Category Archives: judicial elections

Federal District Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Barring NC Legislature’s Elimination of Partisan Primaries for Electing State Appeals and State Supreme Court Judges

January 31, 2018, 12:06 pmelection administration, judicial electionsRick Hasen

You can find the opinion here. In light of the state apparently offering no reason at all for why it made this change as to appellate judges, the federal court’s decision makes a lot of sense. It might be… Continue reading

“California: Petitioners hand in 95,000 signatures against Santa Clara Judge Aaron Persky; Likely to be first recall of a judge since 1982”

January 11, 2018, 1:08 pmjudicial elections, recall electionsRick Hasen

The Recall Elections Blog reports.

Unanimous 9th Circuit Panel, in Opinion by Judge Bybee, Upholds Montana Law Barring Judicial Candidates from Seeking, Accepting, or Using Political Party Endorsements

December 7, 2017, 7:51 amcampaigns, judicial electionsRick Hasen

From the opinion: Montanans select their judges through nonpartisan popular elections. In an effort to keep those elections nonpartisan, Montana has restricted judicial-campaign speech. One of those restrictions is before us—a rule that prohibits candidates from seeking, accepting, or… Continue reading

Top Voting Rights Lawyer Anita Earls Announces Run for North Carolina Supreme Court

November 15, 2017, 7:23 amjudicial electionsRick Hasen

Big news and a race to watch.

“Louisiana hires controversial law firm to block fix for racist judicial elections”

October 23, 2017, 7:17 amjudicial electionsRick Hasen

Facing South reports.

Today’s Must-Read: “In North Carolina, Republicans Stung by Court Rulings Aim to Change the Judges”

October 18, 2017, 7:37 pmjudicial elections, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Trip Gabriel for the NYT: Republicans with a firm grip on the North Carolina legislature — and, until January, the governor’s seat — enacted a conservative agenda in recent years, only to have a steady stream of laws affecting voting… Continue reading

“Las Vegas judge tells felons if they meet probation requirements they likely can vote for Trump in 2020”

October 18, 2017, 7:45 amjudicial electionsRick Hasen

Head-scratcher from the Nevada Independent.

“NC Senate votes to override election law veto”

October 16, 2017, 7:07 pmjudicial electionsRick Hasen

WRAL: The state Senate voted Monday night to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a measure that would cancel all judicial primary elections in 2018. The House is expected to follow suit Tuesday, although that vote may be delayed. Senate … Continue reading

“North Carolina gerrymandering bill pits black judges against other incumbents”

October 10, 2017, 7:35 amjudicial electionsRick Hasen

Think Progress: Many critics of the proposal, including judges, have expressed concerns about the impact on judicial diversity. An analysis by NC Policy Watch reported that judges of color on the district courts are more likely to be “double bunked,”… Continue reading

More changes coming for North Carolina judicial elections

October 5, 2017, 7:11 pmjudicial electionsJustin Levitt

Now looks like 2018 primaries may be going away, and the filing date for races may be pushed back … which allows more time for a pending redistricting bill.

Today’s Must-Read: “A judge, a Vegas phone call and the NC GOP legislative effort to remake the judicial branch”

August 23, 2017, 7:13 amjudicial elections, political partiesRick Hasen

Anne Blythe’s News and Observer piece begins: Doug McCullough was five months away from his deadline for mandatory retirement from the state Court of Appeals bench when the chairman of the state Republican Party gave him a call. Democrat… Continue reading

Federal Court Finds Louisiana Engaged in Intentional Racial Discrimination in At-Large Judicial Elections [Corrected]

August 18, 2017, 10:46 amjudicial elections, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

From the 91-page opinion, also finding Voting Rights Act discriminatory effect: District-based voting was rejected for the 32nd JDC on at least six occasions between 1997 and 2011. Taken as a whole, this timeline shows discriminatory intent. Local white officials,… Continue reading

“GOP wants new election maps for NC judges and prosecutors”

June 26, 2017, 5:01 pmchicanery, judicial elections, redistrictingRick Hasen

News & Observer: A proposal to redraw North Carolina’s court districts has emerged in the final days of the General Assembly’s session. A state House judiciary committee considered proposed maps for Superior Court and District Court judges and district attorneys… Continue reading

“A Test of American Democracy; In attempts to undermine democracy, state lawmakers have set their sights on the courts.”

May 19, 2017, 3:26 pmcampaigns, judicial elections, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Alicia Bannon and Nathaniel Sobel at TAP.

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The law of politics and the politics of law