Articles in Channel: Election Law & Political Commentary

Garbage In, Garbage Out

Rick Horowitz
March 16, 2010 18:01

I started to call this post “The Accidental Attorney,” but a recent post uses a similar title.  Besides, I don’t want to give the impression that everything in my life has been a big accident, although I admit to frequently wondering if I shouldn’t have become a ...

CO: Legislature asks for Supreme Court opinion on Citizens United

Bill Raftery
March 16, 2010 16:50

While generally courts are permitted to entertain only cases and controversies, several states allow their Supreme Court to issue advisory opinions. Colorado’s Constitution gives its Supreme Court the power to weigh in “upon important questions upon solemn occasions when required by the governor, th...

And, They're Off

March 16, 2010 04:30

The filing deadline is now over, and a whole bunch of people decided at the last minute that they wanted to run for office after all. Good for them, and special acknowledgment to Matt Stevenson who is running against Carolyn Squires for HD 96, (the same one that I ran for in 2008).Good luck to all...

This is Sort of Disturbing

March 16, 2010 02:14

And yet, mildly amusing.

Another Double Standard

March 12, 2010 16:18

Remember Scooter Libby? Or Martha Stewart? Both of these high profile people were prosecuted for making false statements to federal agents. As a general rule, I would never ever talk to the FBI or any other federal investigator because if I made a mistake, I could still be prosecuted for that...

More push-pull legislation on court funding

Bill Raftery
March 12, 2010 15:00

Readers may recall the Florida House bills proposed several weeks ago that would provide the courts guaranteed funding, but only if judicial immunity and a list of other changes made to the way courts and judges operate. Now the Senate has introduced identical bills (SB 2636 and SB 2640). Georgia,...

Judicial Vacancy Commissions

Bill Raftery
March 12, 2010 14:43

Two states, both having dealt recently with contentious elections, are actively debating the use of Judicial Vacancy Commissions. While they share similar names, the two are dramatically different. Alabama’s version builds on its pre-existing system where counties are allowed to opt-in into a...

Boosting the minimum years admitted to the bar to be a judge

Bill Raftery
March 12, 2010 14:19

Several weeks ago we looked several states looking to do away with non-attorney judges. Other states are looking at increasing the minimum number of years an attorney must practice law (or at least be admitted to the bar) before becoming a judge. For example, Alabama in 2009 passed a law (SB 28)...

MN: One step closer to retention elections

Bill Raftery
March 11, 2010 18:57

Earlier today the Senate Rules Committee approved SB 70, a bill to establish retention elections for judges. The bill also expands terms of office from six to eight years and creates a judicial performance commission. the commission must issue in the year a judge seeks retention ean valuation of...

The Accidental Pro Bono Attorney

Rick Horowitz
March 09, 2010 01:16

Last week, a couple of insightful attorneys wrote posts regarding fees.  Brian Tannebaum, a hard-fighting criminal defense attorney in Miami, Florida, discussed the effect the economy is having on clients trying to get money back from their attorneys — particularly after the attorney has, ...