Gavel Grab
This blawg is dedicated to impartiality, accountability, and the war over the courts. Posts focus on judicial election campaigns, efforts to strip courts of jurisdiction, politically motivated attacks on judges and diversity on the bench.
Author: Gavel Grab features posts from the 50 partner organizations that constitute the Justice at Stake Campaign (including the ABA), as well as regular posts from Justice at Stake staff and board members.
Blawg Related Categories: Judiciary
Recent Posts from Gavel Grab
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More News on Wisconsin Public Financing
Wisconsin’s legislature has voted to curb the influence of special interest spending in state Supreme Court elections, passing a bill to provide more taxpayer funding for candidates’ campaigns. Both chambers of the legislature in the…
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Senate Allows US Court Trials for 9/11 Suspects
After an emotional showdown, the U.S. Senate has defeated a bid to block civilian court trials for the accused masterminds of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., had proposed an amendment to…
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House Panel Revises Anti-Terrorism Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives will be asked to debate the proposed extension of key USA Patriot Act provisions with greater safeguards for citizens than are contained in a similar Senate version. The House Judiciary…
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Friday Media Summary
WISCONSIN JUDICIAL ELECTION REFORM Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bill allowing taxpayer money for state Supreme Court races passes Patrick Marley – November 5, 2009 WKRG/AP: Wis. Senate OKs New Election Money For Justices November 5, 2009…
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Michigan Toughens Recusal Rules
Michigan’s Supreme Court, responding to potential ethical conflicts, has approved tough new rules that will help prevent favored treatment for special interests that spend heavily to elect justices on the high court. According to an Associated Press…
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JAS Applauds ‘Big Victory’ for Wisc. Citizens
Wisconsin’s legislature tonight passed public financing for statewide judicial elections, making it the third state in the nation to enact this reform to protect courts from special interest spending. Executive Director Bert Brandenburg pronounced the…
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‘Beyond Gitmo’ Detainees Plan Endorsed
A new plan for handling cases of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, which would keep the U.S. safe while also respecting treaty obligations and constitutional principles, has received endorsement by 125 prominent Americans. They include former…
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Wisc.: ‘To the highest bidder?’
There is a continuing drumbeat of editorial commentary criticizing the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s new rules on judicial recusal. One of the latest, and sharpest, critiques comes from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. After highlighting the multimillion dollar…
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Nominee Butler: ‘Better Judge than Pol’
Former Wisconsin Justice Louis Butler Jr. wins Gavel Grab’s “Quote of the Day” award for judges. Butler, nominated by President Obama to the federal bench in Wisconsin, was asked by a GOP senator at a…
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In Pa., More Women Elected to Bench
After Judge Joan Orie Melvin won election Tuesday to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, she reflected about her year-long campaign, saying, “My pumps were all over Pennsylvania.” She was not alone among judge candidate sporting pumps.…