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WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans in Wisconsin are threatening to impeach a recently elected state Supreme Court justice and raised the possibility of doing the same to the state’s election director. A Georgia Republican called for impeaching the Fulton County prosecutor who brought racketeering charges against former President Donald Trump. None of the targets met the bar traditionally set for impeachment — credible allegations of committing a crime while in office. Over the past two years, Republicans also have sought to pry Democrats and nonpartisan executives from office through recalls, legislative maneuvers and forced removals, even when no allegations of wrongdoing have surfaced. They’re upset with her over a legal settlement as voting began in 2020 that eased some rules for mailed ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic beyond what state law permitted.

Persons: Donald Trump, Republicans didn’t, Joe Biden, It’s, ”, Melissa Agard, Janet Protasiewicz, Ben Wikler, “, Robin Vos, we’re, Vos, Larry Krasner, impeaching Krasner, Fani Willis, Georgia’s, Brian Kemp, Sen, Colton Moore, Kemp’s, Ken Paxton, Paxton, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, They’re, Gavin Newsom, Newsom breezed, Brian Kalt, ” Richard Hasen, ” ___ Bauer, Brooke Schultz Organizations: WASHINGTON, — Republicans, Georgia Republican, Republicans, Pennsylvania House, Congress, Democrat, Republican, Court, GOP, state's Democratic Party, Philadelphia, Democratic, Trump, Republican Gov, Caucus, Texas, Representatives, Justice Department, North Carolina Republicans, Michigan State University, University of California, Associated Press Locations: Wisconsin, Georgia, Fulton, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Fulton County, Florida, California, Los Angeles, Madison , Wisconsin, Harrisburg , Pennsylvania

REUTERS/Paul Ratje/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 6 (Reuters) - A New Mexico judge on Friday rejected a Republican challenge to the state's Democratic-drawn congressional lines, improving the odds Democrats will maintain their hold on all three of the state's districts in next year's election. The Republican state party, which brought the lawsuit, said it would appeal the decision with the New Mexico Supreme Court. "The legislature intended to and, in fact, did egregiously gerrymander the congressional maps," said state Republican party chairman Steve Pearce in a statement. Earlier this week, a federal court approved new congressional lines for Alabama after finding a Republican-created map illegally hurt Black voters. The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments next week over whether South Carolina's Republican-drawn congressional map unlawfully diluted the power of Black voters.

Persons: Paul Ratje, Fred Van Soelen, Gabe Vasquez, Van Soelen, egregiously, Steve Pearce, Joseph Ax, Andrew Hay, Colleen Jenkins, David Gregorio, Chris Reese Organizations: Center, REUTERS, Republican, Democratic, U.S . House, Judicial, District, Democrat, Democrats, New, New Mexico Supreme, The U.S, Supreme, South Carolina's Republican, Thomson Locations: Dona Ana, Las Cruces , New Mexico, U.S, Mexico, New Mexico, Alabama, The

On the heels of that decision, a federal appeals court invalidated a federal law that bars an individual who is subject to a domestic violence restraining order from possessing a firearm. A three-judge district court panel struck down the plan in January, saying that race had been the predominant motivating factor. Three years ago, the Supreme Court limited the independence of the CFPB by invalidating its leadership structure. The court’s decision could impact whether the SEC and other agencies can conduct enforcement proceedings in-house, using administrative courts staffed with agency employees, or whether such actions must be brought in federal court. “It’s difficult to think of any other recent First Amendment cases in which the stakes were so high,” Jaffer added.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, ”, Biden, Zackey Rahimi, John Roberts, Taiwan Scott, Thomas, Elizabeth Prelogar, Magnuson, Paul Clement, ” Clement, “, pare, George Jarkesy, Sackler, ” Prelogar, Jameel Jaffer, Jaffer Organizations: CNN, Gun Safety, South Carolina’s Republican, South Carolina State Conference of, NAACP, Democrat, Republican, National Marine Fisheries Service, Chevron, Natural Resources Defense, Stevens Fishery Conservation, Management, Independent, Consumer Financial, Federal Reserve, US, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Securities, Exchange, US Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Social Security Administration, Circuit, Historic Purdue Pharma, Purdue Pharma, Sackler, Purdue, Facebook, YouTube, Columbia University’s Locations: United States, South Carolina, Alabama, Taiwan, Charleston County, Chevron, Florida, Texas

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is returning to a new term to take up some familiar topics — guns and abortion — and concerns about ethics swirling around the justices. Lower-profile but vitally important, several cases in the term that begins Monday ask the justices to constrict the power of regulatory agencies. Political Cartoons View All 1190 ImagesBut the federal appeals court in New Orleans struck down the funding mechanism. The abortion case likely to be heard by the justices also would be the court's first word on the topic since it reversed Roe v. Wade’s right to abortion. But in some important cases last term, the court split in unusual ways.

