Monthly Archives: July 2011

Guest Blogging Schedule

July 14, 2011, 9:17 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

I am happy to announce that Justin Levitt will be guest blogging for me next week (7/17 to 7/23) and Dan Tokaji will be guest blogging 7/31-8/6. During those two weeks, please send your tips to Justin or Dan. Thanks… Continue reading

“Palin political committee spent tens of thousands on bus trip”

July 14, 2011, 8:11 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

WaPo: “Sarah Palin’s political action committee spent tens of thousands of dollars covering the costs of the former Alaska governor’s “One Nation” East Coast bus tour this spring — a trip that Palin (R) has repeatedly characterized as a… Continue reading

“White seeks delay in criminal trial”

July 14, 2011, 5:03 pmSOS WhiteRick Hasen

See here.

“Ohio’s new election law spurs ballot repeal effort”

July 14, 2011, 5:00 pmelection administrationRick Hasen

AP reports.

ACORN May Be Gone, But an Important Constitutional Case About Their Activities Lives On

July 14, 2011, 4:51 pmvoter registrationRick Hasen

Amy Busefink of Project Vote entered an Alford plea in a Nevada trial court to a charge of conspiring to violate Nevada’s laws barring the compensation of persons for voter registration activity based upon the number of total registrations collected. … Continue reading

Sept. 6 Date Set for Motion to Dismiss in John Edwards’ Case

July 14, 2011, 3:03 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

See here. I think there’s a fairly good chance for such a motion to be granted.

“Guyana-Born Man Asks FEC If He Can Run for President”

July 14, 2011, 2:53 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Fascinating question actually. If the FEC were to say he could not run, would that not get the agency in the business of having to decide who is a natural born citizen? And what then if a Birther files a… Continue reading

“Wall Street Lobbyists Aim to ‘Reform the Reform’”

July 14, 2011, 2:50 pmlobbyingRick Hasen

NYT reports. This is no surprise. As I’ve said, lobbyists, like mushrooms, thrive in low light.

“Obama raises how many millions?”

July 14, 2011, 2:33 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Good point.

“Democrats attack Romney PACs”

July 14, 2011, 2:25 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

WaPo reports.

“Calif lawmakers approve change to electoral votes”

July 14, 2011, 1:55 pmelectoral collegeRick Hasen

AP reports.

“Dream Team Assembled at UCI Law School Squeezes Boring Right Out of 2010-11 U.S. Supreme Court Term”

July 14, 2011, 12:30 pmSupreme CourtRick Hasen

See here.

“Judicial Independence and Social Welfare”

July 14, 2011, 12:00 pmjudicial electionsRick Hasen

Michael Gilbert has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Independence empowers judges to interpret law without interference, but it also allows them to ignore law and to pursue private agendas. Recognizing this, scholars have called for a… Continue reading

“Full 8th Circuit to hear Minnesota disclosure law case”

July 14, 2011, 9:49 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

The Star-Tribune reports. It is still not clear to me if the Eighth Circuit will review the ban on direct corporate contributions to candidates. If I were the state, I’d probably formally ask the Court to issue clarification about… Continue reading