“3 More Prosecutors Resign Over Adams Case, Refusing to Admit Wrongdoing”

April 22, 2025, 10:14 amchicanery, Department of JusticeRick Hasen

NYT: Three Manhattan federal prosecutors who worked on the criminal corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams of New York City said Tuesday that they would resign rather than admit wrongdoing in refusing to abandon the case, according to an email… Continue reading

“Hundreds of scholars say U.S. is swiftly heading toward authoritarianism”

April 22, 2025, 10:07 amauthoritarian threats in USTravis Crum

NPR: A survey of more than 500 political scientists finds that the vast majority think the United States is moving swiftly from liberal democracy toward some form of authoritarianism. In the benchmark survey, known as Bright Line Watch,… Continue reading

Virginia Felon Disenfranchisement Law: “The Supreme Court Could Take Another Shot at Voting Rights”

April 22, 2025, 7:26 amUncategorizedTravis Crum

This is a fascinating challenge to Virginia’s felon disenfranchisement law on the grounds that it violates the fundamental conditions placed on its 1870 re-admission to the Union. The Court’s docket can be found here. At this stage of the… Continue reading

Arkansas: “Lawsuit claims new ballot laws violate voting rights, seeks court intervention”

April 22, 2025, 7:13 amUncategorizedTravis Crum

KATV News: The League of Women Voters of Arkansas (LWVAR) has filed a lawsuit challenging several state laws that they argue dismantle Arkansas’s ballot initiative process. … The lawsuit, filed Monday, lists 5 bills brought forward by Senator Kim… Continue reading

“The Slippery Slope of Political Iconography”

April 22, 2025, 7:10 amUncategorizedTravis Crum

NYT: Earlier this month Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, decided to swap out his usual American flag lapel pin. Instead of the stars and stripes, he pinned a gold medallion in the shape of President… Continue reading

“Wife of former senator Bob Menendez found guilty in corruption case”

April 22, 2025, 4:41 amUncategorizedTravis Crum

Wash. Post: The wife of former U.S. senator Bob Menendez was found guilty on Monday of helping her husband generate a steady flow of bribes and gifts that totaled about $1 million and included gold bars, cash and a… Continue reading

“Voter Fraud Mistake”

April 22, 2025, 4:40 amUncategorizedTravis Crum

Benjamin Plener Cover (Idaho) has posted this draft, which is creatively entitled “Voter Fraud Mistake,” on SSRN (forthcoming, William and Mary Bill of Rights Journal). Here is the abstract: False narratives challenging electoral integrity often cite ineligible voting as… Continue reading

Sixth Circuit affirms that injunction would be inappropriate for Michigan state criminal prosecution of 2020 presidential elector

April 22, 2025, 4:35 amcourt decisionsDerek Muller

Straightforward (unpublished) opinion on Younger abstention before the Sixth Circuit, released last week.

Judge Griffin Ignores Justice Scalia’s Bush v. Gore Argument About Irreparable Harm in His Brief in 4th Circuit in Due Process Challenge to Attempt to Overturn Result of North Carolina Supreme Court Election

April 21, 2025, 4:47 pmelection subversion risk, judicial electionsRick Hasen

You can read Judge Griffin’s brief at this link. It briefly cites Bush v. Gore, but completely ignores the main point about irreparable harm that Justice Scalia first flagged in his Bush v. Gore stay concurrence. See here.… Continue reading

“Harvard Sues Trump Administration Over $2.2 Billion Funding Freeze”

April 21, 2025, 3:44 pmUncategorizedTravis Crum

The Complaint is here. The Harvard Crimson reports: Harvard sued the Trump administration in federal court on Monday over its multibillion dollar cuts to the University’s research funding, accusing the White House of undertaking an arbitrary and unconstitutional campaign… Continue reading

“Why you may see Meta and Amazon logos at this year’s White House Easter Egg Roll”

April 21, 2025, 7:58 amUncategorizedTravis Crum

MSNBC: This year’s White House Easter Egg Roll event will feature activities “courtesy” of a number of corporate sponsors, including several tech companies that made financial contributions to President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee. According to a statement from first lady… Continue reading

“Murkowski bucks Trump — and makes the case for ranked-choice voting”

April 21, 2025, 7:42 amUncategorizedTravis Crum

Karen Tumulty at the Washington Post: “We are all afraid,” Murkowski said Monday at an event in Anchorage. “It’s quite a statement. But we are in a time and a place where — I don’t know — I certainly have… Continue reading

“Hakeem Jeffries makes it clear he’ll stand by incumbent House Dems”

April 21, 2025, 7:41 amUncategorizedTravis Crum

Politico: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday pushed back on David Hogg’s effort to fund primary challengers against select Democrats in deep blue seats, arguing in favor of a more efficient allocation of party resources. “Here’s the thing,”… Continue reading

“Electoral Due Process”

April 21, 2025, 7:37 amUncategorizedTravis Crum

Michael Kang (Northwestern) has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, Northwestern University Law Review). Here is the abstract: Hyperpartisanship has hit century-long highs in American politics and is emboldening state government attempts to undermine election outcomes by using control over… Continue reading