Category Archives: Supreme Court

“Case Could Widen Free-Speech Gap Between Unions and Corporations”

January 18, 2016, 10:57 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Adam Liptak NYT Sidebar column: The Citizens United decision, which amplified the role of money in American politics, also promised something like a level playing field. Both corporations and unions, it said, could spend what they liked to support… Continue reading

Breaking: #SCOTUS Will Hear Gov. McDonnell’s Corruption Appeal

January 15, 2016, 1:00 pmbribery, chicanery, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

The Supreme Court will hear Gov. McDonnell’s appeal. It was pretty likely the Court would do this once it allowed the former governor to stay out of jail pending a decision on the cert. petition. The Court would not have… Continue reading

“Invisible Justices: Supreme Court Transparency in the Age of Social Media”

January 14, 2016, 3:56 pmSupreme CourtRick Hasen

Looks like a fabulous program and list of speakers for this Feb. 11 program at Ga. State.

“Lawmakers Ask Supreme Court to Stop Virginia Redistricting Plan”

January 14, 2016, 2:51 pmredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Roll Call: Ten current and former Republican members of Congress asked the Supreme Court on Wednesday to stop a new, judge-selected redistricting plan in Virginia or risk the state having to postpone congressional elections. The Chief Justice requested a … Continue reading

“Money can’t buy Jeb Bush the White House, but it still skews politics”

January 14, 2016, 8:50 amcampaign finance, campaigns, Plutocrats United, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I have written this piece for the Washington Post Sunday Outlook, probably the most important oped I’ve written on money in Politics. It begins: It is easy to dismiss as overblown the concern about the outsize role of ultra-rich donors… Continue reading

“Citizens United and its Disastrous Consequences: The Decision”

January 14, 2016, 8:34 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

First in a three part series from Fred Wertheimer.

“How Does Corporate Political Activity Allowed by Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Affect Shareholder Wealth?”

January 13, 2016, 2:00 pmcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Tom Stratmann and J.W. Verret have written this article for the Journal of Law and Economics. Here is the abstract: The US Supreme Court case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commissionsignificantly altered the regulatory landscape for corporate political activity by… Continue reading

ACS Book Talk on Plutocrats United

January 13, 2016, 10:35 amcampaign finance, Plutocrats United, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I have written this for the ACS Book Talk. It begins: As I was working on my new book, Plutocrats United: Campaign Money, the Supreme Court, and the Distortion of American Elections, a UC Irvine colleague asked me a… Continue reading

“Upset Republican donors: Have we wasted our money?”

January 13, 2016, 10:08 amcampaign finance, campaigns, Plutocrats United, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

The Hill reports. I’ll have more to say about this very soon.

“Five to Four”

January 13, 2016, 9:21 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

New Brennan Center report: Five to Four Lawrence Norden, Brent Ferguson, Douglas Keith January 11, 2016 Six closely divided decisions by the Roberts Supreme Court have transformed the landscape of campaign finance in America, largely for the worse,… Continue reading

“The U.S. Supreme Court Can Still Take Big Money Out of Politics”

January 13, 2016, 8:06 amcampaign finance, Plutocrats United, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Read Larry Norden in The Atlantic. I’m so glad to see he’s taking the same position I take in Plutocrats United: to fix money in politics, start by changing the Supreme Court.

“How to end American plutocracy: Risk of corruption cannot be the only legal rationale for limiting expenditures”

January 12, 2016, 8:10 amcampaign finance, Supreme Court, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

I have written this oped for the NY Daily News (tied to today’s release of my book). It begins: Forty years ago this month, the Supreme Court decided Buckley vs. Valeo, a case that has distorted our thinking and talking… Continue reading

Plutocrats United: The Book Tour and Talks (UPDATED)

January 12, 2016, 8:08 amcampaign finance, Plutocrats United, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

My new book, Plutocrats United: Campaign Money, the Supreme Court, and the Distortion of American Elections, is now out (Order with discount at Amazon). (Reviews so far: Washington Post, Huffington Post, Washington Monthly.) Tom … Continue reading

“Ballot Manipulation”

January 12, 2016, 7:58 amcampaign finance, direct democracy, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Joel Fox: The California Supreme Court decision to allow an advisory measure on the statewide ballot may appear to promote democracy. However, there is little doubt that the proposed ballot measure is another in a line of maneuvers by the… Continue reading