Derek Clinger, Senior Staff Attorney Published: July 31, 2024 PDF Available Here Today, in a highly anticipated decision, the Michigan Supreme Court held that the Michigan Legislature violated the state constitution when it used a …
Research & Explainers
Explainer: The Proposed Constitutional Amendments on Federal Funding Appearing on Wisconsin’s August Primary Ballot
Bryna Godar, Staff Attorney PDF Available Here In August, Wisconsin voters will see two proposed state constitutional amendments on their ballots, both aimed at increasing the legislature’s role in allocating federal funds received by the …
Wisconsin Supreme Court 2023 Term Review and 2024 Preview
Bryna Godar, Staff Attorney PDF Available Here This year’s Wisconsin Supreme Court term saw the smallest number of cases ever decided by the court. The court issued a total of 14 opinions,[1] compared to upwards …
White Paper: State Judicial Conduct Commissions—The Challenge of Judging Judges
Bryna Godar, Staff Attorney Published: July 10, 2024 Updated: July 30, 2024 Link to PDF Introduction This report analyzes an often-overlooked set of state entities that hold substantial power: judicial conduct commissions.[1] These entities, which …
White Paper: Shadow Shadow Dockets
Adam Sopko, Staff Attorney Published: April 12, 2024 Link to PDF Introduction In recent years, legal commentators have analyzed—and often criticized—the U.S. Supreme Court’s “shadow docket.”[1] Rulings on this docket proceed without the usual, public-facing …
Research Note: History of Wisconsin’s Joint Committee on Finance’s Veto Powers
PDF Available Here Wisconsin’s Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) has a range of statutorily conferred powers, including powers to veto executive-branch actions.
Explainer: Proposed Wisconsin Constitutional Amendments on Election Administration
Emily Lau, Staff Attorney PDF Available Here This April, Wisconsin voters will be asked to vote on two proposed amendments to the Wisconsin Constitution. To amend the Constitution, legislators in two successive legislative sessions must …
Explainer: Status of Partisan Gerrymandering Claims Across the Country
Harry Isaiah Black, Staff Attorney PDF Available Here Every 10 years, following the federal census, states are required to redraw their congressional and legislative district maps. In the majority of states, the duty to redistrict …
Supreme Court of North Carolina: 2023 Review and 2024 Preview
Emily Lau, Staff Attorney PDF Available Here The North Carolina Supreme Court had an eventful 2023. Its recent decisions reflect changes in the court’s view of its own role, its relationship with the other branches …
Explainer: Shaping Democracy: 2023’s Statewide Ballot Measures and What Lies Ahead in 2024
Derek Clinger, Senior Staff Attorney PDF Available Here The past year saw a continued trend of increased interest in direct democracy, with the highest number of statewide ballot measures for an odd-numbered election year in …