Election Law

Payments to Edwards’ Mistress Raise Campaign Law Issues

Payments made on behalf of former presidential candidate John Edwards to his admitted mistress may not have complied with campaign laws, experts say. At least one says money paid by Fred Baron, a wealthy Dallas trial attorney who served as Edwards’ national finance chairman, to Rielle Hunter could potentially present…

Aug 15, 2008 8:59 PM CDT

Lawyers for Edwards’ Mistress and Campaign Aide Tied to Fred Baron

Lawyers for John Edwards’ mistress and the man who says he is the father of her child both have ties to the Dallas trial lawyer who was chairman of the presidential candidate’s campaign finance committee. The committee chairman, Dallas trial lawyer Fred Baron, has said he paid to relocate Rielle…

Aug 15, 2008 10:48 AM CDT

Lawyer Who Paid Rent of Edwards’ Mistress ‘Shocked’ to Learn of Affair

The Dallas lawyer who paid the monthly rent of John Edwards’ mistress says he was “shocked” to learn that rumors of the affair were true. In an interview with Texas Lawyer’s Tex Parte Blog, Fred Baron said he paid to move Rielle Hunter to California and funded her monthly rent…

Aug 13, 2008 10:46 AM CDT

Proposed S.D. Abortion Ban May Bring Roe v. Wade Challenge

A revamped measure in South Dakota that would ban abortions except for women who’ve been raped or are victims of incest is gaining steam and may present the challenge that abortion foes are waiting for. The referendum comes two years after South Dakotans voted down a more restrictive ban. Abortion…

Aug 12, 2008 1:25 PM CDT

Wells to Target Judicial Nominees, Pro Bono for Military Personnel, Voter Rights

H. Thomas Wells Jr., who officially begins his term as ABA president Monday, announced the launch of two new association initiatives during a morning news conference in New York City, the site of the 2008 ABA Annual Meeting. Both projects, Wells said, reflect his belief that “as lawyers, we can…

Aug 11, 2008 6:08 PM CDT

Dallas Trial Lawyer Paid John Edwards’ Mistress to Relocate

Dallas trial lawyer Fred Baron says he paid John Edwards’ mistress to leave North Carolina so she could stop being hounded by the tabloids. Baron was the chairman of Edwards’ presidential campaign finance committee, but he said he used his own money to finance the move, the Dallas Morning News…

Aug 11, 2008 2:25 PM CDT

As Expected, Trial Lawyer Is Indicted on Campaign Finance Charges

Los Angeles trial lawyer Pierce O’Donnell has been indicted on charges that he violated campaign finance laws by asking his staff to make $26,000 in campaign contributions that he would reimburse. The indictment claims the contributions were made to the 2004 presidential campaign of John Edwards, the Daily Journal reports.…

Jul 25, 2008 3:43 PM CDT

High-Profile Lawyer Faces Indictment on Campaign Finance Charges

Prominent Los Angeles trial lawyer Pierce O’Donnell is about to be indicted on charges he violated federal campaign finance laws, the Los Angeles Times reports. At issue is whether O’Donnell broke the law by asking employees to contribute to the 2004 presidential campaign of John Edwards and then reimbursing them,…

Jul 24, 2008 1:56 PM CDT

Mock Jurors in Fieger Case Reflected Bush Credibility Crisis, Lawyer Says

Mock jurors hearing evidence in a case against Michigan lawyer Geoffrey Fieger overwhelmingly expressed a distrust of government, an attitude probably held by jurors in the real trial, says one defense lawyer. Lawyer Steve Fishman, who represented co-defendant Ven Johnson, told the Detroit Free Press he became sure he would…

Jun 27, 2008 2:07 PM CDT

Law Prof: Some Campaign Finance Laws in ‘Grave Danger’

The future of some campaign finance laws may be at risk under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling yesterday striking down the so-called “Millionaire’s Amendment,” according to a law professor who is an expert on the subject. The 5-4 ruling in Davis v. Federal Election Commission struck down a law that…

Jun 27, 2008 12:58 PM CDT

Spence’s No-Loss Record Stands with Fieger Acquittal

Geoffrey Fieger, whose confrontational style and sharp tongue are matched only by his outsized dollar awards from juries, got what amounts to the biggest verdict of his career today when a federal jury in Detroit acquitted him and a law partner of charges they made $127,000 in illegal political campaign…

Jun 2, 2008 10:38 PM CDT

Jury Acquits Firebrand Fieger of Campaign Charges

Federal jurors in Detroit have found high-profile and controversial lawyer Geoffrey Fieger not guilty of violating campaign finance laws. The Michigan trial lawyer was accused of illegally funneling $127,000 in 2004 to the campaign of then-presidential candidate John Edwards. The Associated Press reports that jurors heard 18 days of testimony…

Jun 2, 2008 7:22 PM CDT

Judge Tosses Suit Seeking Seating of Democratic Delegates

A federal judge in Tampa has tossed a lawsuit that seeks to force the Democratic Party to seat Florida delegates. Judge Richard Lazzara said the party has the right to make its own rules, CNN reports. The suit by Democratic strategist Victor DiMaio had contended the party’s plan to penalize…

May 29, 2008 2:58 PM CDT

Legal Memo Calls for Half-Votes for Florida & Michigan Delegates

Under party rules, delegates from Florida and Michigan can be given only a 50 percent voice in the Democratic national convention this year, according to a legal memorandum to the Democratic National Committee. Written by lawyers for the Democratic party, it says “the committee can either seat only 50 percent…

May 28, 2008 10:24 PM CDT

Supreme Court Rules for Alabama Governor in Voting Rights Case

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled Alabama Gov. Bob Riley did not need advance approval from the Justice Department before filling a county commission vacancy. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote the 7-2 majority opinion (PDF posted by SCOTUSblog), the Associated Press reports. She said the issue was a narrow one…

May 27, 2008 5:43 PM CDT