Category Archives: judicial elections

“Mississippi high court blocks appointment of some judges in majority-Black capital city and county”

September 23, 2023, 2:58 pmjudicial electionsRick Hasen

AP: The Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday struck down part of a state law that would have authorized some circuit court judges to be appointed rather than elected in the capital city of Jackson and the surrounding county, which are… Continue reading

“Different Futures For Pennsylvania Elections Collide in November’s Supreme Court Race”

September 15, 2023, 8:40 amjudicial electionsRick Hasen

Bolts: In a decision that landed days before the 2022 midterms, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered elections officials not to count any mail ballots on which a voter had forgotten to include a date or scribbled an incorrect one, even… Continue reading

Brennan Center Launches “State Court Report”

September 12, 2023, 7:27 amjudicial electionsRick Hasen

Release: Today the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law launched State Court Report, a nonpartisan website devoted to state constitutions and courts. It features commentary and analysis by a wide range of experts, including Judge Pierre Bergeron of… Continue reading

Wisconsin: “Justice Janet Protasiewicz is under pressure to step away from a case. What to know about impeachment and recusal”

September 2, 2023, 2:31 pmjudicial electionsRick Hasen

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: What role does campaign spending play in recusal? In Wisconsin, none. The state Supreme Court adopted rules in 2010 that a judge “shall not be required” to recuse based solely on an endorsement or campaign contribution. That’s a… Continue reading

Wisconsin: “Speaker Robin Vos keeps open option of impeaching newly elected Justice Janet Protasiewicz”

August 30, 2023, 6:51 amconflict of interest laws, judicial electionsRick Hasen

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Assembly Speaker Robin Vos continues to leave the door open to launching impeachment proceedings against state Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz if she does not recuse herself from lawsuits challenging the state’s electoral maps. The Rochester Republican raised … Continue reading

And In Election/Government Dysfunction News from Wisconsin….

August 29, 2023, 6:51 amjudicial electionsRick Hasen

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel offers Legislature’s attorneys weigh in against Republican position in fight over elections chief Wolfe and Supreme Court feud escalates as Chief Justice Ziegler vows to post court director job.

“Wisconsin Supreme Court flips liberal, creating a ‘seismic shift’”

August 27, 2023, 7:47 amjudicial elections, political polarizationRick Hasen

Patrick Marley for WaPo: Liberal groups, long accustomed to seeing the court as hostile terrain, quickly maneuvered for potential victories on a string of major issues. They filed lawsuits to try to redraw the state’s legislative districts, which heavily… Continue reading

“Your State-by-State Guide to Every State Supreme Court”

August 24, 2023, 7:28 amjudicial electionsRick Hasen

Bolts: Every state and territory has its own supreme court and every supreme court has tremendous power over legal cases and public policy within its borders—but the resemblances end there. No two courts are exactly the same. Each has its… Continue reading

“The Manhattan Democratic Party broke state law during its judicial nominating convention”

August 21, 2023, 7:30 amjudicial electionsRick Hasen

NYDN editorial.

Wisconsin: “Conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley rips Janet Protasiewicz for not recusing on redistricting case”

August 18, 2023, 5:38 pmjudicial elections, redistrictingRick Hasen

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: The outcome of a challenge to Wisconsin’s legislative maps is “predetermined” by the court’s liberal majority, conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley wrote in a dissent issued Tuesday. The court is considering taking up lawsuits filed directly with it, bypassing… Continue reading

Wisconsin: “Vos says lawmakers may consider impeachment if Protasiewicz doesn’t recuse from redistricting cases”

August 13, 2023, 6:45 pmconflict of interest laws, judicial elections, redistrictingRick Hasen

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: If Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz does not recuse from lawsuits challenging the state’s legislative boundaries, Republicans who control the state Legislature might consider impeachment proceedings, the Assembly’s top Republican said Friday. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a… Continue reading

“Rancor flares on the Wisconsin Supreme Court as its new liberal majority moves to limit the chief justice’s power”

August 4, 2023, 6:07 pmjudicial electionsRick Hasen

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Three days after securing a new majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the court’s four liberal justices voted to limit the power of its conservative chief justice — a move the leader called “an attempt to gut” her… Continue reading

“‘Lose the courts, lose the war’: The battle over voting in North Carolina”

July 26, 2023, 4:42 amfelon voting, judicial elections, redistricting, voter idDan Tokaji

Center for Public Integrity has this story, part of its series on state high courts, tracing the state’s long-running fights over voting. Spoiler alert: “The North Carolina Supreme Court released its opinions in the redistricting, voter ID and… Continue reading

“Democrats eye Wisconsin high court’s new liberal majority to win abortion and redistricting rulings”

July 25, 2023, 4:26 amcampaign finance, judicial elections, redistrictingDan Tokaji

AP: Wisconsin’s Supreme Court will flip from majority conservative to liberal control in August and Democrats have high hopes the change will lead to the state’s abortion ban being overturned and its maps redrawn to weaken GOP control of… Continue reading

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