DC Court: Bolten & Miers Must Testify
July 31 – In a set back to the Bush Administration's claim of executive privilege, today a D.C. District Court held that former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten must co-operate with a House Judiciary Committee investigation which is exploring allegations of alleged political misconduct within the Department of Justice. As part of a bi-partisan coalition, the Brennan Center, Rutherford Institute, Judicial Watch and CREW submitted a joint amicus brief in support of the House Judiciary Committee and its authority to compel testimony from Miers and Bolton.Court Fees As Revenue? Money Grabbing Imperils Justice
July 30 – "Along with gas and food, another staple is getting more expensive this summer: justice," writes the Brennan Center's Rebekah Diller in today's USA Today. She goes on to note that court fees are on the rise around the country, with some states relying on this money to fill budget gaps, while others use it to fund new court houses. "The integrity and independence of the courts are jeopardized when legislatures regard the courts as revenue-generators," she continues. "Without proper safeguards, the increases make it harder for low-income litigants to get their fair day in court." Click here to read the entire piece...Chicago Tribune Turns Focus to Judicial Races
July 28 – Today the Chicago Tribune reports on the wave of special-interest cash flooding state judicial elections. Citing numbers from Justice at Stake, the paper states spending on Supreme Court races nationally reached $165 million during the 1999–2007 election cycles, up $62 million over the previous decade. James Sample, co-author of the Brennan Center's report on recusal standards for judges, is quoted as saying spending will only continue to increase, further increasing the need for clear guidelines.
- Vote “Yes”
(Syracuse Post-Standard, Editorial, 08/06/08) - High Court Review Sought on Judicial Recusals
(National Law Journal, Marcia Coyle, 08/04/08) - American Girl: Life of a Young Arab Girl
(New York magazine, by Moustafa Bayoumi, 08/03/08) - Court Fees As Revenue?
(USA Today, Rebekah Diller, 07/30/08) - Friday’s House Judiciary Hearing on Impeachment: A Victory and a Challenge
(Baltimore Chroncile & Sentinel, by Dave Lindorff, 07/29/08) - In Detainee Trial, System Is Tested
(NY Times, by William Glaberson, 07/29/08) - DOJ: Former Aide Broke Law in Hiring Scandal
(Washington Post, by AP's Lara Jakes Jordan, 07/28/08) - Virginia Edges Towards Backup for Electronic Votes
(The Virginia-Pilot, Editorial, 07/24/08)
A Step Toward Fuller Enfranchisement
By mandating easier access to voter registration, the Student Voter Act is an important step toward getting citizens on the voter rolls.
Court Not Buying Administration’s Extreme Views
For an Administration that has spilled gallons of ink in efforts to justify its extreme pro-Executive views, the Bush White House sure has fared poorly in court....
Help Vets Vote; They Deserve No Less
Update! You’d think it would be a matter of common sense that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which is supposed to “help veterans get the services they have earned,” would do everything it could to help veterans vote....
Illustrations by Risko
Out Now
The Brennan Center's ballot design study, Better Ballots, is out. Learn how poor ballot design could affect the 2008 election.
Obama and The Small Donor Effect
Barack Obama’s decision to opt out of public funding for the general election is not a surprise. It was so well telegraphed, he should take out a patent.
The presidential public funding system worked well for three decades after it was enacted in the early 1970s. It leveled the playing field, boosted competition and reduced corruption. Think of it this way: in the first five elections under presidential public funding, a challenger beat an incumbent president three times. There’s no congressional district in America with that much competition!