On October 30th, 2025, the State Democracy Research Initiative hosted a panel discussion: “Judging in State Appellate Courts.” This panel highlighted the important and often overlooked role of state intermediate appellate court judges in our legal …
State Courts
Exploring State Checks Against Federal Overreach
Published: August 8, 2025 Updated: October 23, 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 …
Oregon Court of Appeals – Farrell-Smith v. Oregon Department of Justice Amicus Brief Filed
PDF Available Here On October 16, the State Democracy Research Initiative’s faculty co-directors, Miriam Seifter and Rob Yablon, filed an amicus brief with six other legal scholars in Farrell-Smith v. Oregon Department of Justice, a …
Corporate Law and Democracy: A Conversation with Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick
On October 7th, 2025, the State Democracy Research Initiative hosted “Corporate Law and Democracy: A Conversation with Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick.” During this event, Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick of the Delaware Court of Chancery highlighted the important work and unique positionality …
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 …
Bryna Godar in WPR: Staff Attorney Godar explains an untested three-judge panel process that Wisconsin courts may use to handle two pending congressional redistricting cases.
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 …