Brennan center for justice - Mekela Panditharatne serves as counsel for the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program, where her work focuses on election reform, election security, governance, voting, truth and information. Mekela was previously an attorney with Earthjustice, where she engaged in a wide range of federal litigation and policy work. …

 
Brennan center for justiceBrennan center for justice - With the 2021–22 redistricting cycle now well underway, slightly more than half the states have completed the process. Already, this cycle appears to be one of the most abuse laden in U.S. history. There are a few notable bright spots, but in many states, racial discrimination and extreme gerrymandering are once again prolific.

For over a decade, the Brennan Center has supported reform of the filibuster. In January 2010, we launched a special, year-long project to address procedural dysfunction in the Senate. Our ultimate goal was to restore legislative accountability by reforming rules that incentivize relentless and unprincipled obstruction.Download Photo. Ames Grawert is senior counsel and John L. Neu Justice Counsel in the Brennan Center’s Justice Program. He leads quantitative and policy research focused on trends in crime, and the collateral costs of mass incarceration. Additionally, he advocates for criminal justice reform policies at the state and federal level.No. 02: Put instructions where voters need them. Break instructions into groups. On paper ballots, place instructions to turn the ballot over at the bottom right hand corner. On electronic ballots, put instructions for writing in candidates on the write-in screen. Continue voting next side instruction is placed at the end of the last column on ...Taking on the Supreme Court. A conservative majority has ushered in a radical new era, according to a new book by Brennan Center President Michael Waldman. Michael Waldman. June 6, 2023. Credit: BCJ, trekandshoot. Strengthen Our Courts. SCOTUS & Federal Courts. I’m very proud that on Tuesday, Simon & Schuster …Census Reform. The law governing the decennial census is long overdue for comprehensive reform. The Brennan Center fights for systemic legislative change to ensure future censuses are more accurate, equitable, and legitimate. Antwon McMullen/Shutterstock. Gerrymandering & Fair Representation. A Fair & Accurate …This article first appeared at Just Security. Chinese and Chinese-American scientists are increasingly fearful about working in the United States, according to a recent survey.The study, conducted by the Committee of 100 and the University of Arizona, revealed that over 50 percent of scientists of Chinese ancestry working in the United …September 13 marks 25 years since the signing of the most far-reaching crime bill Congress ever passed. Standing in front of a crowd of uniformed police officers, President Bill Clinton extolled the crime-fighting potential in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, now commonly referred to as the 1994 crime bill.. The …In July 2019, the Brennan Center for Justice published State Supreme Court Diversity, which detailed stark racial, ethnic, and gender disparities on state high courts across the country, drawing on more than 60 years of data. This analysis includes new data on the composition of state supreme courts as of May 18, 2022, with updated …As we explain in the report, term limits can be implemented by statute as long as the justices retain their judicial office after their 18-year term, which is what the senior justice system provides. Congress has broad authority to shape the Supreme Court’s structure and the justices’ duties. And lawmakers have used that power …Mekela Panditharatne serves as counsel for the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program, where her work focuses on election reform, election security, governance, voting, truth and information. Mekela was previously an attorney with Earthjustice, where she engaged in a wide range of federal litigation and policy work. …¿Le gustaría continuar en la página de inicio de Brennan Center en español? Regresar al Brennan Center en inglés Continuar al Brennan Center en español Donate Subscribe to Our Newsletter Close. Stay up to date. Informed citizens are our democracy’s best defense. ... The court did not direct the Justice Department to devote …The U.S. Supreme Court is an international outlier in many respects when compared to the high courts of other countries, including how much authority justices wield–and for how long–and how narrowly they view guarantees of equality and social and economic rights. Federal lawmakers have made some proposals to begin to reorient the …Download Photo. Ames Grawert is senior counsel and John L. Neu Justice Counsel in the Brennan Center’s Justice Program. He leads quantitative and policy research focused on trends in crime, and the collateral costs of mass incarceration. Additionally, he advocates for criminal justice reform policies at the state and federal level.It’s Official: The Election Was Secure. These government officials, judges, and elected leaders, overwhelmingly Republican, have publicly acknowledged confidence in the November election. Election …3 days ago · Attend an Event. Throughout the year, we host events to educate, inform, and inspire. Join us for Brennan Center Live, our virtual and in-person event series, for fascinating conversations with well-known thinkers on issues like democracy, justice, race, and the Constitution. Andrew Cohen. March 20, 2018. When we last left the saga of Clemente Javier Aguirre-Jarquin, an undocumented immigrant from Honduras, he had just received some good news from the Florida Supreme Court. In October 2016, ten years after he was sentenced to death for two murders he almost certainly didn’t commit, the justices unanimously …Ahead of upcoming midterm elections, a new Brennan Center investigation has examined data for more than 6,600 jurisdictions that report purge rates to the Election Assistance Commission and