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State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in May
Issues on the dockets include voting restrictions, gun regulations, and free speech rights.
Symposium: The Promise and Limits of State Constitutions
As the Supreme Court steps back on individual rights, state constitutions are filling the void. Do we fully understand their role and importance?
Will Voters Have the Final Say on Abortion Rights in Florida?
Lawmakers could undermine reproductive rights even if voters enshrine abortion protections into the state constitution.
A Conversation with Former Texas Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson
Jefferson spoke about judicial independence, the under-funding of courts, and the need for greater access to counsel.
Using Appellate Decisions and Algorithms to Advance Judicial Transparency
A new report analyzes New York appellate decisions decreasing sentences in order to identify judges that frequently hand down unduly harsh punishments.
State Courts Can and Should Do More to Protect Voters
State constitutional clauses collectively elevate the status of voters as a group, giving state courts a strong reason to use a separation of powers analogy against efforts to curtail voting rights.
Derek Clinger
Derek Clinger is a senior staff attorney for the State Democracy Research Initiative at University of Wisconsin Law School.
Wisconsin’s Legislative Vetoes Go to Court
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is set to decide whether a legislative committee can override executive branch decisions.
To Prepare for Emergency, States Must Resolve Constitutional Ambiguities
Thirty-five state constitutions contain provisions that allow lawmakers to take extraordinary action in emergencies, but the full extent of these powers hasn’t been tested.
Montana Strikes Down Voting Restrictions
At issue was a series of state laws passed in 2021 that created new hurdles for voting, such as eliminating Election Day voter registration and a ban on paid absentee ballot collection.