Persons: Donald Trump, Democrat Joe Biden, ”, Jeffrey Wall, Trump, Biden, Roe, John Roberts, Irv Gornstein, ” Gornstein, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh —, Kavanaugh, Roberts, Barrett, Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, Koch, Samuel Alito, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, ” Kagan, Alito, Thomas Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, Democrat, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Federal Reserve, U.S, Circuit, Appeals, 5th Circuit, Trump, Institute, Gallup, University of Notre Dame, Democratic Locations: New Orleans, Texas, United States, Georgetown, Alabama

☆ Opinion: When it comes to quality over quantity, this Republican contender nailed it
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Sheena Mckenzie | Opinion Todd Graham | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

She didn’t need more speaking time because Haley valued quality over quantity. Regardless of the topic, I felt that Haley’s understanding of the issues and the depth of her answers were unrivaled. Pence was once the vice president of the United States, but on the debate stage he was anything but powerful. DDoug BurgumRobyn Beck/AFP/Getty ImagesWhen it comes to knowledge and experience solving problems, the governor of North Dakota is on par with Haley. At one moment in the debate, Burgum demanded (not kidding — he actually said the word demand) to be allowed to speak.

Persons: Todd Graham, he’s, —, Nikki Haley Mike Blake, Nikki Haley, Haley, Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis Mike Blake, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, ’, Chris Christie, It’s, Mike Pence Mark J, Terrill, Mike Pence, Pence, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, that’s, Doug Burgum Robyn Beck, Doug Burgum’s, hasn’t, Burgum, Dana Perino, Perino, Chris Christie Robyn Beck, Trump, Christie, Vivek Ramaswamy Robyn Beck, Ramaswamy can’t, “, Tim Scott Robyn Beck, Tim Scott, Scott, I’m, Barack Obama Organizations: Southern Illinois University, Facebook, Twitter, CNN, United Nations, Republican, Trump, New, New Jersey Gov, ’ Research, Getty, Fox News, FedEx Locations: South Carolina, China, Ukraine, New Jersey, Russia, United States, AFP, North Dakota

The decision on Tuesday sets the stage for a new map with greater representation for Black voters to be put in place for the 2024 elections. The ruling marks a victory for Black voters in the state who had challenged the existing districts as racially discriminatory. WHAT HAPPENEDJustices denied Alabama's emergency request to keep Republican-drawn congressional lines in place and stop a three-judge panel from drawing new lines as the state appeals. WHAT IS THE REACTIONThe decision was a victory years in the making for Black voters and advocacy groups that had filed lawsuits challenging the Alabama districts. A WINDING PATHThe winding legal saga in Alabama began when groups of Black voters challenged Alabama’s congressional map as racially discriminatory.

Persons: —, Steve Marshall, Barry Moore, Deuel Ross, Alabama's, Plaintiffs, George Wallace's, “, Black, Marshall, ” Marshall, Ross, Kareem Crayton, ” Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Black, Republican, Alabama, Republican Rep, GOP, NAACP Legal, Fund, Gov, Brennan Center for Justice Locations: MONTGOMERY, Ala, Alabama, Black, Louisiana , Georgia, Florida, Louisiana

The New Mexico Supreme Court gave the state district judge overseeing the case until Oct. 6 to come to his conclusions in an order that can be reviewed by the high court. They control every statewide elected office, command majorities in the state House and Senate, and make up the five-member Supreme Court. The Supreme Court did reject a late effort by Gov. The court has yet to decide on another petition that challenges an earlier denial by the state district judge to dismiss as defendants the governor and lieutenant governor. The New Mexico Supreme Court in an opinion issued last week explained its reasoning for allowing the gerrymandering challenge to be heard by the lower court.