calculated purge rates for 49 states. We found that between 2014 and 2016, states removed almost 16 million voters from the rolls, and every state in …Courts Move to Bolster Fairness by Addressing ‘Judge Shopping’. The federal court system took a step to curb efforts by politicians and activists to block national policies by …Informed citizens are democracy’s best defense. Defend Democracy. Reform Justice. Protect the Constitution. The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law works to build an America that is democratic, just, and free.The Brennan Center’s April 2023 nationwide survey of election officials found that nearly one in three have been harassed, abused, or threatened because of their job, and an alarming one in five are concerned about being physically assaulted on the job in future elections.Ahead of upcoming midterm elections, a new Brennan Center investigation has examined data for more than 6,600 jurisdictions that report purge rates to the Election Assistance Commission and calculated purge rates for 49 states. We found that between 2014 and 2016, states removed almost 16 million voters from the rolls, and every state in …Coronavirus, Location Tracking, and Civil Liberties. The rise of mass surveillance after 9/11 offers a cautionary tale for using tech to keep tabs on people during the Covid-19 pandemic. To help combat the coronavirus pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local governments are receiving analyses of …The U.S. Supreme Court is an international outlier in many respects when compared to the high courts of other countries, including how much authority justices wield–and for how long–and how narrowly they view guarantees of equality and social and economic rights. Federal lawmakers have made some proposals to begin to reorient the …Election officials continue to face a hostile environment with insufficient resources, and many are quitting. Published: April 25, 2023. Download PDF. Mario Tama/spxChrome/Getty. Defend Our Elections. Election Integrity.The Good News About Democracy in 2023. While serious threats to democracy remain, there is also a growing pro-democracy movement pushing many states in the right direction. Over the past few years, states across the country have passed laws that make voting more difficult and elections more vulnerable to partisan interference, …Restrictive Laws. Overall, at least 14 states enacted 17 restrictive voting laws in 2023. Since our last roundup in October 2023, only seven state legislatures have had regular session and no restrictive laws have been enacted. Over the course of the year, at least 356 restrictive bills were considered by lawmakers in 47 states.Nov 28, 2023 · The Brennan Center has proposed important reforms to the Insurrection Act. Congress should define the law’s critical terms. Legislators and judges must play a larger role in overseeing the president’s exercise of the law. There’s nothing remotely partisan about these changes — they’re common sense. Congress can and should adopt them ... This essay is part of the Brennan Center’s series examining the punitive excess that has come to define America’s criminal legal system. To dismantle America’s dehumanizing and racially skewed human caging system, we must eliminate mandatory minimums. Forget swinging the pendulum from tough-on-crime to leniency; it always …Apr 20, 2018 · On March 16, 2021, former Gov. Ralph Northam took exec­ut­ive action to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virgini­ans who are not currently incar­cer­ated. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who took office on January 15, 2022, quietly terminated that practice some time after he automatically restored voting rights to 3,496 Virginians on ... Strengthen Our Courts. Thanks to the influence of big money and partisan politics on state courts, the promise of even-handed justice in the United States is at risk. We are fighting back with bold solutions for judicial reform. State judicial elections are awash in money, and judges regularly hear cases involving major contributors to their ... The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 14, S. 4) would modernize and revitalize the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Supreme Court has hampered the law by gutting its preclearance provisions in Shelby County v. Holder (2013) and by making it harder to sue to stop discriminatory practices in Brnovich v. DNC (2021).Jan 18, 2024 · Restrictive Laws. Overall, at least 14 states enacted 17 restrictive voting laws in 2023. Since our last roundup in October 2023, only seven state legislatures have had regular session and no restrictive laws have been enacted. Over the course of the year, at least 356 restrictive bills were considered by lawmakers in 47 states. The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law today released Hidden in Plain Sight: Racism, White Supremacy, and Far-Right Militancy in Law Enforcement.The report examines explicit racism in law enforcement and makes policy recommendations to federal, state and local governments to identify officers involved in overt and organized …The Brennan Center and Over 50 Groups Sent Letter to House of Representatives and Senate Opposing Expansion of CVE Programs to White Supremacists (Brennan Center for Justice, September 7, 2017) Letter for Hearing on Combating Homegrown Terrorism (Shannon Al-Wakeel, Muslim Justice League, July 26, 2017)The Brennan Center’s April 2023 nationwide survey of election officials found that nearly one in three have been harassed, abused, or threatened because of their job, and an alarming one in five are concerned about being physically assaulted on the job in future elections.BCJ One-pager on RISAA by The Brennan Center for Justice on Scribd. Image. Analysis. The House Intelligence Committee Blocks Crucial Surveillance Reforms. The powerful committee is making bad-faith moves to block efforts to protect Americans from government spying. Noah Chauvin. February 28, 2024. Image. Analysis. Data …Taking on the Supreme