Court Lets Voting Rights Act Stand
Jun. 23 – The Supreme Court opted not to decide whether the Court's reenactment of the Voting Rights Act was constitutional, instead deciding the plaintiff in NAMUDNO v. Holder could "bail out" of the statue's pre-clearance requirements. The decision surprised observers, many of whom feared the Court's conservative wing would gut the landmark voting legislation: "The struggle for voting rights is at the heart of the struggle for civil rights and for American democracy," said Brennan Center Chair James E. Johnson.
Jun. 23 – The Supreme Court opted not to decide whether the Court's reenactment of the Voting Rights Act was constitutional, instead deciding the plaintiff in NAMUDNO v. Holder could "bail out" of the statue's pre-clearance requirements. The decision surprised observers, many of whom feared the Court's conservative wing would gut the landmark voting legislation: "The struggle for voting rights is at the heart of the struggle for civil rights and for American democracy," said Brennan Center Chair James E. Johnson.
Supreme Court Justice: The Confirmation Process
Jul. 2 - How does the Senate exercise its advise and consent function with respect to Supreme Court nominees. Sidney Rosdeitcher outlines key considerations for Senate Judiciary Committee members. "Even before President Obama’s nominee to replace Justice Souter was
known, some political activists were already preparing to attack any
nominee he chose as a “judicial activist” who would make, rather than
interpret the law, and do so according to his or her personal,
subjective preferences ..."
See also "Umpire? or "Empathy? What Do We Want in a Supreme Court Justice?" transcript of a Brennan Center debate.
Regaining the Right to Vote
Jun. 30 - The Brennan Center releases My First Vote, a compilation of stories from people around the country who voted for the first time in November 2008 after having lost, and then regained, their right to vote following a criminal conviction. These new voters tell inspiring stories about voting for the first time after being denied that right for so long. They represent a small sample of Americans who have returned to the polls as full citizens, and shows what the right to vote really means in people's lives. Click here to read more about the Brennan Center's Right to Vote project.Senate Appropriations Committee Votes to Lift Key Legal Services Restriction
Jun. 25 - The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to lift the "LSC poison pill restriction" - the federal appropriations provision that encumbers $490 million in state, local, and private funds raised by legal services nonprofits receiving federal funding from the nation's Legal Services Corporation. The bill containing the fix, championed by Sen. Mikulski (MD), now awaits full Senate approval and then reconciliation in Conference Committee with a House bill that did not lift the restriction. For more information on efforts to repeal the restrictions, click here.
- N.Y. Lawmakers Locked in Power Struggle
(USA Today, by Martha T. Moore, 07/02/09) - Debate Intensifies Over Preventive Detention
(The Washington Independent, by Daphne Eviatar, 07/02/09) - Can Automatic Registration Improve U.S. Democracy?
(AllGov, by Noel Brinkerhoff, 07/02/09) - Fight Brews Between Civil Liberties Groups and Obama
(The Washington Independent, by Spencer Ackerman, 07/01/09) - The Supreme Court Gets Ready To Turn on the Corporate Fundraising Spigot
(Slate, by Richard L. Hasen, 06/30/09) - Florida Voter Law Garners Praise
(Tampa Tribune, by Catherine Dolinski, 06/29/09) - Supreme Court to Rule on Citizens United Case
(Huffington Post, by Elliot Tarloff, 06/29/09) - Congress Must Lift Restictions on Legal Aid
(Baltimore Sun, 06/29/09)
Caperton Sparks Debate About Money in Judicial Elections
Linda Greenhouse and Rick Hasen weigh in on James Sample’s post about Caperton and the role of big money in judicial elections. Originally posted on the Election Law Blog.
Texas Chief Justice Tom Phillips, Linda Greenhouse writes, “suggests that very little will come of Caperton in the end . . .” This argument mischaracterizes Phillips’ views, and undermines the significance of Caperton.
A New Texas Two-Step: One Forward, Two Back
Consensus among Texan legislators on election issues is becoming vanishingly rare. The defeat of H.B. 1457—a bill designed to correct administrative flaws in the voting system—is the latest example.
Illustrations by Risko
Jennifer Rosenberg with Margaret Chen
Sidney S. Rosdeitcher
The Right to Vote Project
Laura Abel
Wendy R. Weiser, Michael Waldman and Renée Paradis
Jun. 3 – Last month, the Brennan Center hosted "Money in Politics 2009: New Horizons for Reform," a one-day conference focused on campaign finance reform. Lawrence Lessig, Micah Sifry, Sam Waterston, and a host of others participated in the lively event. Throughout the week, the Center plans to post videos, photos and additional materials from the conference, click here to view the conference introduction. Additionally, the Center's latest CFR publication, with statistics from Dr. Stratmann, can be downloaded here.
A Way Out of the Senate Logjam NOW
What do you get after a three-week deadlock in the state Senate? Holes in the budget, hikes in taxes, and general chaos.