Persons: Gabe Vasquez, Yvette Herrell, Kevin McCarthy, Michelle Lujan Grisham's, Lujan Grisham, Vasquez, C, Shannon Bacon Organizations: SANTA FE, Democratic, New Mexico’s, U.S . House, Republican, U.S ., New, New Mexico Supreme, Republican Party, Democrats, Senate, Gov, The New, The New Mexico Supreme Locations: SANTA, U.S, Mexico, Alabama, Florida, Arkansas , Kentucky, Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas, Utah, In New Mexico, Las Cruces, Albuquerque, Lovington, New Mexico, Mexico's, The, The New Mexico

☆ US Supreme Court won't halt ruling that blocked Alabama electoral map
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( John Kruzel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington, U.S., June 29, 2023. That map was devised after the Supreme Court in June blocked a previous version, also for weakening the voting power of Black Alabamians. Voting rights litigation that could result in new maps of congressional districts is playing out in several states. The Alabama map concentrated large numbers of Black voters into one district and spread others into districts in numbers too small to make up a majority. Conservative litigants had succeeded in persuading the Supreme Court to limit the Voting Rights Act's scope in some important previous rulings.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, Alabamians, Joe Biden's, John Roberts, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Brett Kavanaugh, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Rights, Alabama, Republican, . House, Black, Republicans, Democratic, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Birmingham, Black, Constitution's, Alabama, Arizona

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton, a Democrat, announced Monday she won't seek reelection in her competitive district in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington after learning she has a severe form of Parkinson's disease. Wexton announced in April that she had been diagnosed with Parkinson's and that she planned to continue her work in Congress. Wexton was a prosecutor and state legislator before she was elected to Congress in 2018. Virginia's 10th Congressional District, where Wexton serves, is centered in Loudoun County, an outer suburb of the nation's capital. Early symptoms of this disease are subtle and occur gradually, according to the National Institute on Aging.

Persons: Jennifer Wexton, Wexton, Parkinson's, ” Wexton, “, ”, Barbara Comstock, Donald Trump Organizations: — U.S . Rep, Democrat, U.S . House, Republican Rep, GOP, Virginia's, Congressional, National Institute, Aging, National Institutes of Health Locations: Va, Virginia, Washington, Loudoun County, Loudoun

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Derrick Anderson, a U.S. Army combat veteran and attorney, announced plans Monday to again seek the Republican nomination for a Virginia congressional seat that could be a key to determining party control of the U.S. House. The former Green Beret pledged in a statement to run a “tireless, heartfelt, and genuine” campaign to represent the 7th District in the Fredericksburg area, where he grew up. Vega went on to lose to Democratic U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who has represented the 7th District since 2018. Speculation has swirled for months that Spanberger, seen by Democrats as a rising star and by Republicans as a formidable opponent, will run for Virginia governor in 2025. The 7th District was overhauled during the redistricting process that ended in late 2021.

Persons: — Derrick Anderson, I’ll, ” Anderson, Yesli Vega, Vega, Abigail Spanberger, Jennifer Wexton, Connor Joseph, Spanberger, she's, Bill Moher, Cameron Hamilton, Jon Myers, Shaliek, Craig Ennis Organizations: U.S . Army, Republican, U.S . House, Green Beret, Democratic U.S . Rep, District, Republicans, Virginia, Democrats, U.S . Rep, Monday, Spanberger, Spotsylvania County, Virginia Tech, Georgetown Law, Democratic Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Virginia, Fredericksburg, Washington, Virginia's, Richmond, it's, exurban Washington, Spotsylvania, Afghanistan, Iraq

☆ Lauren Boebert won her last election by fewer than 600 votes. Her vaping incident at Beetlejuice could doom her reelection bid and cost Republicans control of the House
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In 2022, Rep. Lauren Boebert won her bid for reelection by less than 600 votes. The incident may have hurt her chances of retaining her seat in 2024, and could cost the GOP. Boebert's on thin ice with her constituentsFirst elected to Congress in 2020, Boebert won her election in part by painting her Democratic opponent as someone with a "socialist agenda" who wanted "more government control." In 2022, two years after Boebert won her congressional seat by more than 26,500 votes, the Republican legislator narrowly retained her seat against Democratic challenger Adam Frisch by fewer than 600 total votes. If Frisch successfully unseats Boebert, his election could very well help flip the House of Representatives in favor of the Democratic Party.

