http://www.abajournal.com/news/ en Copyright 2013 2013-05-19T10:30:12-06:00 http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/plans_for_brooklyn_da_news_series_bring_lawsuit_and_a_defense_lawyers_objec/ An election opponent of Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes isn’t happy about an upcoming news series about the DA’s office that will begin airing on May 28. Nor is a lawyer defending a landlord accused of manslaughter in a tenement fire. The six-part CBS series, Brooklyn D.A., offers a look… Constitutional Law, First Amendment, Criminal Justice, Prosecutors, Election Law, Law in Popular Culture Fri, 17 May 2013 09:16:54 -0500 44232.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/tyranny_and_dark_money_in_the_michigan_supreme_court_former_justice_writes_/ The intrigue includes untraceable “dark money,” abuse of power, and a secret club holding sway over ordinary citizens. It’s not a plot in a new crime novel, however. It’s a book about the Michigan Supreme Court, written by one of its controversial former members, the Traverse… Election Law, Judiciary, States, Michigan Mon, 06 May 2013 06:35:41 -0500 44029.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/oconnor_maybe_scotus_should_have_declined_cert_in_bush_v._gore/ Election Law, Executive Branch, U.S. Supreme Court Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:43:54 -0500 43952.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/special_prosecutor_wins_hard-fought_100k_legal_bill_battle_plus_ruling_he_w/ Forced to use a court-appointed special prosecutor after the Rensselaer County, N.Y., district attorney stepped aside from a ballot fraud case against local politicians, county lawmakers weren't happy with the bill that resulted. But they are apparently going to have to pay the remaining $100,000 or so that is due… Election Law, Government Law, Trials & Litigation, Attorney Fees, Verdicts & Settlements, States, New York Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:04:45 -0500 43671.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/in_arguments_on_arizona_voting_law_scalia_sees_no_problemo_for_state_requir/ The U.S. Supreme Court appeared divided during oral arguments on Monday in a challenge to Arizona’s proof of citizenship requirement for voter registration. Swing voter Anthony M. Kennedy asked questions sympathetic to both sides, the New York Times reports. The Los Angeles… Constitutional Law, Election Law, U.S. Supreme Court Tue, 19 Mar 2013 07:45:21 -0500 43336.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/retired_justice_oconnor_played_a_role_in_arizona_case_to_be_argued_monday/ Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor is still hearing cases in federal appeals courts, a fact highlighted in a Supreme Court case to be heard Monday. The court will consider the validity of an Arizona measure requiring applicants for voter registration in the state to provide evidence of… Election Law, Judiciary, U.S. Supreme Court Wed, 13 Mar 2013 06:00:22 -0500 43225.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/did_chief_justice_misuse_statistics_to_make_a_point_on_the_voting_rights_ac/ The New York Times blogger and statistical whiz who correctly predicted President Obama’s re-election success has a bone to pick with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. At issue is a comment by Roberts during oral arguments last week on the constitutionality… Constitutional Law, Election Law, U.S. Supreme Court Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:04:21 -0600 43173.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/elderly_woman_with_dementia_faces_felony_charge_for_voting_twice_was_prosec/ An 86-year-old Minnesota woman with dementia is facing a felony charge of voter fraud because she voted twice in the primary election. Margaret Schneider of St. Peter, Minn., now admits she voted twice—once by an absentee ballot in July that was witnessed by her daughter, and then again in August… Election Law Fri, 08 Mar 2013 09:12:16 -0600 43171.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/justices_will_probe_arizonas_voter_registration_law/ Constitutional Law, Election Law, Immigration Law, U.S. Supreme Court, States, Arizona, Supreme Court Report Fri, 01 Mar 2013 04:30:22 -0600 42830.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/scalia_reauthorized_voting_rights_act_was_perpetuation_of_racial_entitlemen/ The U.S. Supreme Court’s conservatives appeared ready to strike down preclearance requirements of the Voting Rights Act during oral arguments on Wednesday. All eyes were on swing voter Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, whose questions mostly appeared to favor the challenge to the law's advance approval requirement by Shelby County, Ala.,… Constitutional Law, Election Law, U.S. Supreme Court Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:23:04 -0600 43040.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/will_another_campaign_finance_limit_fall_scotus_to_hear_case_challenging_co/ The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider a challenge to individual campaign contribution limits in the case of a Republican supporter unable to donate to a dozen candidates after hitting the aggregate cap. The case challenges limits on individual contributions upheld in the 1976 Supreme Court decision Buckley v.