On September 18th, 2025, SDRI co-directors Miriam Seifter and Rob Yablon spoke as panelists on a webinar hosted by Beat Academy. The panel discussed key laws governing federal vs. state powers, the changing scope of …
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Explainer: Can States Prohibit Federal Law Enforcement from Masking on the Job?
Bridget Lavender, Staff Attorney PDF Available Here Published: October 3, 2025 Introduction As the federal government ramps up immigration enforcement under President Trump’s second administration, federal agents sometimes conduct operations while wearing masks or other …
Call for Papers: Scholarship Roundtable on State and Local Governance: Agencies, Institutions, and Infrastructure
September 3, 2025 The University of Wisconsin Law School’s State Democracy Research Initiative (SDRI) is pleased to announce a Roundtable on State and Local Governance: Agencies, Institutions, and Infrastructure, to be held on Friday, April …
Exploring State Checks Against Federal Overreach
Published: August 8, 2025 Updated: October 6, 2025 States have many tools to help counter federal abuses of power. Facing a torrent of controversial federal government actions, states today are pursuing or considering an array …
Explainer: State-Created Damages Remedies Against Federal Officials
Harrison Stark, Senior Counsel PDF Available Here Published: August 1, 2025 Introduction & Summary What recourse do people have if federal agents violate their constitutional rights? In recent months, this question has taken on new …
Explainer: Can States Prosecute Federal Officials?
Bryna Godar, Staff Attorney PDF Available Here Published: July 17, 2025 As state and local officials increasingly clash with federal officials over immigration enforcement,[1] policing of protests,[2] and much more,[3] they could soon turn to …
We’re Hiring!
📣 UW Law School’s State Democracy Research Initiative is hiring! We’re searching for a program coordinator to support SDRI in all aspects of its work, from events to communications and research support. Apply here: https://go.wisc.edu/6p0b3n
Wisconsin Supreme Court 2024-25 Term Review and 2025-26 Preview
Bryna Godar, Staff Attorney PDF Available Here Published: July 16, 2025 Updated: September 8, 2025 The 2024–25 Wisconsin Supreme Court term wrapped up in June and July with a series of high-profile decisions, including on …
Work With Us! SDRI is Seeking 2026 Fellowship Applicants.
About SDRI The State Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin Law School is a leading source of credible nonpartisan expertise on state-level democracy, state constitutions, and state government institutions—subjects too often neglected in …
Arizona Supreme Court – Center for Arizona Policy, Inc. v. Arizona Secretary of State Amicus Brief Filed
PDF Available Here On June 24, the State Democracy Research Initiative’s faculty co-directors, Miriam Seifter and Rob Yablon, filed an amicus brief with six other legal scholars in Center for Arizona Policy, Inc. v. Arizona …