Election Law

New Predictions of an Impending Campaign Finance Ruling

Why hasn’t the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling yet in a campaign finance case that challenges restrictions on corporate campaign spending before elections? The case, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, was argued on Sept. 9, and some had predicted a decision would be issued in December. More rulings…

Jan 11, 2010 3:04 PM CST

Feds Probe Possible Campaign-Finance Violations by Rothstein Lawyers

In the latest development in an ongoing investigation of the alleged $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme that disbarred attorney Scott Rothstein is accused of masterminding, federal authorities are now reportedly probing whether campaign-finance laws were violated by other attorneys in his now-defunct Florida law firm. Rothstein may have funneled money from…

Dec 21, 2009 8:13 PM CST

Anti-Abortion Group Challenges Public Funding of Judicial Elections in Wis.

A new state law that provides public funding for Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates is facing a First Amendment challenge. The Christian Science Monitor calls Wisconsin a “pioneer” in trying to reduce the influence of special interests in judicial elections. The new law, which took effect Dec. 16, aims to level…

Dec 21, 2009 12:15 PM CST

Supreme Court Delay in Opinions Ties Two Other Postwar Terms

Today the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to issue its first opinion following oral arguments this term, tying two other terms in the postwar era for the longest period without an opinion. The Supreme Court has issued four per curiam summary reversals already, but it isn’t expected to issue an…

Dec 8, 2009 1:04 PM CST

Fieger Firm Agrees to Pay $131K to Resolve FEC Contributions Probe

The law firm of Michigan trial lawyer Geoffrey Fieger will pay $131,000 to resolve a probe by the Federal Election Commission, an amount that pales in comparison to the potential fine if commissioners had found a knowing violation of finance laws. The payment will resolve an FEC probe into contributions…

Nov 20, 2009 5:45 PM CST

Lawyer Who Wrote Voting Law Sues & Collects, as Gov’t Officials Steam Over $4.3M Won

Only one legal group in California is suing to enforce the state’s unique voting rights law. And a key attorney in that group helped draft it and get it enacted. This is aggravating officials of several governmental entities from which the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco…

Nov 16, 2009 9:31 PM CST

D.C. Circuit Overturns Restriction on Nonprofit Campaign Spending

A federal appeals court has struck down campaign finance restrictions on nonprofit groups. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that nonprofits have a First Amendment right to spend money to advocate policy positions as long as they don’t coordinate with a candidate or party, the New…

Sep 21, 2009 4:20 PM CDT

Campaign Finance Law Takes a Beating in Supreme Court Arguments

The U.S. Supreme Court appears ready to strike down or curtail restrictions on campaign spending by corporations, according to several reports on today’s oral arguments. Swing voter Anthony M. Kennedy appeared to side with the First Amendment argument against the spending restriction, repeatedly referring to “an ongoing chill” on the…

Sep 9, 2009 6:50 PM CDT

Olson Previews Argument, Calls Campaign Law the ‘Antithesis of Free Speech’

The lawyer arguing the campaign finance case involving the banned broadcast of the documentary, Hillary: the Movie, previews his arguments in a newspaper column. At issue in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission is the constitutionality of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law that bars corporations from using corporate treasury funds…

Sep 8, 2009 6:46 PM CDT

Hillary: The Law Changer

Unusual pre-term rehearing may reshape campaign finance laws

Sep 2, 2009 2:30 AM CDT

Floyd Abrams and Ted Olson Squabble Over Oral Argument in FEC Case

As observers eagerly await a U.S. Supreme Court reargument next month in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, big-name lawyers are battling over who gets to make part of the oral presentation. Former U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson represents Citizens United. But, contending in a motion that Olson’s brief is…

Aug 14, 2009 7:40 PM CDT

Caperton Capers

Court’s recusal ruling sparks states to mull judicial contribution laws

Aug 2, 2009 1:30 AM CDT

Standing Together

Government branches addressing justice issues still feel some tremors

Jul 2, 2009 12:30 AM CDT

Top Minn. Court Says Franken Won Senate Race; Coleman Concedes

Democrat Al Franken edged out his Republican opponent in a hard-fought election for a U.S. Senate seat by 312 votes, the Minnesota Supreme Court decided today in a unanimous ruling expected to give the Democratic party a solid 60-seat majority. After the court’s decision, incumbent Norm Coleman conceded the race,…

Jun 30, 2009 8:14 PM CDT

Supreme Court Orders Reargument in Case of ‘Hillary: The Movie’

The U.S. Supreme Court has scheduled a special September session to consider whether it should overturn earlier rulings upholding limits on corporate and union campaign contributions. The order delays a ruling in the case Citizens United v. FEC, the Associated Press reports. The issue before the justices was whether a…

Jun 29, 2009 4:33 PM CDT