“European democracies lead the way – with Children’s Parliaments”

May 14, 2025, 1:22 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Steven Hill: Europe democracies’ staunch belief in a pluralistic democracy is evident in other ways. I recall interviewing the deputy mayor of Bonn, Germany, who told me about a remarkable institution known as Children’s Parliaments. Several hundred cities in… Continue reading

“US justice department asks civil rights division attorneys to stay after mass exits”

May 14, 2025, 10:44 amDepartment of JusticeRick Hasen

The Guardian: Justice department officials have asked civil rights division attorneys to reconsider their decision to leave the department in recent weeks, according to people familiar with the matter, a sign that the agency may have been caught off-guard by… Continue reading

Breaking: Eighth Circuit, on 2-1 Vote, Holds Private Plaintiffs Cannot Enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act through a Section 1983 Action, a Ruling Which if Applied Nationally Would Devastate Voting Rights Act Enforcement in the United States

May 14, 2025, 8:34 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

The Eighth Circuit had earlier reached the remarkably wrong conclusion that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act contains no private right of action (meaning that only the U.S. Department of Justice, and not private plaintiffs, can sue for violations… Continue reading

“As Trump Courts Gifts and Dangles Access, Congress Sits on the Sidelines”

May 14, 2025, 7:24 amchicanery, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

Carl Hulse for the NYT: The president stood accused of dangling exclusive access to the White House for big bucks. Members of Congress were duly outraged, with one prominent Republican assailing him for using “probably one of the more sacrosanct… Continue reading

“When are big-money contributions to super PACs corrupting?”

May 14, 2025, 7:18 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Michael Beckel: Can contributions to super PACs be corrupting? That question is at the heart of a lawsuit being heard next week in federal court in Maine, where two super PACs are challenging a ballot measure passed by 75% of … Continue reading

“The End of the Rule of Law in America”

May 14, 2025, 7:17 amauthoritarian threats in USRick Hasen

Judge Luttig in The Atlantic: The 47th president of the United States may wish he were a king. But in America, the law is king, not the president. Donald Trump may wish he could dictate his unconscionable global tariffs; dispense with… Continue reading

“The Neutral Criteria Myth”

May 14, 2025, 5:16 amUncategorizedNicholas Stephanopoulos

The Wisconsin Law Review just published this article by James Piltch. Here’s the abstract: Academics, policymakers, and judges alike almost universally agree that local subdivision preservation and compactness serve essential roles in redistricting. They often argue—and other times accept… Continue reading

“DOJ ‘weaponization’ group will shame individuals it can’t charge with crimes, new head says”

May 13, 2025, 1:58 pmauthoritarian threats in US, Department of JusticeRick Hasen

Ryan Reilly for NBC News: The conservative activist named by President Donald Trump as the head of the Justice Department’s “Weaponization Working Group” said Tuesday he planned to “name” and “shame” individuals the department determines it is unable to charge… Continue reading

May 20 Webinar: “Federalism and Elections 101: The Constitution and Federal Statutes”

May 13, 2025, 10:05 amUncategorizedRick Hasen

Offered by NCSL.

“Trump’s Plan to Take Jet From Qatar Heightens Corruption Concerns”

May 13, 2025, 7:43 ambribery, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

Charlie Savage for the NYT: During President Trump’s first term, the idea that special interests and governments were buying meals and booking rooms at his hotels set off legal and ethical alarms about the potential for corruption. Mr. Trump’s second… Continue reading

“The Pa. House is set to approve new voter ID rules, reversing years of Democratic opposition”

May 13, 2025, 7:27 amelection administration, voter idRick Hasen

Philadelphia Inquirer: fter years of opposing such a measure, Pennsylvania Democrats are poised on Tuesday to allow a vote in the state House on a bill that, if passed, would create new ID requirements to vote in the commonwealth, alongside… Continue reading

“A VIP Seat at Donald Trump’s Crypto Dinner Cost at Least $2 Million”

May 13, 2025, 7:20 ambriberyRick Hasen

Wired: Ten days from now, 220 crypto investors will sit down to a lavish three-course dinner and enjoy “stunning views of the Potomac river” with US president Donald Trump at his 600-acre golf club in Washington, DC. To earn an invitation,… Continue reading

“Rule of law is ‘endangered,’ chief justice says”

May 13, 2025, 7:16 amauthoritarian threats in US, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Josh Gerstein for Politico: Chief Justice John Roberts described the rule of law as “endangered” and warned against “trashing the justices,” but speaking in Washington Monday he didn’t point fingers directly at President Donald Trump or his allies for publicly… Continue reading

Two from Mike Pitts on SSRN

May 13, 2025, 7:11 amVoting Rights ActRick Hasen

Underruling Voting Rights: An “underrule” occurs when the Supreme Court renders a decision diametrically opposed to a prior case without explicitly overruling the prior case. With the decision in Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference NAACP (2024), the Court has… Continue reading