Author: Jerrick Adams

  • Federal judge dismisses two class-action lawsuits seeking repayment of agency fees

    Posted on

    On Nov. 27, Judge Renee Bumb, of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, dismissed two class-action lawsuits in which the plaintiffs sought repayment of agency fees paid to their unions before the Supreme Court issued its ruling in Janus v. AFSCME. In Janus, the high court held that unions cannot compel…

  • North Carolina court allows remedial U.S. House map to stand for 2020, opens candidate filing period

    Posted on

    On December 2, 2019, a three-judge panel of North Carolina’s state superior court ruled unanimously that U.S. House elections in 2020 will take place under a remedial map adopted last month by state lawmakers. The court had earlier ruled that the original map constituted a partisan gerrymander in violation of state law. The court also…

  • New York City councillor to introduce legislation expanding donor disclosure requirements

    Posted on

    Earlier this month, New York City Councillor Brad Lander, who represents District 39, announced his intention to introduce legislation that would expand donor disclosure requirements for entities making independent expenditures in municipal elections. What are the existing requirements? Currently, entities making independent expenditures on behalf of candidates or ballot questions are required to file disclosure…

  • California Supreme Court finds bill requiring presidential candidates to disclose income tax returns unconstitutional

    Posted on

    On November 21, 2019, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that SB 27, which requires presidential candidates to file copies of their income tax returns with the California secretary of state in order to qualify for placement on the primary ballot, violates Article II, Section 5(c) of the state constitution.   Article II, Section 5(c)…

  • Federal judge hears challenge to payroll deductions for public-sector union dues

    Posted on

    On Nov. 19, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, heard oral arguments in Mendez v. California Teachers Association, a case involving payroll deductions for public-sector union dues. What is at issue? The plaintiffs allege that their First Amendment rights were violated when their unions continued to…

  • North Carolina court delays U.S. House candidate filing period

    Posted on

    On November 20, 2019, a three-judge panel of North Carolina’s state superior court issued an order delaying the congressional candidate filing period for the 2020 election cycle pending finalization of the state’s congressional district plan. The filing period had been set to open on December 2, 2019, and close on December 20, 2019.   On…

  • Illinois legislature passes public-sector union bill

    Posted on

    On Nov. 13, the Illinois Senate voted 45-9 to approve SB1784, a bill that would make a series of changes to the state’s existing public-sector labor relations laws. The House approved the bill 93-23 on Oct. 29. The bill now goes to Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D), who has not indicated whether he plans to sign…

  • Illinois legislature approves changes to state public-sector labor relations law

    Posted on

    On Nov. 13, the Illinois Senate voted 45-9 to approve SB1784, a bill that would make a series of changes to the state’s existing public-sector labor relations laws. The House approved the bill 93-23 on Oct. 29. The bill now goes to Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D), who has not indicated whether he plans to sign…

  • Ballot Bulletin: NYC adopts RCV

    Posted on

    New York City adopts ranked-choice voting for municipal primaries, special elections On Nov. 5, voters in New York City approved a city charter amendment establishing ranked-choice voting (RCV) for municipal primary and special elections beginning in 2021. The amendment, which passed with 74 percent of the vote, makes New York the largest city in the nation to use RCV…

  • Illinois House approves changes to state public-sector labor relations law

    Posted on

    On Oct. 29, the Illinois House of Representatives approved SB1784, legislation proposing a series of changes to the state’s public-sector labor relations laws. What does the bill propose?As originally introduced on Feb. 16, SB1784 did not have any bearing on public-sector unions. Instead, it dealt with state government ethics. The House amended the bill to…