Author: Jerrick Adams

  • State supreme court strikes down Wisconsin’s stay-at-home order

    Posted on

    On May 13, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, in 4-3 ruling, struck down the state’s stay-at-home order. The court found that Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm overstepped her authority when she extended the state’s stay-at-home order through May 26 on behalf of Gov. Tony Evers (D). This marks the first instance of a…

  • Louisiana to lift stay-at-home order, reopen select businesses on May 15

    Posted on

    Yesterday, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) unveiled the “Roadmap to a Resilient Louisiana” reopening plan, the first phase of which is set to take effect on May 15, 2020. Under the plan, the following businesses will be permitted to reopen at 25% capacity at that time: gyms and fitness centers; barber shops and hair/nail…

  • California to send mail-in ballots automatically to all registered voters in the general election

    Posted on

    On May 8, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed an executive order directing county election officials to deliver mail-in ballots automatically to all registered voters in the November 3, 2020, general election. Newsom announced that in-person voting locations would also be available. Under normal circumstances, California allows any registered voter to cast a ballot by mail,…

  • Federal judge rejects public school teachers’ attempt to obtain refund of union fees

    Posted on

    On April 30, a U.S. district court judge rejected an attempt by two New York state public school teachers to obtain refunds of fees they were required to pay to their union prior to Janus v. AFSCME. In Janus, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that compelling public-sector employees who are not union members to pay…

  • Michigan extends stay-at-home order to May 28, allows manufacturers to resume operations May 11

    Posted on

    On May 7, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) extended Michigan’s stay-at-home order to May 28. Whitmer issued the original order on March 23, and it was initially set to expire on April 13. Whitmer subsequently extended the order, first through April 30, then through May 15, and, yesterday, through May 28. Whitmer announced that manufacturing entities…

  • Delaware postpones presidential preference primary a second time

    Posted on

    On May 7, Delaware Gov. John Carney (D) announced a further postponement of the state’s presidential primary, this time to July 7. The presidential primary, which was originally scheduled to take place on April 28, was first postponed to June 2. Carney also announced that the state would mail absentee ballot applications automatically to all…

  • SCOTUS declines to take up challenge against Pennsylvania order curtailing non-essential business operations

    Posted on

    On May 6, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to intervene in a lawsuit over a Pennsylvania order curtailing the operations of non-essential businesses, allowing the state supreme court’s ruling, which upheld the order, to stand. On March 24, the plaintiffs (a number of Pennsylvania businesses) petitioned the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to vacate Governor Tom Wolf’s (D) March…

  • Oklahoma House advances bill barring public agencies from requiring donor information from 501(c)s

    Posted on

    On April 6, Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall (R) placed SB1491, which would bar public agencies from requiring 501(c) nonprofits to provide them with personal information about their donors, directly on the calendar for floor consideration. The legislation had previously been waiting for action in the House Judiciary Committee. The Oklahoma State Senate, which originated…

  • Special election in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District to be held May 12

    Posted on

    On May 12, Tom Tiffany (R) and Tricia Zunker (D) will face off in the special election for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District to fill the vacancy left by former Rep. Sean Duffy (R). During his daily COVID-19 briefing on April 29, Gov. Tony Evers (D) said the special election would proceed as planned. The candidates participated…

  • Ballot Bulletin: Candidate filing changes under COVID-19

    Posted on

    States modify candidate filing procedures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak  In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, at least 12 states have modified their candidate filing procedures for certain elections. Today, we examine this topic in depth, reviewing both the permanent statutory framework for candidate ballot access and the temporary modifications made in response to…