Court. A conservative majority has ushered in a radical new era, according to a new book by Brennan Center President Michael Waldman. Michael Waldman. June 6, 2023. Credit: BCJ, trekandshoot. Strengthen Our Courts. SCOTUS & Federal Courts. I’m very proud that on Tuesday, Simon & Schuster …The Redistricting Landscape, 2021–22. Summary: Political, legal, and demographic changes, along with census delays, will shape the fight for fair maps and representation. Under the best of circumstances, the redrawing of legislative and congressional districts every 10 years is a fraught and abuse-prone process.The Brennan Center works to reform and defend our country’s systems of democracy and justice. Ensure Every American Can Vote. Defend Our Elections. Gerrymandering & Fair Representation. Reform Money in Politics. Strengthen Our Courts. End Mass Incarceration. Protect Liberty & Security. Bolster Checks & Balances.Learn how to join the Brennan Center for Justice, a think tank and advocacy group that works to uphold American values and promote democracy, justice, freedom, and equality. Explore the …View the entire Police Reform and Accountability collection. The police killing of George Floyd ignited a mass movement centered on persistent police violence against Black Americans and intensified calls for systemic change in American policing. Amid the earlier losses of Philando Castile , Breonna Taylor, and countless others, George Floyd ...Voting Laws Roundup: June 2023. State legislatures have passed a near-record number of new restrictive voting laws so far this year, while a pro-democracy movement presses on. Published: June 14, 2023. Patrick Semansky/AP.The criminal justice system drives and reinforces deep-seated racial inequity. The United States needs fundamental reform to reduce our reliance on incarceration, but it also needs to keep its citizens safe. A new report by the Brennan Center shows how to do just that. Researchers found 39 percent of prisoners — almost …The Brennan Center for Justice has created three special initiatives, each designed to ensure a solid, sustainable future for our organization. Brennan Legacy Fund. This is our Board-directed strategic opportunities and reserve fund. Launched in 2015, it ensures the Center has the resilience and resources to rise to urgent challenges. …Chief Counsel, Office of the President. Frederick A. O. (“Fritz”) Schwarz, Jr. is chief counsel of the Brennan Center, which he joined full time in 2002. Since graduation from law school in 1960, Schwarz has had an uncommon career, mixing the highest level of private practice with a series of critically important public service assignments.Mar 13, 2024 · The Facts on Bail Reform in New York: How Pretrial Detention and Release Works Now. While the original law severely limited the use of money bail and jail in many lower-level cases, later revisions carved out significant exceptions. Brianna Seid. March 13, 2024. Read More. Andrew Cohen. March 20, 2018. When we last left the saga of Clemente Javier Aguirre-Jarquin, an undocumented immigrant from Honduras, he had just received some good news from the Florida Supreme Court. In October 2016, ten years after he was sentenced to death for two murders he almost certainly didn’t commit, the justices unanimously …How AI Puts Elections at Risk — And the Needed Safeguards. Widely accessible artificial intelligence tools could fuel the rampant spread of disinformation and create other hazards to democracy. “In my day,” began a voice endorsing a laissez-faire approach to police brutality, “ no one would bat an eye ” if a police officer killed 17 ...The Brennan Center is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that works to protect democracy, justice, and liberty in the U.S. Learn about its issues, solutions, news, events, and historians …Voting Machines at Risk in 2022. A joint analysis from the Brennan Center and Verified Voting finds that replacing aging voting equipment will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Between 2014 and 2020, the Brennan Center released a series of analyses detailing the problem of aging voting equipment in the United States.Michael Waldman is president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. A nonpartisan law and policy institute that focuses on improving systems of democracy and justice, the Brennan Center is a leading national voice on voting rights, money in politics, criminal justice reform, and constitutional law. Waldman, a …Fundamentally, the shadow docket is where the Court rules on procedural matters, such as scheduling and issuing injunctions. But its role is changing, and the full story is more complex. Supreme Court cases take one of two tracks: merits docket or shadow docket. Each term the Court decides some 60 to 70 cases on the merits docket.The Good News About Democracy in 2023. While serious threats to democracy remain, there is also a growing pro-democracy movement pushing many states in the right direction. Over the past few years, states across the country have passed laws that make voting more difficult and elections more vulnerable to partisan interference, …It is true that New York City saw a sudden increase in crime from 2019 to 2020, with an especially stark increase in murders, which rose from the 319 in 2019 to more than 450 in 2020. Shooting incidents in the city roughly doubled during the same period. Statewide, the murder rate also rose from 2.9 to 4.2 killings per 100,000 people.The Brennan Center is powered by lawyers, researchers, writers, social scientists, and advocates.Feb 12, 2015 · It concludes that over-harsh criminal justice policies, particularly increased incarceration, which rose even more dramatically over the same period, were not the main drivers of the crime decline. In fact, the report finds that increased incarceration has been declining in its effectiveness as a crime control tactic for more than 30 years. The Brennan Center for Justice went to court on August 30, 2017, to challenge the New York Police Department’s (NYPD’s) refusal to produce crucial information about its use of predictive policing technologies. The hearing was the latest step in the Brennan Center’s ongoing Article 78 litigation against the police department to …Over the past few months, the Brennan Center for Justice, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation explored this question, …Nov 21, 2023 · The Newest Attack on the Voting Rights Act. A federal appeals court decision is so outlandish that the Supreme Court will almost certainly reverse it. Michael Li. November 21, 2023. Jim West/Alamy. Gerrymandering & Fair Representation. Redistricting. It was only a matter of time before a new threat to the Voting Rights Act appeared on the scene. This practice is known as prison gerrymandering, and it turns inequities in our criminal justice system into representational inequities. Prison gerrymandering undermines our democracy in several key ways: It presents a distorted snapshot of the general population and misrepresents incarcerated peoples’ relationship to their … Gerrymandering & Fair Representation. Voters are supposed to choose candidates. But when lawmakers draw district lines to entrench one party’s political power, some votes count more than others. The Brennan Center’s solutions: independent redistricting commissions in every state and legal protections against extreme gerrymandering. The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 14, S. 4) would modernize and revitalize the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Supreme Court has hampered the law by gutting its preclearance provisions in Shelby County v. Holder (2013) and by making it harder to sue to stop discriminatory practices in Brnovich v. DNC (2021).Ahead of upcoming midterm elections, a new Brennan Center investigation has examined data for more than 6,600 jurisdictions that report purge rates to the Election Assistance Commission and calculated purge rates for 49 states. We found that between 2014 and 2016, states removed almost 16 million voters from the rolls, and every state in …Jan 24, 2013 · For over a decade, the Brennan Center has supported reform of the filibuster. In January 2010, we launched a special, year-long project to address procedural dysfunction in the Senate. Our ultimate goal was to restore legislative accountability by reforming rules that incentivize relentless and unprincipled obstruction. With 18-year terms and nine active justices, Supreme Court appointments can be fully regularized so that each president fills two, and only two, seats every four years. footnote15_csquc3n 73. This reform creates predictability in the event of a death or premature departure by a justice from the bench.Elizabeth (Liza) Goitein is senior director of the Brennan Center for Justice’s Liberty & National Security Program. Goitein is a nationally-recognized expert on presidential emergency powers, government surveillance, and government secrecy. Her writing has been featured in major newspapers and magazines including the New York Times, ...As we explain in the report, term limits can be implemented by statute as long as the justices retain their judicial office after their 18-year term, which is what the senior justice system provides. Congress has broad authority to shape the Supreme Court’s structure and the justices’ duties. And lawmakers have used that power …Millions of Americans are barred from voting because of criminal convictions in their past. Felony disenfranchisement laws — relics of Jim Crow — hit Black Americans disproportionately hard because of bias in the criminal justice system. The Brennan Center advances policies to re-enfranchise Americans who are living in the community, …Dec 9, 2020 · Foreword. The United States’ criminal justice system is broken. We have less than 5 percent of the world’s population but nearly 25 percent of its prisoners. Mass incarceration has crushing consequences: racial, social, and economic. It reinforces systemic patterns of racial inequity across our society, with vastly unequal treatment at ... The Justice Department by itself distributes more than $5 billion in federal grants to state and local governments annually, not including the funding that law enforcement agencies across the nation get from the Department of Homeland Security. ... and other resources. Critics, including the Brennan Center, pointed out that federal …Nov 28, 2023 · The Brennan Center has proposed important reforms to the Insurrection Act. Congress should define the law’s critical terms. Legislators and judges must play a larger role in overseeing the president’s exercise of the law. There’s nothing remotely partisan about these changes — they’re common sense. Congress can and should adopt them ... President, Brennan Center for Justice. Adam Winkler Professor, UCLA School of Law. Kenji Yoshino Professor, NYU School of Law. EMERITUS. Lawrence Pedowitz, Chair Emeritus Retired Partner, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. IN MEMORIAM. Nancy Brennan, (1949–2022) Consultant, Nonprofit Management and Fundraising. Gail …The Brennan Center for Justice went to court on August 30, 2017, to challenge the New York Police Department’s (NYPD’s) refusal to produce crucial information about its use of predictive policing technologies. The hearing was the latest step in the Brennan Center’s ongoing Article 78 litigation against the police department to …Gerrymandering describes the intentional manipulation of district boundaries to discriminate against a group of voters on the basis of their political views or race. The term dates to 1812 when Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signed into law a redistricting plan that included a district many thought looked like a salamander, leading ...Money still talks. Billionaires had spent $880 million on the midterm elections as of last week. That means roughly 735 people (0.0002 percent of the U.S. population) represented more than five percent of election spending. As a topline number, the political spending of billionaires is