Monthly Archives: July 2019

President Trump Planning Some Kind of “Executive Action” on the Census: What Comes Next? Not Necessarily a Constitutional Crisis

July 11, 2019, 8:37 amcensus litigation, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I’m seeing a lot of hyperventilating on Twitter and elsewhere about how President Trump is about to start a constitutional crisis through an executive order that would mandate inclusion of the citizenship question on the census. If Trump actually ordered… Continue reading

“To unlock the youth vote in 2020, Democrats wage legal fights against GOP-backed voting restrictions”

July 11, 2019, 8:27 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

WaPo: The fight in New Hampshire is one of at least a dozen legal skirmishes being waged across the country, in the run-up to the 2020 election, that are financed by Democrats and liberal activists who hope to overturn… Continue reading

“Colin Kaepernick’s skin appears darkened in Republican campaign fundraiser ad”

July 11, 2019, 8:22 amcampaignsRick Hasen

Yahoo News reports.

“Dems clash with Republicans over election security”

July 10, 2019, 5:14 pmchicanery, election administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

Politico: House Democrats and Senate Republicans may have attended similar classified briefings on election security Wednesday, but they left with opposite conclusions.House Democrats expressed deep concerns about the White House’s ability to protect voting systems in 2020, drawing fresh… Continue reading

“Gibberish in Supreme Court opinions: Given that John Roberts is scarcely stupid, what explains the stupidity of part of his opinion in Rucho?”

July 10, 2019, 4:33 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Good question from Sandy Levinson. I’ve been pondering this question since I read Rucho (mostly on grounds that Roberts (deliberately?) misrepresented the plaintiffs’ symmetry arguments as those in favor of proportional representation).

“New protections for Georgia absentee ballots settle lawsuits”

July 10, 2019, 9:44 amabsentee ballotsRick Hasen

AJC: A new Georgia law that prevents absentee ballot rejections has resolved two federal lawsuits over last fall’s election.The law prohibits election officials from disqualifying absentee ballots because of a signature mismatch or a missing birth year and address. These… Continue reading

“Justice Dept. Watchdog Is Preparing to Deliver Verdict on the Russia Investigation”

July 10, 2019, 7:47 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

NYT: But the investigation by Mr. Horowitz, who has maintained a reputation for being above the partisan fray, may have a better chance of being accepted across party lines as credible. Mr. Horowitz, who is expected to release a much-anticipated… Continue reading

Unanimous 4th Circuit Panel Shuts Down Emoluments Litigation Brought by D.C. and Maryland Against Trump on Standing Grounds

July 10, 2019, 7:40 amconflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

You can find the opinion here. I wonder whether this will go en banc to the entire 4th Circuit. The panel certainly went further than it had to here at this point given the procedual posture of the case.

Judge Furman Will Not Let DOJ Lawyers Withdraw from Case, at Least Not Without an Adequate Explanation

July 9, 2019, 3:36 pmcensus litigationRick Hasen

Order: The DOJ’s motion to withdraw certain attorneys is “patently insufficient,” Furman said in a scorching 3-page ruling.Only two attorneys who left DOJ’s civil division, Brett Shumate and Alice LeCour, will be allowed to withdraw. Several others must stay. pic.twitter.com/E3zdTiVjkt… Continue reading

Tweet of the Day

July 9, 2019, 10:28 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Matthew Collette: They need to block people from Twitter so they can enforce the Voting Rights Act.— Matt Collette [email protected] (@MattCollette14) July 9, 2019

Pa. Governor Will Use Bonds to Pay for Voting Machine Upgrades to Insure Machines with Paper Trail, After Republicans in Legislature Tried to Tie Upgrade Money to End of Straight Ticket Voting

July 9, 2019, 10:14 amelection administrationRick Hasen

Release.

“Call Time is a Time Suck for Congress”—Post and New Ciara Torres-Spelliscy Blog

July 9, 2019, 9:02 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Looking forward to more blog posts at her new site.

Watch the Archived Video: UCI Law 9th Annual SCOTUS Review, with Adler, Chemerinsky, Geidner, Goodwin, and Harrington

July 9, 2019, 7:41 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

You can watch here. It was a dynamite discussion.

“Be Careful What You Wish For: Private Political Parties, Public Primaries, and State Constitutional Restrictions

July 9, 2019, 7:39 ampolitical partiesRick Hasen

Hugh Spitzer has written this article for the Washington Law Review. Here is the abstract: Political parties always disliked the Progressive Era changes that pulled the entire electorate into nominating candidates. Why, after all, should non-party members participate in the… Continue reading

Election Law Blog

The law of politics and the politics of law