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February 27, 2013 11:01 pm | By Paul Gordon
Happy Anniversary, Judge Cebull
One year ago this week, on February 29, 2012, the Montana Great Falls Tribune exposed a now-notorious racist e-mail that federal district judge Richard Cebull sent about President Obama. The judge defended his distribution of the e-mail to friends by…
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February 27, 2013 10:51 pm | By Paul Gordon
Sequestering Justice
Two senior federal district court judges write today in US News that the dangerous budget cuts associated with the sequester could seriously damage our courts and our access to justice. Judge Charles Clevert of Wisconsin and Judge Joseph Rodriguez of…
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February 27, 2013 8:43 pm | By Paul Gordon
Scalia Completely Rewrites … Everything
It was no surprise that the Supreme Court's far-right Justices would take a dim view of the Voting Rights Act in today's oral arguments in Shelby County v. Holder. Even so, Justice Scalia managed to outdo himself in showing his…
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February 26, 2013 7:49 pm | By Miranda Blue
We Can’t Afford to Lose the Voting Rights Act
Tomorrow morning, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a challenge to a pivotal section of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The part of the VRA that’s under attack is Section 5, which requires the Justice Department or…
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February 26, 2013 4:52 pm | By Leslie Watson Wilson
Voting Discrimination: Still an Obstacle to Democracy
This week, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Shelby County v. Holder, a case challenging the protections of the Voting Rights Act. Based on a simple idea, one that is enshrined in our Constitution, the right to vote…
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February 25, 2013 11:18 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
Sotomayor Calls Out Prosecutor’s Attempt to ‘Substitute Racial Stereotype for Evidence’
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a statement today in connection with the denial of a cert petition for a case from Texas. She agreed with the decision not to hear the appeal, but she recognized the need to also…
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February 22, 2013 9:03 pm | By Brad
Missouri Brings Voter ID Back from the Dead
Last week, Missouri’s House of Representatives attempted to resuscitate a failed voter ID law, approving two bills that would require voters to present valid, government-issued photo identification in order to vote. One of the bills would call for a November…
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February 22, 2013 4:55 pm | By admin
Why It’s Time to Dump DOMA: Erik Lampmann
This piece is the fourth in a series of guest blog posts on “Why It’s Time to Dump DOMA.” In the weeks leading up to the Supreme Court arguments on the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act, we’re asking friends of…
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February 20, 2013 11:48 pm | By Paul Gordon
When the Judicial Nominations Process Works
The Senate Judiciary Committee announced today that it will hold a hearing next week on the nomination of Jane Kelly to be a judge on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. This is great news, and not only because she's…
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February 20, 2013 10:45 pm | By David
Federal education vouchers funding creationism curricula
Federally funded private school voucher and tax credit programs are more numerous than ever. In its School Choice Yearbook 2012-2013, the Alliance for School Choice reported that $553 million of taxpayer dollars are funding 245,854 K-12 vouchers, an average of…
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February 20, 2013 6:35 pm | By Kyler
Common Sense Gun Solutions Struggle Against Mindless NRA and GOP Opposition
It will be hard. But the time is now. You must act. Be bold. Be courageous. Americans are counting on you. At a Senate Judiciary hearing on January 30th, Gabrielle Giffords offered those powerful opening words to the committee and…
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February 19, 2013 11:08 pm | By Paul Gordon
Supreme Court to Consider Allowing Even More Money into Campaigns
The Supreme Court today announced that it will hear a case that threatens to be the next stage in the Roberts Court's assault on our country's democratic foundations. Shaun McCutcheon, et al. v. Federal Election Commission is a lawsuit challenging…
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February 19, 2013 10:25 pm | By Kyler
Washington State Moving Forward With First Steps to Overturn Citizens United
During the first post-Citizens United presidential election, the American people were able to see just how distorted and outsized corporate influence and Super PACs have become in our democracy. But the Citizens United decision has not only caused corporate political…
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February 19, 2013 9:49 pm | By Peter Montgomery
The Perils of Teaching About the Bible in Public Schools
Rob Boston at Americans United notes that the Arkansas House just voted to require the state’s Education Board to approve elective classes about the Bible if they meet appropriate standards. The Supreme Court has said the Bible may be taught…
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February 15, 2013 9:28 pm | By Paul Gordon
Caitlin Halligan Belongs on the DC Circuit
Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve Caitlin Halligan's nomination to the critically important DC Circuit. President Obama chose wisely in nominating her. Of course, no one can question her legal qualifications as a prosecutor and a litigator. Currently…
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February 15, 2013 6:45 pm | By Drew Courtney
Orrin Hatch Votes Present: Obstruction By Another Name
Yesterday, Republicans filibustered the nomination of former GOP senator Chuck Hagel to be Secretary of Defense. Democrats voted unanimously to allow a vote on the nomination, but only four Republicans were willing to join them, bringing them to 59 votes--one…
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February 14, 2013 8:56 pm | By Paul Gordon
White House Speaks Out for Judicial Nominees
This morning, the Judiciary Committee voted to approve a number of judicial nominations and send them to the Senate floor. Among them were two key circuit court nominees who were blocked from confirmation votes in the previous congress, Patty Shwartz…
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February 14, 2013 8:30 pm | By Jen Herrick
Election Protection: Our Broken Voting System and How to Repair It
Desiline Victor, you are not alone. A report released on February 12, 2013 by the Election Protection coalition, led by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, pledges to address the “endemic yet solvable problems [that] continue to plague…
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February 14, 2013 7:40 pm | By admin
Why It’s Time to Dump DOMA: Caitlin Copple
DOMA’s Days Are Over This piece is the third in a series of guest blog posts on “Why It’s Time to Dump DOMA.” In the weeks leading up to the Supreme Court arguments on the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act,…
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February 14, 2013 1:55 pm | By Paul Gordon
More Vacancies Mean More Work for DC Circuit Judges
When DC Circuit Judge David Sentelle took senior status on Tuesday, that created a fourth vacancy on the nation's second most important court. Out of 11 judgeships, only seven are filled. That has a serious impact on the caseload for…