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
If you'd like to learn more about the power of states to prosecute federal officials, check out my colleague Bryna's explainer on the issue.
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
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
With some federal agents now wearing masks on the job, a growing number of states are considering mask bans. Can states apply such laws to federal actors without contravening the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause? We explore this question in a new Explainer: go.wisc.edu/bn0b1c
flyer reads: Panel Discussion: Judging in State Appellate Courts with a photo of three chairs in a courtroom. Panelists include Judge Brian Blanchard (Wisconsin Court of Appeals), Judge Elizabeth Bentley (Minnesota Court of Appeals), President Judge Renée Cohn Jubelirer (Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court), and Chief Justice Rebeca Martinez (Texas Court of Appeals). This panel will be moderated by Professor Miriam Seifter (University of Wisconsin Law School). Thursday, October 30th, 12-1 pm. Lubar Commons (Room 7200) University of Wisconsin Law School or virtual via Zoom. Lunch will be provided. Register with Eventbrite. Pending approval for 1 CLE credit. State Democracy Research Initiative, University of Wisconsin Law School.
Join us 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.
go.wisc.edu/zame95
Election Matters 2025 Flyer - Money, Politics and the First Amendment Friday, October 3, 3-4:15 pm in room 2260 of the UW Law School Live Stream Option Available featuring Barry Burden, Benjamin Ginsberg, Saurav Ghosh, Raymond La Raja, and Abby Wood register and learn more at go.wisc.edu/190re6
Join us for the next installment in our Election Matters panel series on "Money, Politics, and the First Amendment." This event will explore the impacts of increasingly expensive elections and the tension between campaign finance regulation and free speech. Register here: go.wisc.edu/190re6
Committed Commentators to Date: Sara Bronin, George Washington University Law School Sheila Foster, Columbia Law School & Columbia University Climate School Alexandra Klass, University of Michigan Law School Nina Mendelson, University of Michigan Law School Miriam Seifter, University of Wisconsin Law School Ganesh Sitaraman, Vanderbilt University Law School Christopher Walker, University of Michigan Law School Rob Yablon, University of Wisconsin Law School
📢Call for papers for a Scholarship Roundtable on State and Local Governance, organized by @uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social and Professors Alexandra Klass, Nina Mendelson, and @chrisjwalker.bsky.social and taking place at @umichlaw.bsky.social, 4/10/26 in Ann Arbor!
Details here: go.wisc.edu/rx53ph
Join us for “Education Rights and State Constitutions” on Friday, September 12 from 3:00-4:15pm Central Time, with a reception to follow. This event will take place in-person in Room 2260 in the UW Law School, with the option to attend virtually. go.wisc.edu/7ig7qx
Can states criminally prosecute wrongdoing by federal officials? Can states authorize people to bring civil damages actions against federal officials who act unconstitutionally? We explore these questions in two new explainers. 1/ go.wisc.edu/yb8t55
🚨50 Constitutions Update🚨
Our latest update to 50constitutions.org adds tracking constitutional change features to 4 additional states!
These tools allow users to explore a state's full amendment history.
50constitutions.org
Law school libraries -- our experience has been that they are more than happy to host electronic research.
📣 UW Law School's State Democracy Research Initiative is hiring! We’re searching for a program coordinator to support SDRI in all aspects of its work, from events to communications and research support. Apply here: go.wisc.edu/6p0b3n
New: The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that an 1849 law on abortion was impliedly repealed by later abortion legislation, so it no longer operates as a ban on abortion.
Read the opinion here: www.wicourts.gov/sc/opinion/D...
Join us for “Year in Review: Democracy Litigation in SCOTUS and the States” Thursday, July 10 at 3pm CT, at the Madison Public Library or online. The panel will highlight the past year’s significant democracy-related decisions at both the state and federal levels.
Register here: go.wisc.edu/bl85id
Thank you to the Gargoyle for highlighting Liz Gracie and John Miller’s generosity in contributing $50,000 to establish a matching gift for SDRI. We are so grateful to them and the other donors! gargoyle.law.wisc.edu/2025/06/supp...
Join us for "The Work of State Supreme Courts" on May 30, from 9-10:30am, featuring state supreme court justices from across the country!
Register for in-person or online⬇️
go.wisc.edu/p12jci
Our fantastic program coordinator is off to law school, so we're looking for someone to replace him this summer. Please share the listing!
Elon Musk is holding a rally where he will pay $1 million to two people who have voted in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election. This almost certainly violates Wisconsin's election bribery law, which prohibits giving or offering anything of value to induce someone to vote.
apnews.com/article/wisc...
All eyes are on Wisconsin’s high-stakes April 1 Supreme Court election. But two days later, the court will hear a major legal battle over $50 million for childhood literacy between legislators and the Department of Public Instruction. Our latest breaks down the issues and stakes: go.wisc.edu/10pr00
In case you're getting postcards with the wrong date, a reminder that Wisconsin's election, including the WI Supreme Court race, is April FIRST (April 1). www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/news/p...
In an effort to counter the myopic and distorted campaign ads, we've published an explainer on the Wisconsin State Supreme Court candidates. Please check it out and share!
Join us for “Local Perspectives: Mayors in American Governance” on Tuesday, April 1, from 12-1pm CT, at the UW Law School. Panelists include Mayors Julia Arata-Fratta, David Holt, Kim Norton, Steve Patterson, and Sangeetha Rayapati. Miriam Seifter is moderating.
Register here: go.wisc.edu/x8j35p
We're hiring! There's still time to apply for our open positions! Deadline is March 16.
On April 1, Wisconsinites will vote on a proposal from the legislature to add a voter ID requirement to the state constitution. If approved, the amendment would make it harder to change the state's existing voter ID laws. Check out our explainer to learn more: go.wisc.edu/d78ch0
Come work with us! Check out these two job postings and please share!
Join us for “Understanding State Supreme Court Elections: Wisconsin and Beyond” Friday, March 7 at 3pm CT, at the UW Law School or online. Panelists include @bcburden.bsky.social, Michael Kang, and @yeargain.bsky.social, with @miriamseifter.bsky.social moderating.
Register here: go.wisc.edu/96y654
Fresh this new year, we're continuing to highlight state constitutions -- please check out New Mexico's at 50constitutions.org.
The outcome of November's NC Supreme Court election is being litigated, with more than 60,000 votes being challenged. This explainer from SDRI’s @ewlau.bsky.social offers background on the dispute and how it made its way to court: statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/featured/202...
Although convention delegates eventually compromised on the substance of Minnesota’s first constitution, delegates from opposing political parties refused to sign the same document. So, they created two copies to sign and present to Congress.
Learn more at 50constitutions.org/mn
