl Sandstrom, former vice chair of the FEC.

Also, there was a election Tuesday for U.S. Senate

June 25, 2013, 9:46 pmcampaignsJustin Levitt

In Massachusetts. Fifth in seven years. Anyone know where that frequency sits on the record books? Please consider this the awkward transition to non-Shelby-County news for the day.

I missed Nate Silver’s Shelby County analysis earlier today

June 25, 2013, 8:59 pmVoting Rights ActJustin Levitt

Which is not something one should do. “Geography, Not Voting Rights Act, Accounts for Most Majority-Minority Districts“

A blast from the past

June 25, 2013, 8:33 pmVoting Rights ActJustin Levitt

And just in case you’re feeling nostalgic, here’s a link to ELB posts about the VRA renewal, from the congressional renewal process itself in 2006 to the NAMUDNO case in 2009.

Reactions to Shelby County: still coming

June 25, 2013, 8:33 pmUncategorizedJustin Levitt

A few more voices from the academic side of the fence. I’ll continue to collect what I receive (and what I can find). David Schultz, The End of the Second Civil Rights Era and the Coming of the Second Great … Continue reading

Reactions to Shelby County: domain name version

June 25, 2013, 8:33 pmVoting Rights ActJustin Levitt

Looks like Shelby County has inspired at least a few new domain names to collect activist energies. Among them: RestoreVotingRights.org (calling on Congress to act) FreeToVote.org (calling for a constitutional amendment)