Around the Blawgosphere: Ideas on Fixing Long Lines at Polling Places; America’s Funniest Lawyer

How Should Obama ‘Fix That’? University of Califorina, Irvine, law professor Richard Hasen wrote at Election Law Blog about how he thinks President Barack Obama could make good on his promise to ‘“fix” the problem of outrageously long lines at polling places. “I am thinking that a bipartisan commission should…

Nov 9, 2012 2:30 PM CST

In Lopsided Vote, Montana Voters Express Disapproval of Citizens United

Montanans aren’t giving up the fight after the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed in June that the Citizens United campaign finance ruling applies in the state. Seventy-five percent of Montana voters on Tuesday approved an initiative calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, report the Wall Street Journal Law…

Nov 9, 2012 2:17 PM CST

Ariz. Sheriff Arpaio Re-Elected, Says He Wants to ‘Get Together with the Latino Community’

Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joseph Arpaio, known nationally for his strict enforcement of laws targeting illegal immigrants, was elected to his sixth term this week. CNN reported that when Arpaio addressed supporters Tuesday night, he said one of his missions this term is to meet with Latinos. “I would hope…

Nov 8, 2012 8:00 PM CST

Video: Dramatic Pay Disparity for Non-Equity Partners; Barclays Under Fire; Photos of Ballots Legal?

Editor’s Note: We’re experimenting with using more video on ABAJournal.com and will be bringing you this short weekly legal news brief from Bloomberg Law for the next few weeks. Thanks for the feedback so far. Please note that adding video would not mean eliminating text-based stories. Rather, we’re exploring adding…

Nov 8, 2012 6:45 PM CST

Spider, Not Fraud, Delays Vote Count in Massachusetts Town

An aging voting machine and an industrious spider are being blamed for delays in vote counting Tuesday after polls closed in Rehoboth, Mass. Election officials finally finished tallying votes on Wednesday afternoon after a technician found the source of a machine’s malfunction: a Web was preventing the machine’s scanner from…

Nov 8, 2012 4:15 PM CST

If You Snapped a Photo of Your Filled-in Ballot, You May Have Violated the Law in Your State

Now that Election Day has come and gone, voters finally put an end to a long season characterized by hard-fought campaigns and bitter debates about political issues. But legal questions are likely to remain with us for some time, including the validity of ballots cast in a world that increasingly…

Nov 7, 2012 4:45 PM CST

Some Florida Voters Wait Till Past Midnight; Is Federal Law Needed?

Long waits plagued voters in Florida and several other states on Tuesday, spurring one law professor to suggest a need for federal legislation. Some Florida residents waited in line six hours or more to cast their ballots, the Miami Herald reports. One polling place stayed open until 1 a.m. to…

Nov 7, 2012 1:39 PM CST

Ohio Recount Rules, Ban on Some Election Suits Could Bring Delays, Legal Issues

Quirks of Ohio elections law could prolong the results and spur legal questions. Large numbers of provisional ballots are likely in Ohio, and those ballots cast by people overseas or in the military can’t begin to be counted until Nov. 17, the New York Times reports. If the official canvas…

Nov 6, 2012 1:24 PM CST

Three Voting Lawsuits Filed; Provisional Ballots Could Be Big Battleground

Democrats have filed lawsuits in Florida and Ohio in a preview of the litigation likely to swirl around the election. In Florida, two suits were filed. Democrats sued on Sunday to extend early voting in South Florida after some people were unable to vote because of long lines, report the…

Nov 5, 2012 12:46 PM CST

The Mud Is Flung Despite State Laws Barring Political Lies; Does First Amendment Offer Protection?

In Ohio, making a false or misleading statement in a political campaign is a misdemeanor that could bring a sentence of up to six months in jail. The Cleveland Plain Dealer checked to see how many alleged violations led to prosecutions in the last decade. The answer: None. Prosecutions can’t…

Oct 31, 2012 10:30 AM CDT

Election Forecast Is for Litigation if Hurricane Sandy Hampers Voting

Updated: Pundits are prognosticating how Hurricane Sandy could affect the presidential election—and produce legal issues and litigation in its wake. Power outages, blocked roads, heavy snows and flooding are causing concern for election officials, CNN reported on Thursday. Some people may be unable to get to the polls, and some…

Oct 30, 2012 1:38 PM CDT

Texas AG Continues Spat over International Election Monitors with ‘Bring It’ Tweet

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has a message for international poll watchers protesting his threat to prosecute them: “Bring it.” Abbott delivered the challenge in a tweet to the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe, the Associated Press reports. The OSCE sends observers to poll locations throughout the United…

Oct 26, 2012 1:27 PM CDT

Voter Fraud v. Voter Suppression: Author Explains That Neither Is Quite What We Think

Oct 22, 2012 5:00 PM CDT

Louisiana Supreme Court Settles ‘Racially Charged’ Dispute over Its New Top Judge

Bernette Johnson will become the first black chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court after the court ruled Tuesday in a dispute over seniority, The court ruled Johnson, a Democrat, had the seniority that entitled her to the job under a state constitutional provision that does not distinguish between elected…

Oct 17, 2012 2:06 PM CDT

Defense Lawyer Moves to Dismiss 20 Cases, Says Prosecutor Not Lawfully Appointed By Vt. Governor

A criminal defense attorney has filed a motion seeking the dismissal of 20 criminal cases, contending that the state lacks authority to prosecute the defendants because the Orleans County state’s attorney was unlawfully appointed by the Vermont governor. Attorney David Sleigh says State’s Attorney Alan Franklin does not hold a…

Oct 16, 2012 7:15 PM CDT