Articles in Channel: Election Law & Political Commentary

Bill allowing recalls approved by Senate committee

Edward Still
March 22, 2012 14:56

The Birmingham News reports: A Senate committee today approved a bill aimed at giving Alabama voters the ability to recall public officials if enough people are displeased with their performance. ... The Senate Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics, and Elections Committee...

140 Law - Legal Headlines for Thursday, March 22, 2012

March 22, 2012 13:47

Here are the leading legal headlines from Wise Law on Twitter for Thursday, March 22, 2012: Graham James sentence may be appealed  Ontario court to rule Monday on prostitution laws Lawyers Practicing Primarily in New York Must Work for Attorney-Owned Firms, Ethics Opinion Says Charges laid...

Kansas House committee removes provision requiring state courts order funding as required by the U.S. Constitution

Bill Raftery
March 22, 2012 13:12

Yesterday I noted with respect to a Minnesota bill that it was common for legislators to propose constitutional amendments to prohibit state courts from ordering funds to be expended. Late last week Kansas’ House Judiciary Committee advanced just such a bill, but with an interesting change....

Trayvon Martin: "Stand Your Ground" Rule Has NOTHING To Do With This Case

Darren Hutchinson
March 22, 2012 01:49

A lot of professional and amateur media have argued that the "stand your ground" rule -- a provision in Florida self-defense law -- could complicate or preclude the prosecution of George Zimmerman.  Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin, but police declined to arrest him. Sanford Police Chief...

Sorry, Trayvon Martin: They Just Don't Like You (UPDATED)

Darren Hutchinson
March 22, 2012 01:36

"It is about time the court faced the fact that the white people of the South don't like the colored people." -- Chief Justice William Rehnquist (written when he was a law clerk on the Supreme Court). The recent murder of Trayvon Martin, a black teenager, by George Zimmerman, a white "neighborhood...

Graysville petitioners want mayor impeached (UPDATED)

Edward Still
March 21, 2012 23:34

The Birmingham News reports: A group of Graysville residents today filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court a petition to impeach Graysville Mayor Doug Brewer. The petition accuses Brewer of willful neglect of duty, corruption in office, abuse of power and...

Foreclosure Defenses: Round 1

March 21, 2012 20:29

Reblogged from Kentucky Bankruptcy Law: First, a shout out to Ben Carter, a former classmate of mine and one fine presenter with a flair for fashion. Thanks Ben for helping make sense out of foreclosure mayhem. So much has been written about the dilemma of massive numbers of foreclosure actions...

Birmingham News ignored ALEC's influence in our latest voter ID bill

Edward Still
March 21, 2012 17:02

Media Matters for America reports: Dozens of voter ID laws have been introduced in state legislatures over the past two years, including particularly strict measures passed in seven states in 2011 -- Alabama, Kansas, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee...

New Hampshire House effort to create 7-year terms for judges taken off the table, may have vote this afternoon Update: Effort fails 172-176 on procedural vote

Bill Raftery
March 21, 2012 16:36

Judges in New Hampshire’s state courts, after their appointment by the governor and confirmation by the state’s executive council, serve until age 70, must to the angst of several members of the legislature. CACR 11, introduced initially in 2011, would replace this with 5-year terms...

Minnesota bill would cut judicial funding for every dollar court orders state to pay

Bill Raftery
March 21, 2012 15:35

Bills that would prohibit courts from ordering or directing the expenditure of state funds are nothing new. When courts have ordered increased funding, for schools for example, there has been anecdotal evidence that court budgets have been reduced in retaliation. Minnesota’s SB 2454, however,...