Category Archives: election law biz

“Government reform expert Robert Stern joins LA Ethics Commission”

July 4, 2024, 3:40 pmelection law bizRick Hasen

LADN: The Los Angeles City Council has confirmed reform expert Robert Stern as the newest member of the Ethics Commission, and Wednesday marks the first time in several months that the five-member body has had all its seats filled.… Continue reading

“Democratic lawyers get ready: ‘If Trump wins, there will be chaos’”

July 3, 2024, 7:03 amelection law bizRick Hasen

Politico: When Donald Trump issued a ban on travelers from some Muslim-majority countries just a week into his presidency, Democratic attorneys general were caught off guard. They hadn’t expected the policy, long promised by Trump on the campaign trail, to… Continue reading

Election Law Academics Update

June 27, 2024, 7:55 amelection law bizRick Hasen

Here’s my yearly roundup of election law academic hires, promotions moves, visits, accolades: Ellen Aprill is Senior Scholar in Residence at the Lowell Milken Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofits at UCLA (and continues as the John E Anderson Professor in Tax… Continue reading

Assuming the Gary T. Schwartz Endowed Chair in Law on July 1

June 24, 2024, 10:21 amelection law bizRick Hasen

On July 1, I will officially be the Gary T. Schwarz Endowed Chair in Law at UCLA (along with a Professor of Political Science (by courtesy) and the Director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project). Alhthough it is of course… Continue reading

“How a ‘Committed Partisan Warrior’ Came to Rethink the Political Wars” (New Bob Bauer Book!)

June 18, 2024, 7:11 amelection law biz, political polarizationRick Hasen

Peter Baker on Bob Bauer and his new book, in the NYT: Once, after he executed a particularly tough-minded legal attack on Republicans, Bob Bauer remembers, a conservative magazine called him an “evil genius.” He took it as a compliment.… Continue reading

“After 2022 errors, primary election will be Pinal County’s big test”

June 13, 2024, 7:35 amelection administration, election law bizJustin Levitt

Jen Fifield with a great ground-level view on the logistics of an office under intense scrutiny.

“Elections Brain Drain”

June 12, 2024, 7:33 amelection administration, election law bizJustin Levitt

The [North] Carolina Public Press has a really important three-part series on funding for election official positions. (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) And there’s a timely related story from [South] Carolina as well. Turns out… Continue reading

Someone Needs to Take Away Steven Calabresi’s Keys to the Volokh Conspiracy Blog

June 8, 2024, 12:15 pmelection law bizRick Hasen

Something like this in coming out as an election denier is just embarrassing. And it is part of a recent pattern of poorly reasoned and odd postings that make me worried for his mental acuity. And it’s relatively new… Continue reading

“Neal Katyal Was Their Resistance Hero. Until They Found Out About New Jersey.”

April 12, 2024, 6:42 amballot access, election law bizRick Hasen

Politico: In 49 of the 50 states, Neal Katyal is known as a stalwart defender of democracy. And then there’s New Jersey. In the Garden State, Katyal — the Beltway-famous legal combatant against Trump-era assaults on democratic norms — has… Continue reading

“North Carolina election law attorney, nominated 4 times to US District Court judgeship, dies at 69”

April 3, 2024, 7:36 amelection law bizRick Hasen

Fox News: Thomas Farr, a longtime North Carolina redistricting and election law attorney who regularly defended Republican interests but whose 2018 federal judgeship nomination was scuttled by two GOP senators, has died, a legal colleague said Tuesday. He was 69.… Continue reading

Judge Recommends John Eastman Be Disbarred, and Pay a Sanction of $10,000, for His Conduct Seeking to Subvert the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election

March 27, 2024, 4:29 pmelection law biz, election subversion riskRick Hasen

From the 128-page opinion: As an initial matter, the court rejects Eastman’s contention that this disciplinary proceeding and Eastman’s resultant discipline is motivated by his political views or his representation of President Trump or President Trump’s Campaign. Rather, Eastman’s… Continue reading

Huge Congratulations to ELB Blogger and USC Professor Franita Tolson, Named New Dean at USC Law

March 27, 2024, 11:14 amelection law bizRick Hasen

Thrilled about this news: Interim Dean and Professor Franita Tolson has been named the dean and Carl Mason Franklin Chair in Law of the USC Gould School of Law. Tolson is a nationally recognized thought leader and dialogue shaper… Continue reading

“Meredith Sumpter Named FairVote CEO”

March 22, 2024, 10:08 amelection law bizRick Hasen

Release: Meredith Sumpter has been named President and CEO of FairVote, a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections for all. Sumpter’s appointment was unanimously approved by the FairVote Board, and she will begin on April 1. Sumpter is an experienced… Continue reading