Persons: Lauren Boebert, vaped, Boebert, —, vaping, " I've, Joe Biden's, Adam Frisch, Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Boebert's, Frisch, Frisch's, unseats Boebert Organizations: Service, Republican Party, GOP, Democratic, Republican, Union, Democratic Party, Republicans Locations: Wall, Silicon, Denver, Alabama, New York

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court’s decision siding with Black voters in an Alabama redistricting case gave Democrats and voting rights activists a surprising opportunity before the 2024 elections. Khadidah Stone, a plaintiff in the Alabama case, said the continuing opposition was “appalling” but “not surprising.” She noted that Alabama is where then-Gov. A similar dynamic is playing out in Florida, where Republicans are appealing a ruling favorable to Black voters to the Republican-majority state Supreme Court. But the continued pushback from Republican legislatures in control of redistricting means there is great uncertainty about whether –- or how soon -– new maps offering equal representation for Black voters will be drawn. Louisiana state Rep. Sam Jenkins Jr., a Democrat, said he is optimistic now that the matter is in the courts.

Persons: It's, “, ”, George Wallace, Shawn Donahue, ’ ” Donahue, general’s, Shelly Dick, Dick, Stuart Naifeh, Sam Jenkins Jr, Sen, Royce Duplessis, ” Duplessis, Ron DeSantis, Al Lawson, DeSantis, Angie Nixon, Nixon, ___ Gomez Licon, Kim Chandler, Kevin McGill Organizations: WASHINGTON, Black, Alabama Republicans, Republican, University of Alabama, State University of New, Republicans, U.S . House, U.S, Louisiana’s GOP, Circuit, NAACP Legal Defense, Educational Fund, Democrat, Gov, GOP, Florida Supreme, DeSantis, Democratic U.S . Rep, Democratic, Associated Press Locations: Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, State University of New York, Buffalo, Black, U.S, Orleans, Baton Rouge, Jacksonville, Miami, Montgomery , Alabama, New Orleans

☆ Dark money donations to Virginia Republicans outpace Democrats 6 to 1 in fight for control of the state legislature
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Virginia has seen nearly $1.7 million in outside spending for candidates in key 2023 races. All 140 seats in the Virginia legislature are up for grabs in districts that were recently redrawn. All 140 seats in the Virginia legislature — 100 in the House of Delegates and 40 in the state Senate — are up for grabs in November. But Democrats, who are seeking to maintain Senate control and win back the House, are competing hard for key seats in vote-rich metropolitan Richmond, Hampton Roads, and Northern Virginia. Youngkin has so far been unsuccessful in moving a 15-week abortion ban through the legislature, blunted by Democrats in the Senate.

Persons: Virginia, spender, Koch, Elizabeth Shimek, Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin, Roe, Wade Organizations: Service, Virginia Center, Investigative Journalism, WHRO, Virginia Department, Prosperity, Republicans —, Democratic, GOP, Gov, Republican, Republicans Locations: Virginia, Wall, Silicon, Richmond, Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia

☆ Abortion: These Virginia candidates could shape how both parties talk about abortion in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Simone Pathe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Every seat in both the GOP-led state House and the Democratic-controlled state Senate is up for election. People sign a poster that reads "Elect More Women" during the Democratic rally in Glen Allen, Virginia, on September 9, 2023. Virginia House Democrats have run an ad highlighting nearby states’ stricter abortion laws and featuring a comment by a state House Republican candidate during the primaries that he would support a “100% ban” on abortion. “The Dobbs decision completely changed what Virginia voters are thinking about,” Mamie Locke, the chair of the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus, said in a phone interview last month. Susanna Gibson, the Democratic nominee for Virginia House District 57, speaks to the crowd during the rally in Glen Allen, Virginia, on September 9, 2023.

