Category Archives: Department of Justice

“Jeff Sessions Becomes One of Few Presidential Nominees Ever Opposed by Common Cause in 46 Years”

January 5, 2017, 8:57 amDepartment of Justice, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Release: Today, Common Cause announced it opposition to the nomination of Sen. Jefferson Beauregard “Jeff” Sessions III (R-AL) to serve as U.S. Attorney General, deeming him unfit to serve as the nation’s top law enforcement officer. Senator Sessions has… Continue reading

“Jeff Sessions says he handled these civil rights cases. He barely touched them”

January 4, 2017, 8:25 amDepartment of JusticeRick Hasen

Gerry Hebert, Joe Rich, and Bill Yeomans with a WaPo oped: In the questionnaire he filed recently with the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sessions (R-Ala.) listed four civil rights cases among the 10 most significant that he litigated “personally” as… Continue reading

“Liberals eye Sessions hearing as preview of Supreme Court fight”

January 4, 2017, 8:18 amDepartment of Justice, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Ariane de Vogue for CNN.

“Is Sessions, Trump’s Attorney General Pick, Trying to Paper Over His Record?”

December 13, 2016, 2:36 pmDepartment of JusticeRick Hasen

Nice piece from Carrie Johnson for NPR: Sessions, 69, returned his questionnaire to the committee amid little fanfare late last Friday evening. The former U.S. Attorney and Attorney General for the state of Alabama dutifully listed his employment record. But… Continue reading

“Civil Rights Déjà Vu, Only Worse”

December 12, 2016, 8:35 amDepartment of Justice, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Sam Bagenstos for TAP: Voting Rights. After the Supreme Court’s 2013 Shelby County decision cutting the heart from the Voting Rights Act, states formerly covered by the statute’s preclearance requirement initiated a wave of new vote-suppression measures. Other states also… Continue reading

“Black Belt voter fraud case in Alabama shaped Sen. Jeff Sessions’ career”

November 18, 2016, 4:09 pmDepartment of JusticeRick Hasen

Mary Troyan and Brian Lyman for USA Today.

“Sessions Looks Like a Lock for Confirmation”

November 18, 2016, 4:06 pmDepartment of JusticeRick Hasen

Politico: Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), a potential swing vote on the Senate Judiciary Committee, will support Sessions, a spokesman said Friday. That’s a key pickup, given Flake’s moderate views on immigration and social issues, and his opposition to Donald Trump… Continue reading

My One Personal Interaction with Sen. Sessions Does Not Give Me Confidence About Strong Voting Rights Enforcement with Him as AG

November 18, 2016, 8:30 amDepartment of Justice, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

Others have written about Senator Jeff Sessions, President-Elect Trump’s expected nominee for Attorney General, and questions of race and voting rights. I can add only one thing from personal experience. In 2006, I testified (that day, along with Professors… Continue reading

“Jeff Sessions, Trump’s Pick for Attorney General, Is a Fierce Opponent of Civil Rights”

November 18, 2016, 7:32 amDepartment of JusticeRick Hasen

Ari Berman for The Nation: In the Democratic primary of September 1984, FBI agents hid behind the bushes of the Perry County post office, waiting for Turner and fellow activist Spencer Hogue to mail 500 absentee ballots on behalf of… Continue reading

“Justice Department to Monitor Polls in 28 States on Election Day”

November 7, 2016, 9:02 amDepartment of JusticeRick Hasen

Press release.

NC: “U.S. Justice Department to monitor voting in Forsyth, Wake, Cumberland and Robeson counties”

November 3, 2016, 7:18 amDepartment of Justice, election administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

AP reports.

“Will The New era Of Limited Federal Monitoring Still Protect Voter Rights?”

October 19, 2016, 12:52 pmDepartment of Justice, election administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Nina Totenberg reports for NPR.

“Justice Department significantly reducing number of federal observers stationed inside polling places”

October 7, 2016, 8:10 amDepartment of Justice, election administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Sari Horwitz for WaPo: The Justice Department is significantly reducing the number of federal observers stationed inside polling places in next month’s election at the same time that voters will face strict new election laws in more than a… Continue reading