Analysis
Supreme Court Preview: Future of the Voting Rights Act
In advance of the Supreme Court's latest session, the Brennan Center calls attention to two important cases that could impact the future of the Voting Rights Act.
Authored by: Sidney S. Rosdeitcher and William J. Taylor, Jr.
– 01/05/12
Letter to NYS Senate Majority on Petitions for Hearings
The Brennan Center's Lawrence Norden and Eric Lane write New York State Senate Majority Counsel Diane Burman to explain how the majority has misinterpreted Senate rules, resulting in the suppression of legitimate petitions to have public hearings on legislation. Public hearings on legislation are a basic part of the lawmaking process in most states but have been suppressed in New York's dysfunctional legislature.
Authored by: Lawrence Norden and Eric Lane
– 11/28/11
Congressional Response to Wave of Voting Restrictions
As individual states have been introducing and passing new laws that restrict access to the ballot box, members of Congress are responding at the federal level. They have introduced legislation, announced Congressional hearings, drafted letters, and given passionate floor speeches to stand up for the right to vote. This page will be updated as new Congressional actions are initiated.
– 11/17/11
Letter to the Department of Justice on Texas’s Section 5 Submission
Texas's new law, which imposes a government-issued photo ID requirement for voting, will disproportionately burden minority voters and produce discriminatory effects.
– 11/16/11
Supreme Court Preview, Second Session: Access to Justice, National Security, and Civil Liberties
In advance of the second session of the Supreme Court's 2011 term, the Brennan Center calls attention to five cases involving important issues of access to justice, national security, and civil liberties.
Authored by: Sidney S. Rosdeitcher and William J. Taylor, Jr.
– 10/26/11
More than Combating Corruption: The Other Benefits of Public Financing
This report summarizes some of the reasons beyond the anti-corruption interest that public financing is worth instituting.
Authored by: Mimi Marziani, Laura Moy, Adam Skaggs, and Marcus Williams
– 10/07/11
Unchecked NYPD Operations In Need Of Oversight
An Associated Press investigation uncovered numerous examples of racial profiling by the NYPD. The City Council should immediately undertake a full, public accounting of the NYPD’s intelligence activities and set up a system for ongoing oversight of these activities.
Authored by: Faiza Patel and Michael Price
– 10/06/11
Supreme Court Preview: Access to Justice
In advance of the Supreme Court opening its 2011 term, the Brennan Center calls attention to four cases raising important issues of access to justice.
Authored by: Sidney S. Rosdeitcher and William J. Taylor, Jr.
– 09/27/11
Department of Justice Letter Seeking Texas Preclearance Denial
The Brennan Center for Justice, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and the Texas State Conference of the NAACP submitted a joint letter to the Department of Justice, relying on extensive statistical evidence to show that Texas’ newly-passed voter ID restrictions will disproportionately harm minority voting rights in the state.
– 09/15/11
The Governmental Interests that Support Public Financing
This memo summarizes the governmental interests that justify public financing programs in the aftermath of Arizona Free Enterprise Club v. Bennett, which overturned the "trigger fund" provisions of Arizona's public financing program.
Authored by: Mimi Marziani and Adam Skaggs
– 09/14/11