“A murky law plus a snarky judge equals some memorable judicial sarcasm”

August 8, 2023, 6:59 amScaliaRick Hasen

Charles Lane WaPo column: Eloquence has a rich history in American jurisprudence, as any law student knows. Less famous, perhaps, but more provocative, is the tradition of judicial sarcasm. In a clever 2015 essay, “The Most Sarcastic Justice… Continue reading

“Secure ballots or boondoggle? Arizona county tailors project to politically connected firm”

August 7, 2023, 5:28 pmchicaneryRick Hasen

Votebeat: As an Arizona county prepares to spend up to $1 million in state money to test anti-counterfeit features on ballots, it appears the project was tailored for one company in particular that has pushed the idea with the… Continue reading

Arizona: “Petersen and Toma in court filing aim to quash Prop 211”

August 7, 2023, 5:27 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Capitol Media Services: With efforts by one set of foes already rebuffed, the state’s top Republican lawmakers are making their own bid to quash a new state law designed to shine a light on “dark money.” In a new court… Continue reading

Melissa Murray and Kate Shaw: What Happened to the Part of Dobbs About Letting the People Decide About Abortion Rights?

August 7, 2023, 5:12 pmdirect democracyRick Hasen

Murray and Shaw NYT Oped: In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court justified its decision overruling Roe with an appeal to democracy. In the Dobbs majority opinion, Justice Samuel Alito wrote that the conclusion in Roe… Continue reading

“John Eastman, awaiting potential indictment, asks judge to postpone his disbarment proceedings”

August 7, 2023, 4:47 pmelection subversion riskRick Hasen

Politico: Attorney John Eastman, an architect of Donald Trump’s last-ditch efforts to subvert the 2020 election, is asking a California judge to postpone disbarment proceedings lodged against him, saying he’s increasingly concerned he’s about to be criminally charged by special… Continue reading

Democratic Party in DC Files Complaint Alleging Use of Ranked Choice Voting in DC is Unconstitutional

August 7, 2023, 8:48 amdirect democracyRick Hasen

See this complaint (via Martin Austermuhle).

“‘Fake’ elector plot raised concerns over legal peril, indictment shows”

August 7, 2023, 7:51 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

WaPo: The allegation that campaign officials sought to prevent electors in other states from learning about the language used in Pennsylvania is a key new revelation in the four-count, 45-page federal indictment, which accuses Trump of a sprawling effort to… Continue reading

“The Jolt: Timing of possible Trump indictment by Fulton DA still uncertain”

August 7, 2023, 7:21 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

AJC: Security is tightening at the Fulton County Courthouse. Many staffers are working from home, and District Attorney Fani Willis said she’s “ready” to move forward with her decision regarding election interference charges against former President Donald Trump and his… Continue reading

“‘Of course he lost’: Ron DeSantis rejects Trump’s 2020 election claims”

August 7, 2023, 7:17 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

NBC News: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Sunday rejected Donald Trump’s claim that he was the true winner of the 2020 presidential election in his most forceful comments to date on the matter. “Whoever puts their hand on the Bible… Continue reading

ELB Book Corner: Mary Zielger: “A New Look at the Path to Dobbs”

August 7, 2023, 7:00 amcampaign finance, ELB Book Corner, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I am pleased to welcome Mary Ziegler to the ELB Book Corner, author of the new book, Dollars for Life: The Anti-Abortion Movement and the Fall of the Republican Establishment (Yale, 2022). Here is the first of three posts:… Continue reading

Watch Video of My Conversation on CNN with Jim Acosta About How Trump Could Serve If Convicted of a Felony But Could Not Vote for Himself in Florida

August 6, 2023, 7:57 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Video here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEX_XJ-58s4&t=44s

“Miami groups try to overturn court ruling that kept ‘gerrymandered’ map in effect”

August 6, 2023, 7:52 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Miami Herald: Two days after a federal appeals court blocked a new city of Miami voting map drawn by community groups from being used in the November elections, those Miami community groups have challenged that decision. On Sunday, American Civil… Continue reading

“Trump’s moves to overturn 2020 election were ‘aspirational,’ not criminal, his lawyer argues”

August 6, 2023, 4:00 pmelection subversion riskRick Hasen

WaPo: An attorney for former president Donald Trump said on Sunday that he will argue that Trump’s failed attempt to cling to power after the 2020 election was “aspirational” and not criminal. John Lauro, who is defending Trump against four… Continue reading

“The 2020 Election Fueled a Crisis of Democracy. Voters Fear a Repeat in 2024.”

August 6, 2023, 3:54 pmelection subversion risk, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

WSJ: Americans are worried there will be another electoral crisis in 2024 because the aftermath of 2020 continues to reverberate through the nation’s politics. Many Republicans refuse to acknowledge Joe Biden’s 2020 victory, saying they have lost faith in… Continue reading