… Constitutional Law, First Amendment, Election Law, U.S. Supreme Court Wed, 20 Feb 2013 09:10:40 -0600 42923.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/az_ag_seeks_dimissal_of_hit-and-run_charges/ Ariz. Attorney General Tom Horne is seeking the dismissal of misdemeanor hit-and-run charges against him on the grounds that he's being singled out for special prosecution as part of a political vendetta by FBI agents. Horne is accused of backing his borrowed car into another vehicle in a Phoenix parking… Attorney General, Celebrities, Constitutional Law, Criminal Justice, Prosecutors, Election Law, Personal Lives, Trials & Litigation, States, Arizona Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:40:57 -0600 42872.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/resolution_seeks_disclosure_of_secret_campaign_donations_made_through_/ A resolution passed Monday by the ABA House of Delegates calls for disclosure of secret campaign contributions made through nonprofit groups donating money to super PACs. Resolution 110B urges Congress to require groups exempt from campaign disclosure requirements, as currently interpreted, to disclose the source of funds… Bar Associations, ABA, Midyear Meeting, Election Law Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:50:36 -0600 42669.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/aba_house_to_consider_resolutions_reflecting_the_globalization_of_law_pract/ Law practice has become increasingly global in nature—a reality reflected in four proposed revisions to the ABA’s model ethics rules. The ABA's policy-making House of Delegates will consider the model rule changes on Monday along with proposals on human trafficking, super PAC disclosures, indigent defense and unbundled legal services. Three… Bar Associations, ABA, Midyear Meeting, Criminal Justice, Public Defenders, Election Law, Legal Ethics Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:00:06 -0600 42724.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/court_elects_to_take_another_look_at_the_voting_rights_act/ The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is one of the most important civil rights statutes in American history. The constitutionality of a crucial provision of the act—Section 5—is in doubt, and the case that challenges it, Shelby County v. Holder, will be argued before the Supreme Court on Feb. 27.… Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Election Law, Government Law, Trials & Litigation, U.S. Supreme Court Tue, 05 Feb 2013 09:30:49 -0600 42678.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/voting_rights_acts_section_5_should_be_upheld_aba_asserts_in_amicus_brief/ The American Bar Association filed an amicus brief (PDF) Friday in Shelby County v. Holder, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. The case was brought by Shelby County, Ala., which seeks to invalidate… Bar Associations, ABA, Constitutional Law, Election Law, U.S. Supreme Court Mon, 04 Feb 2013 10:04:14 -0600 42661.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/Chemerinsky_2013_may_be_another_blockbuster_scotus_year/ The year 2012 saw blockbuster decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court. The court will be most remembered for largely upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (in National Federation of Independent Businesses v. Sebelius), and for striking down key provisions of Arizona's restrictive immigration law, SB 1070 (in Arizona… Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Education Law, Election Law, Family Law, U.S. Supreme Court Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:45:14 -0600 42153.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/we_need_to_talk_sponsors_of_judicial_recusal_proposal_seek_more_input/ Bar Associations, ABA, Election Law, Judiciary, Legal Ethics, Legislation & Lobbying, Your ABA Tue, 01 Jan 2013 02:30:11 -0600 41970.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/law_prof_naacp_legal_defense_fund_high_court_could_curb_civil_rights_gains/ The new president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund takes over as the U.S. Supreme Court is considering two cases that could curb gains made by the group. University of Maryland law professor Sherrilyn Ifill begins the new job next month, NPR reports. She tells… Business of Law, Law Practice Management, Diversity, Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Education Law, Election Law, U.S. Supreme Court Wed, 19 Dec 2012 07:15:28 -0600 42101.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/boutique_law_firm_has_expertise_in_shielding_campaign_donations_from_public/ A boutique law firm in the small town of Warrenton, Va., has developed a lucrative specialty: It advises groups that want to influence elections without disclosing their contributors. The firm, Holtzman Vogel Josefiak, is housed in a brick building that has “emerged as a nexus of Republican secret money and… Election Law, Law Firms Fri, 07 Dec 2012 06:30:37 -0600 41909.abajournal.com