worrisome.Restrictive Laws. Overall, at least 14 states enacted 17 restrictive voting laws in 2023. Since our last roundup in October 2023, only seven state legislatures have had regular session and no restrictive laws have been enacted. Over the course of the year, at least 356 restrictive bills were considered by lawmakers in 47 states.And it shouldn’t be forgotten that no one ever attempted to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power through violence between 1861 and 2021. Intimidation, abuse, and violence are toxic to democracy. They deform our national conversation by censoring discussion of some topics. In the Brennan Center survey, approximately 20 percent of …It concludes that over-harsh criminal justice policies, particularly increased incarceration, which rose even more dramatically over the same period, were not the main drivers of the crime decline. In fact, the report finds that increased incarceration has been declining in its effectiveness as a crime control tactic for more than 30 years.Informed citizens are democracy’s best defense. Defend Democracy. Reform Justice. Protect the Constitution. The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law works to build an America that is democratic, just, and free. Overview. Millions of Americans are excluded from our democratic process on the basis of criminal disenfranchisement laws . These laws strip voting rights from people with past criminal convictions, and they vary widely between states. Twenty-six states bar community members from voting, simply on the basis of convictions in their past. Restrictive Laws. Overall, at least 14 states enacted 17 restrictive voting laws in 2023. Since our last roundup in October 2023, only seven state legislatures have had regular session and no restrictive laws have been enacted. Over the course of the year, at least 356 restrictive bills were considered by lawmakers in 47 states.But on June 23, 2022, in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, the Supreme Court cast doubt on virtually all past Second Amendment decisions, including McGinnis. In short, the Supreme Court declared that the legal standard that courts applied before Bruen was wrongheaded. Pre- Bruen, courts had pursued two steps in analyzing …Restrictive Laws. Overall, at least 14 states enacted 17 restrictive voting laws in 2023. Since our last roundup in October 2023, only seven state legislatures have had regular session and no restrictive laws have been enacted. Over the course of the year, at least 356 restrictive bills were considered by lawmakers in 47 states.Jan 18, 2024 · Restrictive Laws. Overall, at least 14 states enacted 17 restrictive voting laws in 2023. Since our last roundup in October 2023, only seven state legislatures have had regular session and no restrictive laws have been enacted. Over the course of the year, at least 356 restrictive bills were considered by lawmakers in 47 states. The Brennan Center for Justice submitted an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs in the case NAACP v. McCrory. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit struck down the law in July 2016, finding that it targeted “African Americans with almost surgical precision.” The court ruled that HB 589 violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights …The racial turnout gap — the difference in voter participation between white Americans and Americans of color — nearly closed in 2008. This was part of a 40-year trend …Reform Agenda for the Department of Homeland Security. Two decades after DHS’s founding, it’s clear that the department’s counterterrorism policies and practices have too often been ineffective and discriminatory. It is time for reform. The Department of Homeland Security is charged with protecting the country against terrorist attacks ... The Brennan Center creates innovative solutions, driven by data, to end mass incarceration. Mass incarceration rips apart families and communities, disproportionately hurts people of color, and costs taxpayers $260 billion a year. At the same time, crime continues to drop to 30-year lows — and harsh punishments aren’t the reason. Attend an Event. Throughout the year, we host events to educate, inform, and inspire. Join us for Brennan Center Live, our virtual and in-person event series, for fascinating conversations with well-known thinkers on issues like democracy, justice, race, and the Constitution. Gerrymandering describes the intentional manipulation of district boundaries to discriminate against a group of voters on the basis of their political views or race. The term dates to 1812 when Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signed into law a redistricting plan that included a district many thought looked like a salamander, leading ...Renaud spirit center pool, Dos toros taqueria, Melloy dodge albuquerque nm, Macomb county register of deeds, Downey calvary chapel, Shipping depot, Ryland inn restaurant, Dr. fisher, Dc government tax and revenue, Newton wellesley, Murphys auction, Centralbankofthemidwest, Kcrg news cedar rapids, Lenox outlet

Gerrymandering describes the intentional manipulation of district boundaries to discriminate against a group of voters on the basis of their political views or race. The term dates to 1812 when Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signed into law a redistricting plan that included a district many thought looked like a salamander, leading .... Simply sharp

Brennan center for justicepage terrace

