Category Archives: conflict of interest laws

WTF Justice Alito?

May 22, 2024, 3:08 pmconflict of interest laws, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

NYT: Last summer, two years after an upside-down American flag was flown outside the Virginia home of Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., another provocative symbol was displayed at his vacation house in New Jersey, according to interviews and photographs. This… Continue reading

“Time to Close the Hatch Act’s Escape Hatch”

May 20, 2024, 7:11 amconflict of interest laws, ethics investigationsRick Hasen

Hampton Dellinger for Politico: Since the Hatch Act was passed in 1939, government workers have faced strict limits on their political activity. And rightly so. Federal employees should be on the job for the public good, not partisan ends. Violators… Continue reading

FEC Commissioner Trey Trainor Has a Ted Cruz Campaign Sign on His Front Lawn at His Texas Home

May 1, 2024, 7:16 amconflict of interest laws, ethics investigations, federal election commissionRick Hasen

This, as the FEC reviews a complaint against Cruz.

“Prosecutor leaves Georgia election case against Trump after relationship with district attorney”

March 15, 2024, 1:02 pmconflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

AP: A special prosecutor who had a romantic relationship with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis formally withdrew Friday from the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump after a judge ruled one of them had to leave for the… Continue reading

“Judge rules Fulton DA Fani Willis can stay — if Wade steps aside”

March 15, 2024, 7:50 amconflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

AJC: A Fulton County judge on Friday gave District Attorney Fani Willis a stark choice: Either recuse yourself and your office from the election interference case against Donald Trump or cut ties with your lead prosecutor and former lover. The… Continue reading

Poor Disclosure from Some State Supreme Courts

March 14, 2024, 6:45 amconflict of interest laws, judicial electionsRick Hasen

Fix the Court release: State supreme court justices have the power to impact federal elections, redistricting, immigration, reproductive rights, gun rights and more, and yet most states are suppressing information about their top judges — either by making it difficult… Continue reading

“Justice Clarence Thomas was the deciding vote in a case he never should have heard”

March 6, 2024, 1:15 pmconflict of interest laws, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Kimberly Atkins Stohr Boston Globe column: Even before the Supreme Court practically nullified the 14th Amendment’s clause banning insurrectionists and their supporters from seeking federal office, another decision all but ensured that outcome. And it was made by a… Continue reading

“Fani Willis admits relationship with prosecutor on Trump Georgia case”

February 2, 2024, 10:22 amconflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

WaPo: Fulton County District Attorney Fani T. Willis (D) admitted she had a personal relationship with an outside prosecutor she appointed to manage the election interference case against former president Donald Trump and his allies but denied claims that the… Continue reading

“Prosecutor on Trump Georgia Case Avoids Testifying in Divorce Proceeding”

January 31, 2024, 7:53 amconflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

NYT: The special prosecutor leading the election interference case against former President Donald J. Trump will not have to testify this week about an alleged romantic relationship with his boss, Fani T. Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, after reaching… Continue reading

“Not just the Supreme Court: Ethics troubles plague state high courts, too”

December 7, 2023, 8:02 amconflict of interest laws, judicial electionsRick Hasen

New from the Center for Public Integrity.

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

“‘I could sell golf’: How DeSantis and aides courted lobbyists for campaign cash”

August 20, 2023, 8:48 amcampaign finance, conflict of interest laws, lobbyingRick Hasen

WaPo: When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took office in 2019, his political team made a list of the state’s top 40 lobbyists and about 100 of their “Suggested Clients to target” for political contributions, according to a fundraising document reviewed… 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