Persons: Glen, Sen, Siobhan Dunnavant, Schuyler VanValkenburg –, –, Glenn Youngkin, Sue Geller, Schuyler VanValkenburg, Tim Kaine, Rebecca Wright, ” VanValkenburg, Roe, Wade, “ There’s, ” Virginia Sen, Abigail Spanberger, Donald Trump, Kaine, CNN Kaine, Mark Warner, Joe Biden, Biden, Dunnavant, – she’s, shouldn’t, “, Dobbs, ” Dunnavant, Ronna McDaniel, Mitch McConnell –, ” Liesl Hickey, Tammy Campbell isn’t, Glen Allen, ” “, ”, VanValkenburg, It’s, Campbell, we’re, ” Campbell, ’, “ MAGA, ” Mamie Locke, Scott Kozar –, VanValkenburg’s –, Eric Cantor, Dave Brat, Arnold Palmers, Susanna Gibson, CNN Gibson, CNN she’s, Gibson, David Owen, homebuilder, Owen, I’m, ” Owen Organizations: Virginia CNN, GOP, Republican, broach, OB, Democratic, GOP Gov, CNN, Democratic Rep, Democratic National Committee, Festival of India, Greater, Greater Richmond Convention, Virginia Senate, Festival of, Washington Post, Schar, Virginia voters, Republicans, Virginia, Democrats, “ MAGA Republicans, Virginia Democrats, Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus, “, Virginia House District, Richmond Times, Dispatch Locations: Glen Allen, Virginia, Henrico County , Virginia, Richmond, “, Del, Glen Allen , Virginia, Roe , Virginia, Southern, Greater Richmond, Festival of India, Richmond , Virginia, Washington, Richmond want Virginia, Ohio, Spanberger

Section 2 of that law says voting district lines can’t result in discriminatory effects against minority voters. The plaintiffs acknowledged that Black voters in Georgia have seen some success, but say the maps drawn by the Republican-controlled General Assembly still illegally suppress Black voting power. Courts in Alabama and Florida ruled recently that Republican-led legislatures had unfairly diluted the voting power of Black residents. Legal challenges to congressional districts are also ongoing in Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. But Tyson pointed to the election of Democrat Raphael Warnock to the U.S. Senate as proof that candidates favored by Black voters can win.

Persons: Steve Jones, plaintifss, Abha Khanna, Bryan Tyson, “, ” Jones, Jones, Khanna, Tyson, Raphael Warnock, Assembly's, Ari Savitzky, Savitzky Organizations: ATLANTA, U.S, District, Republicans, Republican, Assembly, Supreme, Georgia, U.S . Senate, Black Locations: Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Arkansas , Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico, South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas, Utah, “

(AP) — A Missouri judge has upheld the constitutionality of the state's Senate districts in a case that provided the first legal test of revised redistricting criteria approved by voters. Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem rejected claims that the Senate map unlawfully divided certain local governments into multiple Senate districts, but an attorney said Wednesday that his clients are considering an appeal. In Missouri, two separate bipartisan citizen commissions are supposed to redraw state House and Senate districts after each census to account for population changes. Hatfield said he doesn't believe the constitutional criteria make it OK to split a county into multiple districts when it could be kept whole. The Senate districts were defended in court by Attorney General Andrew Bailey's office.

Persons: Jon Beetem, “, Chuck Hatfield, Beetem, Hatfield, doesn't, Andrew Bailey's, Bailey, Madeline Sieren, ” Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, —, Cole, Republican, Judicial Locations: Mo, Missouri, state's, ” Missouri, Louis, Hazelwood, Buchanan County, St

☆ Alabama asks US Supreme Court to halt ruling blocking Republican-drawn voting map
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( John Kruzel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington, U.S., June 29, 2023. That map was devised after the Supreme Court in June blocked a previous version, also for weakening the voting power of Black Alabamians. Voting rights litigation that could result in new maps of congressional districts is playing out in several states. Conservative litigants had succeeded in persuading the Supreme Court to limit the Voting Rights Act's scope in some important previous rulings. In a 2021 ruling endorsing Republican-backed Arizona voting restrictions, the justices made it harder to prove violations under a provision of the Voting Rights Act aimed at countering racially biased voting measures.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, Joe Biden's, John Roberts, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Brett Kavanaugh, John Kruzel, Sandra Maler, Stephen Coates Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Rights, Monday, Republican, Black, Republicans, U.S . House, Democratic, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Alabama, Birmingham, U.S, Black, Constitution's, Arizona

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans have enjoyed outsize control of the Legislature in one of the most closely divided states for a dozen years. Maintaining that power is now at the heart of a drama involving the state Supreme Court that has national political implications. “Impeachment is an act of pure power politics,” said Ben Wikler, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party. In 2020, the state Supreme Court, then controlled 4-3 by conservatives, came within one vote of overturning Democrat Joe Biden's nearly 21,000 vote victory over then-President Donald Trump. The Supreme Court has yet to decide whether it will take either case.

