Blog
All Blogs
-
News and AnalysisOctober 16, 2023 2:28 pm | By Paul Gordon, Miranda Jayne Boyd
Q and A: How Jurists Taking “Senior Status” Can Lead to Confirmation of More Biden Judges
As President Biden’s first term enters its last year, some legal scholars and experts have raised the suggestion that judges appointed by past Democratic administrations consider taking “senior status.” But what is “senior status,” and how would it make room…
-
In the NewsOctober 16, 2023 1:15 pm | By Svante Myrick
The Hill: The fantasy that indictments will stop Donald Trump is fading fast
First published in The Hill. You can find anything on the internet, and one of those things is a countdown clock that tracks exactly how many days, hours, minutes and seconds remain until Election Day 2024. As those minutes slip by and Donald…
-
News and AnalysisOctober 11, 2023 1:58 pm | By Miranda Jayne Boyd
How Banning Books Makes It Harder for Queer Kids to Come Out
Today is National Coming Out Day, and this year we’re reflecting on the terrible impact banning books has on queer kids and their ability to feel safe coming out. At a time when attacks on the freedom to learn, often…
-
News and AnalysisOctober 11, 2023 10:40 am | By Elliot Mincberg
Biden Judges Ensure that Former Employee Can Raise Disability Discrimination Claim
Judge Tiffany Cunningham, nominated by President Biden to the Federal Circuit, wrote a unanimous decision, joined by Biden Judge Leonard Stark, that rejected an effort by the Army to dismiss a disability discrimination claim brought by a former employee, and…
-
News and AnalysisOctober 11, 2023 10:28 am | By Elliot Mincberg
Biden Judge Casts Deciding Vote to Give Contractor His Day in Court on Unjust Enrichment Claims Against Big Bank
Judge Beth Robinson. nominated by President Biden to the Second Circuit, cast the deciding vote to overturn a lower court that dismissed a claim by an independent contractor that a big bank was unjustly enriched when it replaced him with…
-
News and AnalysisOctober 10, 2023 5:24 pm | By Paul Gordon
The Next Biden Judge in Oregon Understands Why Pronouns Matter
One of the great things about so many Biden judges is their commitment to civil rights and their ability to understand the experiences of people different from them. One pending nominee who has talked about that a lot is Judge…
-
Op-EdOctober 10, 2023 4:59 pm | By Svante Myrick
No Labels’ Friendly Facade Masks its Threat to America’s Future
First published in The Hill. “Can we all get along?” More than 30 years ago, after Los Angeles police officers charged with beating him were acquitted at trial, Rodney King asked that plaintive question that has gone down in history. His…
-
News and AnalysisOctober 10, 2023 11:27 am | By Elliot Mincberg
Biden Judge Casts Deciding Vote Overturning Reduced Damages Award to Accident Victim, Despite Trump Judge Dissent
Judge Eunice Lee, nominated by President Biden to the Second Circuit, cast the deciding vote to reverse a lower court judgment that significantly reduced the damages awarded to a bike messenger who was knocked off his bike when a Marine…
-
In the NewsOctober 9, 2023 1:48 pm | By Svante Myrick
Svante Myrick for The Hill: The Conservative Juggernaut That’s Quietly Writing the Majority Out of US Laws
First published in The Hill. Last Wednesday, partygoers gathered at the National Portrait Gallery in downtown D.C. for a lavish event celebrating the 50 anniversary of the American Legislative Exchange Council, known as ALEC. It’s probably safe to say that outside of…
-
News and AnalysisOctober 6, 2023 2:55 pm | By Elliot Mincberg
Biden Judges Play Key Roles in September Rulings on Environmental Protection and Police Accountability
We are pleased to introduce a monthly feature from People For the American Way, reviewing recent contributions by Biden judges on the federal bench. Federal appellate judges nominated by President Biden wrote or cast deciding votes in four important…
-
In the NewsOctober 5, 2023 12:56 pm | By People For Staff
Common Dreams: Progressives Denounce ’50 Years of Harm’ by ALEC at Anniversary Gala
First published in Common Dreams. As the American Legislative Exchange Council celebrated its 50th anniversary Wednesday night, a coalition of public interest groups gathered to wish them "a happy unbirthday," in the words of one critic opposed to the shadowy…
-
In the NewsOctober 4, 2023 1:04 pm | By People For Staff
The Guardian: Rightwing Group Behind Regressive US State Laws to Face Protest at DC Gala
First published in The Guardian. A broad coalition of opponents to the rightwing corporate agenda of the American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec) will hold a rally on Wednesday night outside a glitzy gala event to celebrate the secretive group’s 50th…
-
News and AnalysisOctober 4, 2023 12:51 pm | By People For Staff
We’re Wishing ALEC a Very Unhappy 50th Birthday
Meet ALEC He's turning 50 this year. And for the past 50 years, ALEC has been poisoning our waters, polluting our air, denying us health care, suppressing our vote, weakening unions, empowering hate groups, enabling gun violence, attacking abortion rights,…
-
Op-EdOctober 2, 2023 5:26 pm | By Svante Myrick
Virginia’s Elections Are a Bellwether for Conservative Policy Nationwide
First published in The Hill. In just a few days, the first votes will be cast in elections that face intense scrutiny every time — and never more so than this year. Early voting in Virginia’s off-year statewide elections starts Friday. …
-
In the NewsOctober 2, 2023 12:22 pm | By People For Staff
Sludge: ALEC Gala to Face Protest From Pro-Democracy Groups
First published in Sludge. The controversial conservative group behind “stand your ground” gun laws and “right-to-work” labor policies is celebrating 50 years on Wednesday night with a gala in D.C. ... Before the event, a coalition of pro-democracy groups will…
-
News and AnalysisOctober 2, 2023 11:19 am | By Elliot Mincberg
Biden Judges Rule that Prosecutors Must Prove Someone Knew They Had a Machinegun Before A Thirty-Year Penalty Can Be Imposed
Judge Gustavo Gelpi, nominated by President Biden to the First Circuit, issued a unanimous decision, joined by Biden nominee Lara Montecalvo, that vacated a conviction for possession of a machinegun. The court explained that the district judge had improperly failed…
-
News and AnalysisSeptember 28, 2023 6:41 pm | By Miranda Jayne Boyd
History Shows Attacks on Education Cannot Be Ignored
The old saying goes, “those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.” Well, some people today are certainly learning the wrong lessons from the past. On September 27, 1958, voters in Arkansas—spurred on by an extremist governor and groups…
-
News and AnalysisSeptember 27, 2023 3:19 pm | By Elliot Mincberg
Biden Judge Provides Deciding Vote to Reject EPA Rule Exempting Drilling and Other Temporary Operations from Air Pollution Regulation
Judge Veronica Rossman, nominated by President Biden to the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, cast the deciding vote in a 2-1 decision that vacated an EPA rule allowing Colorado to exempt oil drilling and other temporary operations…
-
News and AnalysisSeptember 26, 2023 11:41 am | By Miranda Jayne Boyd
Push Back Against Book Banning with People For’s Banned Books Challenge
Book banning is on the rise, and authoritarian attacks on the freedom to learn seem to be coming from all around us. The American Library Association (ALA) has tracked “695 attempts to censor library materials and services and documented challenges…
-
In the NewsSeptember 25, 2023 6:12 pm | By Svante Myrick
Svante Myrick for The Hill: No Labels’ Friendly Facade Masks its Threat to America’s Future
First published in The Hill. “Can we all get along?” More than 30 years ago, after Los Angeles police officers charged with beating him were acquitted at trial, Rodney King asked that plaintive question that has gone down in history. His…