Derek Muller Blogging Next Week
Direct your tips and queries to him.
Thanks for the excellent blogging from Justin last week and Tabatha this week!
“Supreme Court overturns public-corruption conviction of Cuomo aide”
WaPo:
The Supreme Court on Thursday overturned the 2018 conviction of a former aide to New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D), once again expressing skepticism of the ways federal prosecutors combat public corruption and influence peddling.
The justices took… Continue reading
United States Files Letter in Supreme Court Saying that Moore v. Harper Should Be Dismissed as Moot (This is the “Independent State Legislature” Case)
Brief for United States.
Update:
Common Cause takes the position the case is not moot and the Supreme Court can still decide it. It adds: “Although the Court has pending before it another petition for certiorari raising a similar question… Continue reading
“Ohio GOP passes amendment to make ballot initiatives harder, but voters get to weigh in first”
Daily Kos: Following the playbook of several other Republican legislatures, the Ohio legislature is seeking to make the initiative process harder for voters. This is, in my view, the most pernicious iteration of the on-going anti-democratic entrenchment playbook.… Continue reading
Defamation Suit Against Maxine Waters to Proceed
A California Court of Appeals has ruled that Joe E. Collin III’s defamation suit against Representative Maxine Waters can proceed. The case arises out of the 2020 election when Collins and Waters competed to represent California’s 43rd congressional district. During… Continue reading
Coming Feb. 2024: My New Book: “A Real Right to Vote: How a Constitutional Amendment Can Safeguard American Democracy”
Very excited to be working with Princeton University Press on this new book. More to come!
DOJ Indictment of George Santos Alleges Campaign Finance Fraud, Conversion of Campaign Funds to Personal Use
Pretty blatant violations of the law if they can be proven. [The headline has been corrected.]
Justice Souter Fought to Avoid Applying “Exacting Scrutiny” to Contribution Limits in McConnell Case
Jimmy Hoover for the National Law Journal, examining the Stevens papers:
Among the many insights from Stevens’ papers are the once-private internal court memos in which justices offer suggestions or critiques of each other’s draft opinions in particular cases.
The… Continue reading
Voting Rights Groups Settle Racial Gerrymandering Case in Florida
Voting rights groups reach a settlement with Jacksonville City Council, which agreed to continue using maps ordered by a federal court that provide fair representation to Black communities through the next redistricting cycle after the 2030 Census. This largely settles… Continue reading
Justice Dep’t Settles N.J. VRA Case
Yesterday, the Justice Department announced a proposed consent decree with Union County, New Jersey and its elections officials in a suit challenging the county’s practices with respect to the availability of election assistance and materials in Spanish for Spanish-speaking voters… Continue reading
“Texas Republicans Push New Voting Restrictions Aimed at Houston”
N.Y. Times: Texas’s Republican-dominated state Legislature is targeting Harris County — the newest urban area to show signs of becoming a Democratic Party stronghold in the state — for voting restrictions. If passed, the law would limit polling places,… Continue reading
Constitutionality of N.Y’s Restrictions on Write-Ins Upheld
A 2021 amendment to N.Y.’s Election Law restricts the permissible universe of write-in candidates in a party primary to members of the party. Essentially applying Anderson-Burdick, the state appellate court upheld the constitutionality of the amendment.
“Political parties have protected… Continue reading
“Rep. George Santos charged by Justice Department in federal probe”
CNN Exclusive:
“Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against New York Rep. George Santos, the Republican lawmaker whose astonishing pattern of lies and fabrications stunned even hardened politicos, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
Santos is… Continue reading
“Behind The Dark Money Attack on Voting Rights”
Documented offers more detailed information about the dark money groups behind the incremental assault on voting rights reported in the N.Y. Times yesterday. The four groups identified are:
Cleta Mitchell’s “Election Integrity Network” has organized coalitions of far-right grassroots… Continue reading