Three Republicans on the Federal Election Commission who have signaled their willingness to crack down on the growing use of secretive limited liability companies (LLCs) to make campaign contributions will soon be put to the test on the issue. The FEC faces multiple complaints from watchdog groups regarding the alleged use of LLCs to make […]
Legal Affairs
Posted inLaw and Justice
Conservative Dark Money Targets Senators in Supreme Court Fight
Despite Merrick Garland’s moderate credentials and former bipartisan support, conservatives have gone on the offensive to block his nomination.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Republicans Say They Want to Nominate Another Scalia. But They Don’t Mean It
Why the next Scalia could be far worse for the progressive agenda.
Posted inLaw and Justice
Maryland Criminal Justice Advocates, Police Unions Clash Over Reforms
Reformers arguing for civilian participation in misconduct investigations face opposition from police unions they say shield officers from disciplinary action.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Judicial Spending Blitz in Arkansas Spurs Calls for Reform
A $1.1 million corporate spending blitz that helped defeat two candidates for the Arkansas Supreme Court has prompted the state legislature to call for reforms that would either eliminate judicial elections, ban undisclosed “dark” money in those races, or both. The two candidates in question, Supreme Court Justice Courtney Goodson and Little Rock attorney Clark […]
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Reform Advocates’ Elusive Goal: Fix the FEC
Campaign-finance reform advocates hold out zero hope that the current Congress will overhaul the rules, but they have nevertheless unveiled a plan that sketches out their ideal vision for tightening up federal election law enforcement. On Tuesday, Senator Tom Udall, of New Mexico, introduced a bill that would kill the Federal Election Commission and replace […]
Posted inLaw and Justice
Future of Abortion Access Remains Unclear After Supreme Court Oral Arguments
The decision over whether Texas’s abortion restrictions constitute an undue burden on a woman’s right to choose will likely come down to which side persuaded Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Posted inLaw and Justice
The Far-Reaching Consequences of the Supreme Court Abortion Rights Challenge
Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt represents a critical moment for reproductive rights, which anti-abortion advocates have been chipping away at for decades.
Posted inBooks, Arts and Culture
How Contraception Court Challenge Hurts Religious Freedom
Conservatives have challenged the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate on the grounds that it tramples on their religious liberty, but a leading law professor argues that the lawsuit would undermine freedom of worship in the long run.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Watchdog Group Sues FEC Over Crossroads GPS
The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has filed suit against the Federal Election Commission, alleging that the agency violated election laws when it dismissed a CREW complaint against Crossroads GPS, a conservative political operation masterminded by GOP operative Karl Rove. The lawsuit asks the court to refute the FEC’s dismissal-which […]