Download Photo. Ames Grawert is senior counsel and John L. Neu Justice Counsel in the Brennan Center’s Justice Program. He leads quantitative and policy research focused on trends in crime, and the collateral costs of mass incarceration. Additionally, he advocates for criminal justice reform policies at the state and federal level.Feb 12, 2015 · It concludes that over-harsh criminal justice policies, particularly increased incarceration, which rose even more dramatically over the same period, were not the main drivers of the crime decline. In fact, the report finds that increased incarceration has been declining in its effectiveness as a crime control tactic for more than 30 years. The Redistricting Landscape, 2021–22. Summary: Political, legal, and demographic changes, along with census delays, will shape the fight for fair maps and representation. Under the best of circumstances, the redrawing of legislative and congressional districts every 10 years is a fraught and abuse-prone process.Feb 12, 2015 · It concludes that over-harsh criminal justice policies, particularly increased incarceration, which rose even more dramatically over the same period, were not the main drivers of the crime decline. In fact, the report finds that increased incarceration has been declining in its effectiveness as a crime control tactic for more than 30 years. Donald Trump’s infamous call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is now a key piece of evidence in the criminal investigations into the former president’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election. During the January 2, 2021, call, Trump invoked several false claims of widespread voter fraud to pressure Raffensperger to …Michael Li serves as senior counsel for the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program, where his work focuses on redistricting, voting rights, and elections. Prior to joining the Brennan Center, Li practiced law at Baker Botts L.L.P. in Dallas for ten years. He was the author of a widely cited blog on redistricting and election law issues that the ...The Brennan Center is compiling the formal policy responses of federal courts, immigration courts, and state courts to the Covid-19 public health crisis. Thus far, courts’ responses vary substantially across jurisdictions, with policies ranging from carrying on business as usual to closing courthouses entirely and suspending in-person ...6. The survey of local elected officeholders asked,“To what extent have concerns about insults, harassment, threats, or attacks negatively impacted your willingness to do each of” a variety of actions, such as running for reelection. For each proposed action, officeholders could respond on a four-category scale: “a lot,” “somewhat ...Diversity in judicial selection has a normative dimension: in a democracy, the bench should reflect the public it serves. However, changing the demographic composition of the courts is not only an effort to make the judiciary look more like America. Social science research and management studies also suggest that diversity can improve ...Join the Brennan Center for Justice, State Court Report, and the New York University Law Review for a live two-day event on February 8 and 9 at NYU School of Law’s Vanderbilt Hall. Judges, academics, and lawyers will dive into the nuances and importance of state constitutional law. As Justice William J. Brennan Jr. once wrote, state courts …The 2021–2022 cycle of state supreme court elections broke numerous records: In total, candidates, interest groups, and political parties spent $100.8 million on state supreme court elections. This was nearly twice the spending in any prior midterm cycle, after adjusting for inflation. Outside interest groups spent more than ever before ...The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law (EIN 13-3839293) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions to the Brennan Center are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. For more information regarding your donation, call 646.925.8750 or email ...Jan 4, 2019 · The making of a criminal justice reform bill. The Brennan Center has been advocating for federal sentencing reform for years: Attorneys at the Center’s Justice Program were heavily involved in the fight to pass the SRCA and its predecessor, the Smarter Sentencing Act of 2013. Feb 1, 2022 · Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement on January 27. Soon after, President Biden reiterated his commitment to nominate the first Black woman to ever serve on the Supreme Court. This would be a milestone for the judiciary — and for the nation. Ample evidence demonstrates why building a diverse bench is a crucial value in choosing judges. In July 2019, the Brennan Center for Justice published State Supreme Court Diversity, which detailed stark racial, ethnic, and gender disparities on state high courts across the country, drawing on more than 60 years of data. This analysis includes new data on the composition of state supreme courts as of May 18, 2022, with updated …Reform Agenda for the Department of Homeland Security. Two decades after DHS’s founding, it’s clear that the department’s counterterrorism policies and practices have too often been ineffective and discriminatory. It is time for reform. The Department of Homeland Security is charged with protecting the country against terrorist attacks ...Ian Vandewalker is senior counsel for the Brennan Center’s Elections and Government Program, where he works to address the influence of money in politics and foreign interference in U.S. elections. His work has been featured in press outlets across the nation, including the New York Times, Washington Post, National Public Radio, Newsweek, and ...As of March 24, 2021, 54 moving bills in 26 states relate to absentee voting. CT HB 6464, CT HJR 58, IN SB 117, MA SD 1345, NH HB 516, NH HB 61, NY SB 360, RI SB 621. All but one, Indiana, offered no-excuse absentee voting as a temporary measure in response to the Covid-19 pandemic during the November 2020 election.Many citizens find it difficult to obtain government photo IDs because the necessary documentation, such as a birth certificate, is often difficult or expensive to acquire. The Brennan Center conducts research on voter ID, proof of citizenship, and in-person voter fraud. Our attorneys assist policymakers and advocates who work to improve the ...Hernandez D. Stroud is a senior counsel in the Justice Program of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law. An authority on prisons and jails, correctional oversight, and constitutional law, he researches the scope of the federal government’s power to fashion structural and systemic reforms that prevent and remedy … The Brennan Center is powered by lawyers, researchers, writers, social scientists, and advocates. In painstaking detail, the indictment recounts Trump’s scheme “to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election by using knowingly false claims of election fraud.”