As citizens have increasingly turned to direct democracy powers to make or change law, officials across states have responded with a similar set of tactics to make doing so harder. SDRI's @derekclinger.bsky.social explores the tactics and how citizens have responded in @statecourtreport.org.

Our "Year in Review" panel is happening tomorrow! There is still time to register to attend in person or virtually at go.wisc.edu/62qgi8

There is still time to register for "Year in Review: Democracy Litigation in SCOTUS and the States", taking place on Wednesday, July 8, from 3-4:15 pm CT. You can join us in person at the Madison Central Library or virtually via Zoom. Register here: go.wisc.edu/62qgi8

Today, the Arizona Supreme Court, in Center for Arizona Policy v. Arizona Secretary of State, upheld a ballot measure that requires disclosure of "dark money" election spending, rejecting claims that the law facially violates the Arizona Constitution's free speech and privacy protections. 1/3

SDRI Faculty Co-Director @miriamseifter.bsky.social and Staff Attorney @ewylau.bsky.social dive into the history of the Wisconsin Constitution in State Court Report. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

The Supreme Court just ruled in Trump v. Slaughter, allowing the President to remove the heads of agencies like the U.S. Postal Service at will, and Watson v. RNC, preserving post-election day receipt of mail ballots. We previewed these and other mail voting-related issues here: go.wisc.edu/v566xn

In this Second Circuit amicus brief, SDRI’s @miriamseifter.bsky.social & @robyablon.bsky.social, together with other legal scholars, explain that the doctrine of “intergovernmental immunity” does not bar a NY law limiting immigration enforcement in state courthouses. go.wisc.edu/s0i9si

In 2024, New Yorkers adopted an Amendment that expanded the state constitution’s Equal Protection Clause to bar discrimination based on ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender expression, pregnancy status, reproductive healthcare & more. Learn more at 50constitutions.org/ny

Join us for "Year in Review: Democracy Litigation in SCOTUS and the States" on Wednesday, July 8, at 3 pm CT at the Madison Public Library or online via Zoom. This annual panel will discuss significant democracy-related cases at both the state and federal levels. Register here: go.wisc.edu/62qgi8

State courts are encountering a new type of “vote dilution” claim, which asserts that certain election practices are unconstitutional because they increase the hypothetical risk of voter fraud, and thus dilute the weight of “legal” ballots. Our latest Report unpacks these claims: go.wisc.edu/n9nk35

Mail voting is under unprecedented federal pressure ahead of the 2026 midterms. From the White House to the Supreme Court to Congress, the threats to this widely used form of voting are mounting. Our new Explainer explores what's happening and what states can do about it: go.wisc.edu/622s38

There is still time to register for our panel event, "The Work of State Supreme Courts", happening tomorrow morning! Learn more and register here: go.wisc.edu/h2ef9d

It's not too late to register for our panel, "The Work of State Supreme Courts", taking place on Friday, May 29, from 9-10:30 am. You can join us virtually or in person. Register here: go.wisc.edu/h2ef9d

Staff attorney @bgodar.bsky.social's article, Disenfranchisement Creep, came out Friday in the Virginia Law Review. She argues that state constitutions impose limits on criminal and capacity-based disenfranchisement and surveys the ways states exceed those limits. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

North Carolina's 2024 Supreme Court race took 6 months of litigation to resolve, while some worry that similar post-election challenges could affect control of Congress. But state supreme courts have tools to prevent this. Learn more in our new explainer: statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/our-work/how...

For decades, ICE limited enforcement operations at locations like schools and hospitals. Both Trump Administrations rescinded those guidelines. @harrisonstark.bsky.social discusses states & localities’ ability to adopt their own policies in a new report: statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/our-work/can...

As states explore options for addressing federal corruption, state criminal laws may offer one avenue. We've added an appendix of existing laws to our report here: statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/our-work/sta...

🎓 Congratulations to the Class of 2026 @law.wisc.edu Graduates, especially those who worked with us here at SDRI. We look forward to staying in touch and can't wait to see where you all go next!

🔥There is still time to apply for our Staff Attorney and Fellowship positions!🔥 Learn more and apply here🏃‍♂️‍➡️➡️ statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/get-involved/work-with-us

Bills passed in Michigan must go to the governor before they become law. But the state house refused to send nine bills to Gov. Whitmer, leading to a dispute that the state high court will hear next week. @uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social's @derekclinger.bsky.social analyzed the case:

🚨SDRI is hiring!🚨 Learn more about our Staff Attorney and Fellowship opportunities here ➡️ statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/get-involved...

Join us for "The Work of State Supreme Courts" on May 29, from 9-10:30 am, featuring state supreme court justices from across the country! Register to join us in-person or online⬇️ go.wisc.edu/h2ef9d

🚨SDRI is hiring!🚨 Learn more about our Staff Attorney and Fellowship opportunities here ➡️ statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/get-involved...

