Author: Sara Reynolds
-
New York Legislature approves extreme risk protection order bill
New York’s legislature sent a firearms regulation bill to Governor Cuomo earlier this week. The New York State Legislature approved SB 2451 along party lines on January 29. According to the New York State Senate website, the bill “establishes extreme risk protection orders as a court-issued order of protection prohibiting a person from purchasing,…
-
North Carolina Supreme Court justice announces retirement
North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Martin is retiring on February 28, 2019. Martin is leaving the court to become the dean of Regent University Law School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Because Martin is retiring midterm, Gov. Roy Cooper (D) will select a successor. Martin’s successor will be Gov. Roy Cooper’s (D) first…
-
Virginia Supreme Court Justice McClanahan retiring in September
Virginia Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth McClanahan is retiring on September 1, 2019. Under Virginia law, the Virginia General Assembly selects the justices of the supreme court. If the legislature is out of session, the governor appoints an interim justice who must be approved by the legislature. The Republican-controlled Virginia General Assembly will choose a successor.…
-
President Trump resubmits 51 nominees for federal judgeships
On January 23, 2019, President Donald Trump (R) resubmitted 51 judicial nominations to the U.S. Senate. The nominees had been returned to the president earlier in January at the sine die adjournment of the 115th Congress. The list included 37 nominees for the U.S. district courts, nine nominees for federal circuit courts of appeal,…
-
Florida Gov. DeSantis (R) appoints third supreme court justice
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) appointed Carlos G. Muñiz to the Florida Supreme Court on January 22, effective immediately. Muñiz is DeSantis’ third appointment to the court. DeSantis previously appointed Florida Third District Court of Appeal Judges Barbara Lagoa and Robert Luck. The seats were vacant following the retirement of Justices Fred Lewis, Barbara Pariente, and…
-
Congressional approval at 17% – lowest rating since Sept 2018
Yesterday’s congressional approval rating was 17 percent, according to Ballotpedia’s polling average. The congressional approval rating indicates public satisfaction in the job performance of the members of the United States Congress. The 17 percent rating was the lowest rating since the week of September 24, 2018, when the rating was also 17 percent. Since…
-
President Trump announces six judicial nominees
On January 16, President Donald Trump (R) announced six nominees to Article III federal judicial positions. Article III federal judges are appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate, and serve for life. The nominees are: Greg G. Guidry, nominee to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. James Wesley Hendrix, nominee…
-
Florida Gov. DeSantis appoints second supreme court justice
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) appointed Robert J. Luck as an associate justice of the Florida Supreme Court. DeSantis announced the appointment on Monday, January 14, effective immediately. Luck is DeSantis’ second supreme court appointee to the seven-member court, after the governor appointed Barbara Lagoa on January 9. DeSantis entered office with three state…
-
Florida governor makes first state supreme court appointment
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) appointed Florida Third District Court of Appeal Judge Barbara Lagoa to succeed Fred Lewis on the Florida Supreme Court. Lewis retired from the court on January 7 after reaching the mandatory retirement age. Lagoa is DeSantis’ first appointment to the seven-member court. Her appointment is effective immediately. Lagoa was…
-
Tennessee law requiring local compliance with federal immigration laws takes effect
House Bill (HB) 2315, a bill involving sanctuary cities, went into effect in Tennessee. In May 2018, Gov. Bill Haslam (R) allowed the bill to become law without his signature. HB 2315 requires local law enforcement to comply with detainer requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Under the law, localities that fail to…