Persons: ”, Ben Wikler, “ It’s, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, Greta Neubauer, Mark Pocan, Robin Vos, “, ” Vos, Wisconsin Legislature “, Nick Seabrook, Janet Protasiewicz, Protasiewicz, Vos, Tyler August, ” ___ Lieb Organizations: — Wisconsin Republicans, Republicans, Democratic, Wisconsin Democratic Party, Wisconsin Supreme, Donald Trump . Wisconsin Republicans, Republican, Michigan House, Democrat, U.S . Senate, Associated, Democratic U.S . Rep, U.S, Supreme, Wisconsin Legislature, University of North, Wisconsin Democrats, GOP, Legislative Republicans, Democratic Party, GOP . Wisconsin Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin, Neighboring Michigan, Unlike Wisconsin , Michigan, Wisconsin’s, West Virginia, ” Wisconsin, University of North Florida, Jefferson City , Missouri

☆ Opinion | Wisconsin Republicans Try to Subvert Democracy, Again
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Michelle Goldberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

If Republicans move ahead with this impeachment, it will be for one reason only: because they think they can. (Given the size of their Senate majority, they couldn’t afford to lose a single vote.) But some observers think that even if Republicans impeach Protasiewicz, they have no intention of actually holding a Senate trial. But since the state Constitution is silent on a timeline for that process, Republicans could impeach Protasiewicz and then leave her in legal oblivion indefinitely. “Senate Republicans in Wisconsin are basically saying, ‘Yeah, we’re not going to have a trial.

Persons: ”, Charlie Sykes, Protasiewicz, Tony Evers, ’ ”, Sykes, “ Organizations: Democratic Party, Wisconsin’s, Republicans, Trump, State Senate, Democratic Locations: Wisconsin, State

☆ Supreme Court's Alabama map ruling defied predictions as Roberts and Kavanaugh teamed up to protect Voting Rights Act
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Joan Biskupic | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

Ambivalent during early internal debate, Kavanaugh eventually gave Roberts enough confidence that he could write an opinion for a majority. The state’s approach would have wholly undercut the history and purpose of the landmark Voting Rights Act, passed at the height of the Civil Rights movement to try to end race discrimination. Senior conservative Thomas, who has been unyielding in his rejection of race-based practices, was ready to write a far-reaching opinion against the court’s Voting Rights Act precedent for redistricting. Meanwhile, Kavanaugh and Roberts came together, ensuring the chief a five-justice majority for the robust endorsement of Voting Rights Act remedies when states discriminate in redistricting. The Alabama redistricting case shook out differently as Kavanaugh signed a significant portion of Roberts’ opinion.

Persons: John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, Roberts, Kavanaugh, –, Steve Marshall, Edmund LaCour, ”, Donald Trump, Ramos, Atticus Finch, “, Bill Clinton, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, General LaCour, Holder, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Thomas ’, Barrett, George H.W, Roe, Wade, Dobbs, ” Roberts, General Marshall, LaCour, — Organizations: CNN, Alabama, Republican, Supreme, Blacks, Democratic, Notre Dame, Black, Trump, Black Democrats, ”, Civil, Senior, Jackson, Health Organization, Harvard, University of North Locations: Alabama, Black, Minnesota, . Louisiana, . Mississippi, ” Alabama, Shelby County, Bush, Mississippi, University of North Carolina, ”

The state Democratic Party has given liberal Justice Jill Karofsky's campaign more than $1.3 million. In Wisconsin, there is no requirement that justices step down from hearing cases involving campaign donors. Those threats were denounced by Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler as “political extortion." She also cited Democratic Party campaign donations and the campaign comments. The Democratic Party did not bring either of the pending redistricting cases, even though Democrats would benefit from new maps being drawn.