A recent U.S. district court decision held that states can constitutionally prohibit federal agents from wearing masks, so long as they do not discriminate against them in the process. Staff Attorney Bridget Lavender explains what this means for other states who are considering their own mask bans.

State and local governments are increasingly using property law to push back on ICE operations. Our new report unpacks the viability of these efforts, from banning new detention centers to barring officers from staging operations on city property. statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/our-work/sta...

We had a lovely time in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan Law School co-sponsoring an academic roundtable on state and local governance with Alexandra Klass, Nina Mendelson, and @chrisjwalker.bsky.social!!

Congress approved Ohio's admittance into the Union in 1803, but failed to complete a step required to grant statehood: ratifying the state constitution. In 1953, the House voted to approve legislation to retroactively grant statehood to Ohio, effective March 1, 1803. 50constitutions.org/oh

📢🚀🚨 We just launched our new website! 🚨🚀📢 📍It's easier to navigate 🔍 Has improved search features 📌And allows users to filter our work by topic and type! Check it out at statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu 👉💻⬇️

Happening tomorrow! There's still time to register here: go.wisc.edu/95y7s8

It's not too late to register for our event, Election Matters: The Battle Over Mid-Decade Redistricting, taking place this Friday, March 6th! Register here: go.wisc.edu/95y7s8

Today, it’s almost impossible to sue federal officers for money damages if they violate your constitutional rights. As @harrisonstark.bsky.social explains in this Lawfare piece, state law could offer a solution through so-called “converse 1983” legislation. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/can-...

The U.S. Constitution envisions states as a key check against federal overreach. Check out @harrisonstark.bsky.social's State Forum piece explaining how states can fulfill that role today: www.statesforum.org/firebreak-fe...

20 of the 51 amendments to the Iowa Constitution took place between 1962 and 1968. Some of these amendments included replacing partisan judicial elections with judicial nominating commissions and giving the governor line-item veto power. Learn more here: 50constitutions.org/ia

Join us for the next installment in our Election Matters series, "The Battle Over Mid-Decade Redistricting" on March 6, 3-4:15 pm CT. Panelists will offer an update on mid-decade redistricting and how it may impact the 2026 midterms. Register here: go.wisc.edu/95y7s8

Check out @miriamseifter.bsky.social & @bgodar.bsky.social 's forthcoming essay for Northwestern U. L. Rev., exploring how state constitutional principles inform permissible state court reforms and highlighting recent legislative efforts at odds with these principles. go.wisc.edu/4fr1x1

Check out SDRI's Faculty Co-Director Miriam Seifter's latest scholarship roundup. @miriamseifter.bsky.social

This should be a great event. Please consider attending!

The federal government has been suing states to force them to hand over full voter registration lists, including personal details protected by state privacy law. Yesterday, DC, GA, IL, and WI became the latest to be sued. Our new explainer analyzes these legal disputes. go.wisc.edu/xb7m0v

Check out some of this year’s most important state supreme court opinions, including @miriamseifter.bsky.social contribution.

As the federal government pulls back from policing public corruption, can states help to fill the void? This explainer by @bgodar.bsky.social explores the potential for states to use their own anticorruption laws and other tools to address federal-level corruption. go.wisc.edu/ive401

One week left to submit an abstract for our Scholarship Roundtable in April!

Check out Staff Attorney Bryna Godar's Lawfare piece analyzing when states can prosecute federal officials for violations of state criminal law.

If you missed our panel on 'Education Rights & State Constitutions,' you can watch the event recording for this event and many more on our website. Watch the recording here: statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/events-summa...

Property owners have increasingly used state law to challenge programs and policies meant to assist the poor. As Staff Attorney @bridgetlavender.bsky.social explains in the State Court Report, state efforts to defend these policies have been mostly successful. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

If you missed our panel on 'Money, Politics, & the First Amendment,' you can watch the event recording for this event and many more on our website. Watch the recording here: statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/events-summa...

In this Ninth Circuit amicus brief, SDRI’s @miriamseifter.bsky.social & @robyablon.bsky.social, with other legal scholars, explain that individuals can use certain state laws to sue for damages when federal officers violate their constitutional rights. statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/featured/202...

Join us next week for “Judging in State Appellate Courts” on Thursday, October 30, from 12:00-1:00 pm CT. This event will take place in-person in Lubar Commons (room 7200) of the UW Law School, with the option to attend virtually. Lunch will be provided. Register here: go.wisc.edu/zame95

@miriamseifter.bsky.social, @robyablon.bsky.social, & other scholars filed an amicus brief last week urging the OR Court of Appeals to consider the OR Constitution's democratic commitments when analyzing whether state law authorizes invasive surveillance. statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/featured/202...

Check out Harrison Stark's @statecourtreport.org piece exploring the long history -- and present possibility -- of suing federal officials under state law. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...

The deadline to submit an abstract for our Scholarship Roundtable on State and Local Governance is one month away! To learn more, visit go.wisc.edu/rx53ph