. Regardless of how the case proceeds, one thing is already clear: the attacks on our democracy did not end on January 6, 2021.It concludes that over-harsh criminal justice policies, particularly increased incarceration, which rose even more dramatically over the same period, were not the main drivers of the crime decline. In fact, the report finds that increased incarceration has been declining in its effectiveness as a crime control tactic for more than 30 years.The racial turnout gap — the difference in voter participation between white Americans and Americans of color — nearly closed in 2008. This was part of a 40-year trend … Careers. Part think tank, part advocacy group, and part cutting-edge communications hub, the Brennan Center for Justice aims to hold public institutions accountable to core American values — democracy, justice, freedom, and equality. We work toward a more diverse and inclusive United States. To do this, we: research and craft innovative ... The Electoral College has racist origins — when established, it applied the three-fifths clause, which gave a long-term electoral advantage to slave states in the South — and continues to dilute the political power of voters of color. It incentivizes presidential campaigns to focus on a relatively small number of “swing states.”.On March 16, 2021, former Gov. Ralph Northam took exec­ut­ive action to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virgini­ans who are not currently incar­cer­ated. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who took office on January 15, 2022, quietly terminated that practice some time after he automatically restored voting rights to 3,496 Virginians on ...Violent crime has declined nationally since jumping in 2020, but trends in retail theft are more difficult to assess, in part because of varying data collection and theft reporting …The Brennan Center works to reform and defend our country’s systems of democracy and justice.website Informed citizens are democracy’s best defense. Defend Democracy. Reform Justice. Protect the Constitution. The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law works to build an America that is democratic, just, and free. Reform Agenda for the Department of Homeland Security. Two decades after DHS’s founding, it’s clear that the department’s counterterrorism policies and practices have too often been ineffective and discriminatory. It is time for reform. The Department of Homeland Security is charged with protecting the country against terrorist attacks ...Local Election Officials Survey (March 2022) Nearly one in three local election officials know at least one election worker who has left the job, partly due to safety concerns, increased threats, or intimidation. Published: March 10, 2022. Download Resource.The Brennan Center is compiling the formal policy responses of federal courts, immigration courts, and state courts to the Covid-19 public health crisis. Thus far, courts’ responses vary substantially across jurisdictions, with policies ranging from carrying on business as usual to closing courthouses entirely and suspending in-person ...On March 16, 2021, former Gov. Ralph Northam took exec­ut­ive action to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virgini­ans who are not currently incar­cer­ated. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who took office on January 15, 2022, quietly terminated that practice some time after he automatically restored voting rights to 3,496 Virginians on ...Jan 18, 2024 · Restrictive Laws. Overall, at least 14 states enacted 17 restrictive voting laws in 2023. Since our last roundup in October 2023, only seven state legislatures have had regular session and no restrictive laws have been enacted. Over the course of the year, at least 356 restrictive bills were considered by lawmakers in 47 states. Millions of Americans are barred from voting because of criminal convictions in their past. Felony disenfranchisement laws — relics of Jim Crow — hit Black Americans disproportionately hard because of bias in the criminal justice system. The Brennan Center advances policies to re-enfranchise Americans who are living in the community, … The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law (EIN 13-3839293) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions to the Brennan Center are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. For more information regarding your donation, call 646.925.8750 or email Overview. Millions of Americans are excluded from our democratic process on the basis of criminal disenfranchisement laws . These laws strip voting rights from people with past criminal convictions, and they vary widely between states. Twenty-six states bar community members from voting, simply on the basis of convictions in their past.The Brennan Center has proposed important reforms to the Insurrection Act. Congress should define the law’s critical terms. Legislators and judges must play a larger role in overseeing the president’s exercise of the law. There’s nothing remotely partisan about these changes — they’re common sense. Congress can and should …The Brennan Center and Over 50 Groups Sent Letter to House of Representatives and Senate Opposing Expansion of CVE Programs to White Supremacists (Brennan Center for Justice, September 7, 2017) Letter for Hearing on Combating Homegrown Terrorism (Shannon Al-Wakeel, Muslim Justice League, July 26, 2017) The Brennan Center creates innovative solutions, driven by data, to end mass incarceration. Mass incarceration rips apart families and communities, disproportionately hurts people of color, and costs