Category Archives: Uncategorized

“5th Circuit Upholds Strict Texas Voting Law, But Rules That Private Plaintiffs Can Enforce Civil Rights Law”

December 19, 2023, 6:33 amUncategorizedMateriality ProvisionSpencer Overton

From Democracy Docket: Last Friday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 2-1 opinion upholding Texas’ so-called “wet ink signature” law for voter registration, but affirming that private parties can sue under a consequential Civil … Continue reading

Five law profs file amicus in bribery/Hobbs Act case

December 19, 2023, 5:45 amUncategorizedbribery, Campaign financeSpencer Overton

The full brief, which was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, is on SSRN: This brief—filed by five law professors as amici curiae in United States v. Sittenfeld, No. 23-3840 (6th Cir.)—argues that the… Continue reading

“Huntington Beach resident files suit in attempt to stop possible Voter ID requirement”

December 19, 2023, 5:36 amUncategorizedvoter IDSpencer Overton

Attorney Lee Fink flagged this ongoing litigation that was originally covered in November by the L.A. Times. Plenty of people have questioned a proposed Huntington Beach charter amendment that will be on March’s primary ballot that would require voters… Continue reading

“China, Russia, Iran and Cuba all tried to meddle in 2022 US congressional elections, intelligence assessment finds”

December 19, 2023, 2:03 amUncategorized2022 Election CycleSpencer Overton

CNN: Foreign government efforts to target the 2022 US midterm elections appeared to grow compared with the 2018 elections, according to a declassified intelligence assessment released Monday, with a “diverse and growing group of foreign actors” participating. There was… Continue reading

“Justice Sandra Day O’Connor to lie in repose at the Supreme Court”

December 18, 2023, 7:41 amUncategorizedSupreme CourtSpencer Overton

Washington Post: Sandra Day O’Connor, the first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice will lie in repose Monday, where members of the public can pay their respects. O’Connor’s casket will arrive shortly before 9:30 a.m. and be placed in… Continue reading

“A ‘Delicate Matter’: Clarence Thomas’ Private Complaints About Money Sparked Fears He Would Resign”

December 18, 2023, 7:38 amUncategorizedSupreme CourtSpencer Overton

The latest from ProPublica: Interviews and newly unearthed documents reveal that Thomas, facing financial strain, privately pushed for a higher salary and to allow Supreme Court justices to take speaking fees.

“How Leonard Leo’s Dark Money Network Orchestrated a New Attack on the Voting Rights Act”

December 18, 2023, 7:23 amUncategorizedmoney in politics, Voting Rights ActSpencer Overton

Ari Berman in Mother Jones: On November 20, a three-judge panel on the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that private plaintiffs could not bring lawsuits to enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, the key remaining provision… Continue reading

“Crypto titans launch 2024 election play with $78M super PAC spend”

December 18, 2023, 7:20 amUncategorizedCampaign financeSpencer Overton

Politico: A trio of super PACs backed by cryptocurrency executives and investors said Monday that they’ve raised $78 million as part of a major new push to influence the 2024 elections.The campaign, which has support from venture capital giant… Continue reading

Handing off blogging to Spencer Overton

December 17, 2023, 5:20 pmUncategorizedDerek Muller

Send your tips and questions to Spencer! I’m grateful for the opportunity to step in this week. And of course I’ll crop up now and again as Section 3 cases reach resolution….

RPV Near Me – Updated with Asian and American Indian/Alaska Native Estimates

December 12, 2023, 12:35 pmUncategorizedNicholas Stephanopoulos

This is a guest post by Ruth Greenwood, Director of the Election Law Clinic at Harvard Law School: With coalition claims in the election law news again, I wanted to flag an update to a resource that I shared… Continue reading

BREAKING: over 3 dissenting justices, Supreme Court allows Galveston County map to remain in place while Fifth Circuit considers Voting Rights Act claim

December 12, 2023, 12:29 pmUncategorizedDerek Muller

After a panel of the Fifth Circuit found that the Galveston County, Texas map likely violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, the en banc court stayed the order and allowed the old maps to remain in place while… Continue reading

“Exclusive: Pro-Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro cooperating in multiple state probes into 2020 fake electors plot”

December 8, 2023, 2:14 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

CNN: The pro-Trump lawyer who helped devise the 2020 fake electors plot and already pleaded guilty to the conspiracy in Georgia is now cooperating with Michigan and Wisconsin state investigators in hopes of avoiding more criminal charges, multiple sources told CNN. In a dramatic… Continue reading

“Appeals Court Upholds, but Narrows, Gag Order on Trump in Election Case”

December 8, 2023, 1:55 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

NYT: A federal appeals court on Friday largely upheld the gag order imposed two months ago on former President Donald J. Trump in the criminal case accusing him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election, but narrowed its terms to… Continue reading