Election Law

Supreme Court turns down GOP request to block Pennsylvania congressional map

A redrawn map will likely govern congressional elections this year in Pennsylvania after the U.S. Supreme Court turned down a Republican request to block new district boundaries.

Mar 19, 2018 4:46 PM CDT

Civil rights lawyer and former MALDEF president Joaquin Avila dies at 69

Civil rights lawyer Joaquin Avila, known for his voting rights litigation, died on March 9 at the age of 69. The cause of death was colon and liver cancer, the New York Times reports. The Associated Press and the Washington Post also have stories. Obituaries have also been posted by…

Mar 16, 2018 10:53 AM CDT

Presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway violated the Hatch Act, watchdog agency says

Presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway violated the Hatch Act when she opposed the candidacy of Roy Moore’s Senate opponent while appearing on television in an official capacity, according to a government watchdog agency. That is the conclusion of a report by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel—a federal investigative agency that…

Mar 6, 2018 3:30 PM CST

Lawyer reportedly complained that Trump didn’t reimburse him for Stormy Daniels payment

Michael Cohen, the personal lawyer for President Donald Trump, reportedly complained to friends after the election that he still hadn’t been reimbursed by the president for a $130,000 payment made to Stormy Daniels, the porn star who claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Trump 12 years ago. Cohen…

Mar 6, 2018 11:19 AM CST

Pennsylvania mayor is convicted in scheme to solicit donations in exchange for legal and other work

The mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania, was convicted along with a lawyer on Thursday in a scheme to solicit campaign donations from law firms and vendors in exchange for city contracts. Mayor Ed Pawlowski, a Democrat, was convicted on 47 of 54 charges, including conspiracy, bribery, attempted extortion, mail and wire…

Mar 2, 2018 11:51 AM CST

Winner-take-all electoral college system is unconstitutional, say suits led by Boies

A coalition of prominent law firms and professors has filed four federal lawsuits claiming the winner-take-all system of electoral college voting distorts presidential campaigns and violates the U.S. Constitution.

Feb 22, 2018 10:38 AM CST

Pennsylvania Supreme Court issues its own congressional map

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Monday issued its own congressional map to be used in May’s primary election. The new boundaries could help Democrats gain three or four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, report the New York Times and the Washington Post. Democrats currently hold five of 18…

Feb 20, 2018 12:32 PM CST

Teens too young to vote jump into Kansas governor race; bill would increase minimum age

State lawmakers in Kansas are reacting to the entry of six teenagers who are too young to vote but have entered the state's gubernatorial race.

Feb 12, 2018 12:30 PM CST

Supreme Court grants partial stay in North Carolina redistricting case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday partly stayed a lower court decision in a redistricting case from North Carolina that involved allegations of racial gerrymandering.

Feb 7, 2018 9:02 AM CST

Alito denies GOP request to stay Pennsylvania order in partisan gerrymandering case

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. has denied a request by Republican lawmakers in Pennsylvania to stay an order by the state's top court that requires the redrawing of a congressional district map in a partisan gerrymandering case.

Feb 5, 2018 1:20 PM CST

Federal judge strikes down Florida’s voting restoration process for felons

A federal judge has ruled that Florida’s system for restoring felons' voting rights has potential for bias and violates the First and 14th Amendments.

Feb 5, 2018 7:00 AM CST

Pennsylvania legislative leader defies court order to turn over map data in gerrymandering case

Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati informed the Pennsylvania Supreme Court he won’t comply with a court order to provide voter records and mapmaking material in a partisan gerrymandering case. The Republican lawmaker said he would defy the order in a letter to the court written by Blank Rome…

Feb 1, 2018 1:18 PM CST

Pennsylvania’s top court tosses congressional map, finds state constitutional violation

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Monday that a congressional district map benefiting Republicans violates the state constitution, and it ordered state lawmakers to submit a new plan by Feb. 9. The court said the current map “clearly, plainly and palpably” violates the state constitution, and it may not be used…

Jan 22, 2018 3:17 PM CST

Tabloid reportedly delayed Stormy Daniels story for 6 years after litigation threat by Trump lawyer

In Touch magazine reportedly delayed publishing an interview with porn star Stormy Daniels for six years after Donald Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen threatened litigation. Four former employees of In Touch’s publisher told the Associated Press that Cohen had threatened legal action in emails. The AP story did not reveal the…

Jan 22, 2018 1:45 PM CST

US Supreme Court stays remap order in partisan gerrymandering case from North Carolina

The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily stayed an order requiring North Carolina to redraw congressional districts in a partisan gerrymandering case. The stay issued Thursday evening remains in place pending disposition of an appeal, report the Washington Post, the New York Times, SCOTUSblog, Politico and the Election Law Blog. Justices…

Jan 19, 2018 8:20 AM CST