Category Archives: judicial elections
New Paper of Mine forthcoming in the Annual Review of Political Science: “Polarization and the Judiciary”
I have written this draft paper for the Annual Review of Political Science (forthcoming 2019). Here is the abstract:
The period of increased polarization in the United States among the political branches and citizenry affects the selection, work, perception, and… Continue reading
“Pennsylvania Republicans lost the redistricting battle. Now, they’re declaring war on the courts.”
Wisconsin: “Burns says his approach to Supreme Court race most honest way to run”
WisPolitics:
Middleton attorney Tim Burns said he has not started to process whether his approach to the Supreme Court primary was a mistake.
But he believes it is the most honest way to run.
“I am still just 100 percent,… Continue reading
“The Supreme Court, Judicial Elections, and Dark Money”
Richard Briffault has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, DePaul Law Review). Here is the abstract:
In its cases dealing with judicial elections, the Court has cycled back and forth over whether to treat judges as representatives of the voters,… Continue reading
“Judges Say Throw Out the Map. Lawmakers Say Throw Out the Judges.”
NYT:
In Pennsylvania, a Republican lawmaker unhappy with a State Supreme Court ruling on gerrymandering wants to impeach the Democratic justices who authored it.
In Iowa, a running dispute over allowing firearms in courthouses has prompted bills by Republican sponsors… Continue reading
Texas Defends Its Lack of Latino Appellate Judges by Claiming It is All About Party, Not Race
Courthouse News Service:
“Since 1945, only five of the 76 justices to serve on the Supreme Court, a mere 6.6 percent, were Latino. During the same period, 69 of those 76 justices, or 89.5 percent, were white,” LUPE said in… Continue reading
Liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidate Speaking Out on Judicial Issues in Ways Some Find Troubling
Fascinating Patrick Marley report in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Usually it is conservatives pushing the envelope on judicial campaign speech. But now there’s this:
Tim Burns is doing what state Supreme Court candidates have long avoided — telling voters what he… Continue reading
Full Employment for Election Lawyers Dep’t: NC Legislature Files Emergency 4th Circuit Appeal to Reverse Trial Court Decision on Primaries for Appellate Judges
Following up on this post, the NC Legislature has now sought emergency relief in the 4th Circuit.
Federal District Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Barring NC Legislature’s Elimination of Partisan Primaries for Electing State Appeals and State Supreme Court Judges
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”
Unanimous 9th Circuit Panel, in Opinion by Judge Bybee, Upholds Montana Law Barring Judicial Candidates from Seeking, Accepting, or Using Political Party Endorsements
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
Big news and a race to watch.