Monthly Archives: June 2021

Statutory Interpretation Case Decided Today

June 14, 2021, 11:04 amUncategorizedstatutory interpretationAnita Krishnakumar

Today the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a unanimous decision in Terry v. United States, interpreting the First Step Act. Scotusblog commentary is here and begins as follows: Justices reject sentencing reductions for some crack-cocaine offendersThe Supreme Court unanimously… Continue reading

June 21 AEI Event: “How can we strengthen trust in the integrity of presidential elections?”

June 14, 2021, 7:17 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

This looks important: Distrust of the results of presidential elections has been particularly intense in recent years. Many Democrats believed Donald Trump won the 2016 election through interference by Russian disinformation campaigns, and an even larger percentage of Republicans believe… Continue reading

“In Congress, Republicans Shrug at Warnings of Democracy in Peril”

June 14, 2021, 6:54 amchicanery, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

NYT: Senator Christopher S. Murphy concedes that political rhetoric in the nation’s capital can sometimes stray into hysteria, but when it comes to the precarious state of American democracy, he insisted he was not exaggerating the nation’s tilt toward… Continue reading

“Texas Dems amp up voting rights pressure with D.C. blitz”

June 14, 2021, 6:41 amThe Voting WarsRick Hasen

Zach Montellaro for Politico.

“Garland announces expansion of Justice Department’s voting rights unit, vowing to scrutinize GOP-backed voting restrictions and ballot reviews”

June 13, 2021, 8:26 pmDepartment of Justice, Voting Rights ActRick Hasen

WaPo: Attorney General Merrick Garland pledged Friday to double the size of the Justice Department’s voting rights enforcement staff to combat efforts to restrict ballot access and prosecute those who threaten or harm election workers.In an expansive speech that… Continue reading

“How Republicans came to embrace the big lie of a stolen election”

June 13, 2021, 8:24 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Sam Levine for The Guardian.

“Trump is doing more lying about the election than talking about any other subject”

June 13, 2021, 8:13 pmfraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

Daniel Dale for CNN: Since his presidency ended, Donald Trump has issued more statements lying about the 2020 election than statements talking about any other subject.Banned from Twitter since early January, Trump has communicated his post-presidency musings in written… Continue reading

“Exodus of election officials raises concerns of partisanship”

June 13, 2021, 8:09 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

AP: There is no shortage of job openings for local election officials in Michigan. It’s the same in Pennsylvania. Wisconsin, too.After facing threats and intimidation during the 2020 presidential election and its aftermath, and now the potential of new punishments… Continue reading

“Tensions Flare Among Arizona Republicans Over Discredited ‘Fraudit’”

June 13, 2021, 8:04 pmfraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

Steven Rosenfeld: The same split that is dividing Republicans nationally, whether to embrace or reject the fiction that the 2020 presidential election was illegitimate, is now reverberating backstage at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Arizona, where pro-Trump contractors are leading… Continue reading

“It’s Time to Treat Voting Rights Like Climate Change”

June 13, 2021, 7:45 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Michael Barsa and David Dana for Slate: Which is why corporations must be pushed to take a stand. Both through “democratically responsible” investment funds and shareholder activism, investors can push corporations to state loudly for all to hear which voting… Continue reading

Ned Foley Slams Democrats’ Election-Reform Bill

June 13, 2021, 5:36 amUncategorizedRichard Pildes

Surprisingly harsh critique from liberal election-law expert Ned Foley in his latest Washington Post piece: H.R. 1 passed the House with zero Republican votes, and the companion S.B. 1 has zero GOP support in the Senate. That’s because… Continue reading

“How Joe Manchin could escape the trap he set for himself”

June 11, 2021, 12:18 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Ned Foley WaPo column: Manchin’s message leaves a nagging question: what happens if he brokers a deal with all seven GOP senators who voted to convict Trump, and perhaps also Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) (who voted for the … Continue reading

A Couple of Interesting Amicus Briefs Filed in CA Supreme Court in Santa Monica’s California Voting Rights Act Case

June 11, 2021, 11:49 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

The California Supreme Court is hearing an important case about whether the City of Santa Monica can be forced to draw districts for conducting its city elections under the California Voting Rights Act. My earlier coverage is here. Amicus … Continue reading

For ELB Readers Getting Daily Posts by Feedburner, Expect a Change to Feedblitz on Saturday

June 11, 2021, 11:09 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

As I mentioned last week, Feedburner is no longer going to be fully supporting its service to send daily emails with ELB posts to those readers who have signed up. So everyone who as an ELB subscription with Feedburner is… Continue reading