Persons: she's, Ann Walsh Bradley —, Brian Hagedorn, Rebecca Bradley, Jill Karofsky's, ”, Jay Heck, “, Heck, Brennan, Janet Protasiewicz, Dan Kelly, Joe Biden, Tony Evers, Protasiewicz, Robin Vos, Protasiewicz doesn't, Vos, Ben Wikler, Annette Ziegler, Ziegler, Michael Gableman, recusing, Bradley, ” Protasiewicz Organizations: —, — Wisconsin Republicans, Democratic Party, Wisconsin Democracy, Republican Party, Wisconsin Supreme, Brennan Center for Justice, Wisconsin Democratic Party, Republican, Republicans, Gov, Democratic, GOP, Wisconsin Judicial Commission, Wisconsin Democratic, Wisconsin Manufacturers, Commerce, Conservative, United, Constitution Locations: MADISON, Wis, — Wisconsin, Wisconsin, In Wisconsin

☆ Wisconsin Republicans float the impeachment of a new liberal state Supreme Court justice because the court could toss GOP-friendly legislative maps
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Wisconsin Republicans are floating the potential impeachment of state Supreme Court judge Janet Protasiewicz. Republicans are arguing that Protasiewicz must recuse herself from redistricting cases over her comments. Earlier this year, the possibility of Protasiewicz sitting on the court and turning a conservative-leaning court into one with a liberal majority animated Republicans. Republicans now enjoy a 64-35 majority in the state Assembly and a 22-11 supermajority in the state Senate, despite Wisconsin being a perennial battleground state. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe court has not said whether or not it would take up the redistricting cases.

Persons: Janet Protasiewicz, Protasiewicz, Scott Walker, Walker, Tony Evers, Daniel Kelly, Protasiewicz's, Robin Vos, Vos, I'm, Republican Sen, Ron Johnson Organizations: Wisconsin Republicans, Service, Wisconsin Supreme, Republicans, Democratic Gov, Democratic, GOP, Wisconsin, Democratic Party, Assembly, Republican, New York Times, Wisconsin Democratic Party, Associated Press Locations: Wisconsin, Wall, Silicon

At issue was whether the Republican-drawn map violated a bedrock federal civil rights law, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. "We have now said twice that this Voting Rights Act case is not close," the judges wrote. Alabama's Republican Secretary of State Wes Allen in filings submitted to the lower court disclosed plans to appeal to the Supreme Court and the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. The Supreme Court in June allowed a challenge to Louisiana's congressional map to advance. The Voting Rights Act was passed at a time when Southern states including Alabama enforced policies blocking Black people from casting ballots.

Persons: Terri Sewell, Michael A, McCoy, Steve Marshall, Wes Allen, Ron DeSantis, Joseph Ax, John Kruzel, Colleen Jenkins, Bill Berkrot, Will Dunham Organizations: Republican, U.S, Supreme, Democratic, U.S . House, Democratic U.S, Selma Fire, REUTERS, Circuit, Appeals, NAACP, Republicans, Thomson Locations: U.S, Alabama, Birmingham, Selma, Selma , Alabama, Atlanta, Florida, Black

Under the Republican map, only one of the state's seven congressional districts is majority Black, even though Black residents make up more than a quarter of the state's population. The office of Attorney General Steve Marshall, a Republican, said the state would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The plaintiffs who challenged Alabama's map, including the state chapter of the NAACP, in a joint statement said: "Alabama openly admits its intention to defy the law and the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court also in June allowed a challenge to Louisiana's congressional map to advance. A federal court has ordered lawmakers to draw a second majority-Black district, and a U.S. appeals court is set to review the case next month.

Persons: Michael A, McCoy, Terri Sewell, Steve Marshall, Ron DeSantis, Joseph Ax, Colleen Jenkins, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Democratic, Selma Fire, REUTERS, Republican, Democratic U.S, U.S, Supreme, NAACP, Republicans, U.S . House, Representatives, Thomson Locations: Selma, Selma , Alabama, U.S, Birmingham, Alabama, Florida, Black

Instead, a court-appointed special master will be tasked with creating a new map ahead of next year's vote. "And we are deeply troubled that the State enacted a map that the State readily admits does not provide the remedy we said federal law requires." Under the Republican map, only one of the state's seven congressional districts is majority Black, even though Black residents make up more than a quarter of the state's population. The panel first intervened in 2022, ruling that an earlier Republican plan was illegal. The Supreme Court also ruled in June that a challenge to Louisiana's congressional map could advance.

Persons: Michael A, McCoy, Terri Sewell, Ron DeSantis, Joseph Ax, Colleen Jenkins, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Democratic, Selma Fire, REUTERS, Republican, Democratic U.S, U.S, Supreme, Republicans, U.S . House, Representatives, NAACP, Thomson Locations: Selma, Selma , Alabama, U.S, Birmingham, Alabama, Florida, Black

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