Election Law

Justice Department takes ‘a complete 180-degree turn’ in voting rights case

The U.S. Justice Department on Monday dropped a claim that a strict voter ID law in Texas was enacted with discriminatory intent. Proof of discriminatory intent would force Texas to get federal approval before making changes to its voting laws, report the New York Times and the Washington Post. Civil…

Feb 28, 2017 4:49 PM CST

Issue advertising disclosure requirements upheld by SCOTUS in summary affirmance

In a summary affirmance, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday upheld disclosure requirements that require groups that sponsor issue ads to disclose their donors to the Federal Election Commission. The Supreme Court summarily affirmed (PDF) a decision on behalf of the FEC by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the…

Feb 27, 2017 10:17 AM CST

Judge is suspended for campaign ad that was ‘in every sense, materially false’

A West Virginia judge has been suspended for two years and fined $15,000 for a campaign flier purporting to show his election opponent partying with President Barack Obama. The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia imposed the unpaid suspension against Judge Stephen Callaghan of Nicholas County in a Feb.…

Feb 13, 2017 8:30 AM CST

SCOTUS won’t hear Texas voter ID case; Roberts statement says case may return

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear a challenge to a Texas law that requires voters to present government-issued photo identification. Though the justices denied cert in Abbott v. Veasey, the case could return to the Supreme Court after lower courts decide additional issues, according to a special…

Jan 23, 2017 10:51 AM CST

Two Democratic lawmakers testify against Sessions, question civil-rights commitment

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia on Wednesday questioned Jeff Sessions’ commitment to civil rights in testimony at Sessions’ confirmation hearing to become attorney general. Both lawmakers are Democrats, but their testimony is not part of a coordinated Democratic attack on Sessions’…

Jan 11, 2017 3:52 PM CST

Sessions denies racism, says he abhors the Klan in confirmation hearing remarks

As his confirmation hearings for attorney general began on Tuesday, Jeff Sessions departed from prepared remarks to deny what he termed “false charges” that he had a poor record on civil rights. The Republican U.S. senator from Alabama addressed lingering allegations that scuttled his nomination for a federal judgeship in…

Jan 10, 2017 10:09 AM CST

NAACP protesters are arrested during sit-in to protest Sessions’ nomination for attorney general

Six protesters were arrested Tuesday evening during a sit-in staged by the NAACP to protest Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Jeff Sessions as attorney general. Among those arrested were NAACP President Cornell Brooks and Alabama NAACP state conference president Bernard Simelton, report the New York Times, ABC News, CNN and…

Jan 4, 2017 11:21 AM CST

The top legal stories of 2016

Updated: As the ABA Journal staff looked back over the past year, these were the 10 legal stories that seemed the most important and prominent. A summary of each is below. 1. Trump wins. If someone had told you one year ago that the 45th president of the United States…

Dec 23, 2016 8:30 AM CST

4th Circuit upholds Virginia voter ID law, distinguishes contrary North Carolina ruling

A federal appeals court has upheld Virginia’s voter ID law in a challenge by the Democratic Party of Virginia and two minority voters. The Richmond, Virginia-based 4h U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the law does not impose an undue burden on minority voting, and there was no evidence lawmakers…

Dec 14, 2016 11:52 AM CST

Meet Trump’s pick for White House counsel, Donald McGahn

President Barack Obama’s former White House counsel Robert Bauer has a short description of the man who will take on that role when Donald Trump becomes president. Trump’s choice for White House counsel, Donald McGahn, “is very smart, he’s very combative, and he’s very dogged,” Bauer told the New York…

Dec 14, 2016 8:15 AM CST

Federal judge rejects Jill Stein’s Pennsylvania recount bid, says it was ‘later than last minute’

A federal judge in Philadelphia has rejected a Pennsylvania presidential recount request by Green Party candidate Jill Stein, citing “at least six separate grounds” for his decision. The ruling on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond said Stein lacks standing because she isn’t a Pennsylvania voter and she doesn’t…

Dec 13, 2016 10:29 AM CST

Top Michigan court rejects Jill Stein’s recount appeal after two SCOTUS shortlisters recuse

The Michigan Supreme Court on Friday evening declined to hear an appeal by Green Party candidate Jill Stein that sought to restart the presidential recount process. The court declined the appeal in a 3-2 order (PDF) issued after two justices on Donald Trump’s Supreme Court shortlist recused themselves, report MLive.com,…

Dec 12, 2016 9:20 AM CST

SCOTUS shortlisters recuse in Michigan recount suit; one notes his ‘extraordinarily remote’ chance

Updated: Two Michigan Supreme Court justices on a shortlist of possible Supreme Court appointees have recused themselves in an appeal seeking to restart the presidential recount process by Green Party candidate Jill Stein. Later Friday, the Michigan Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal. Both justices—Chief Justice Robert Young and…

Dec 9, 2016 2:25 PM CST

US judge stops Michigan recount, finds no constitutional right to recount absent miscount evidence

Citing a Michigan appeals court ruling and federal case law, a federal judge has ordered a stop to the recount of presidential votes in Michigan. U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith of Detroit ruled (PDF) on Wednesday evening, report the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit News, the New York Times and…

Dec 8, 2016 9:35 AM CST

In late-night ruling, federal judge orders hand recount in Michigan

In a decision issued on Monday just after midnight, a federal judge has ordered a hand recount of presidential ballots in Michigan beginning at noon. U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith ruled after a three-hour hearing on Sunday, report the Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press. State law requires a…

Dec 5, 2016 9:52 AM CST