taxpayers $260 billion a year. At the same time, crime continues to drop to 30-year lows — and harsh punishments aren’t the reason. Money still talks. Billionaires had spent $880 million on the midterm elections as of last week. That means roughly 735 people (0.0002 percent of the U.S. population) represented more than five percent of election spending. As a topline number, the political spending of billionaires is worrisome.Over the past few months, the Brennan Center for Justice, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation explored this question, … Our Work. As an independent, nonpartisan law and policy organization, the Brennan Center conducts rigorous research to identify problems and provide in-depth empirical findings and compelling analyses of pressing legal and policy issues. We also pioneer and champion policy solutions, such as automatic voter registration and small donor public ... The Brennan Center for Justice went to court on August 30, 2017, to challenge the New York Police Department’s (NYPD’s) refusal to produce crucial information about its use of predictive policing technologies. The hearing was the latest step in the Brennan Center’s ongoing Article 78 litigation against the police department to …Fundamentally, the shadow docket is where the Court rules on procedural matters, such as scheduling and issuing injunctions. But its role is changing, and the full story is more complex. Supreme Court cases take one of two tracks: merits docket or shadow docket. Each term the Court decides some 60 to 70 cases on the merits docket.These incentive structures raise the risk that officials will chase revenue rather than pursue public safety and justice, giving law enforcement agencies a stake in perpetuating mass incarceration. This report catalogs some of the most corrosive practices. These perverse economic incentives fall into three primary categories: User-funded justice.The Brennan Center for Justice submitted an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs in the case NAACP v. McCrory. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit struck down the law in July 2016, finding that it targeted “African Americans with almost surgical precision.” The court ruled that HB 589 violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights …Restrictive Laws. Overall, at least 14 states enacted 17 restrictive voting laws in 2023. Since our last roundup in October 2023, only seven state legislatures have had regular session and no restrictive laws have been enacted. Over the course of the year, at least 356 restrictive bills were considered by lawmakers in 47 states.Voting Machines at Risk in 2022. A joint analysis from the Brennan Center and Verified Voting finds that replacing aging voting equipment will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Between 2014 and 2020, the Brennan Center released a series of analyses detailing the problem of aging voting equipment in the United States.Lawrence Norden. Lawrence Norden is the senior director of the Elections and Government Program, where he leads the Brennan Center’s work in a variety of areas, including its effort to bring balance to campaign funding and break down barriers that keep Americans from participating in politics, ensure that U.S. election infrastructure is ...Reform Agenda for the Department of Homeland Security. Two decades after DHS’s founding, it’s clear that the department’s counterterrorism policies and practices have too often been ineffective and discriminatory. It is time for reform. The Department of Homeland Security is charged with protecting the country against terrorist attacks ...The Brennan Center for Justice holds both a four-star Charity Navigator rating and the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency, reflecting our strong fiscal management and commitment to transparency. Our mission to build an America that is democratic, just, and free is made possible by the generous contributions of more than 40,000 individuals ...The Brennan Center is compiling the formal policy responses of federal courts, immigration courts, and state courts to the Covid-19 public health crisis. Thus far, courts’ responses vary substantially across jurisdictions, with policies ranging from carrying on business as usual to closing courthouses entirely and suspending in-person ...Apr 20, 2018 · On March 16, 2021, former Gov. Ralph Northam took exec­ut­ive action to automatically restore the right to vote to all Virgini­ans who are not currently incar­cer­ated. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who took office on January 15, 2022, quietly terminated that practice some time after he automatically restored voting rights to 3,496 Virginians on ... As of March 24, 2021, 54 moving bills in 26 states relate to absentee voting. CT HB 6464, CT HJR 58, IN SB 117, MA SD 1345, NH HB 516, NH HB 61, NY SB 360, RI SB 621. All but one, Indiana, offered no-excuse absentee voting as a temporary measure in response to the Covid-19 pandemic during the November 2020 election.This was too much even for the reactionary Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which stayed some of the more extreme parts of Kacsmaryk’s order while the case was appealed to …This practice is known as prison gerrymandering, and it turns inequities in our criminal justice system into representational inequities. Prison gerrymandering undermines our democracy in several key ways: It presents a distorted snapshot of the general population and misrepresents incarcerated peoples’ relationship to their … The Brennan Center for Justice is a nonpartisan law and policy organization that works to build an America that is democratic, just, and free for all. It conducts research, advocacy, and communications to advance legal and policy change on topics such as voting, elections, incarceration, and mass disenfranchisement. . Walmart fort gratiot, Prickly motorsports, Pine technical, Kae dama, Halls chophouse columbia, Strobes and more, Landmark south, The garage burleson, Foley owa.