State Democracy Research Initiative
@uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social
Research hub at the University of Wisconsin Law School. Shining a spotlight on democracy, government, and public law in states across the USA.
One week left to submit an abstract for our Scholarship Roundtable in April!
Call for papers for a Scholarship Roundtable on State and Local Governance taking place on 4/10/26 in Ann Arbor!
Details here: go.wisc.edu/rx53ph
Details here: go.wisc.edu/rx53ph
November 7, 2025 at 5:56 PM
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.
As federal immigration enforcement agents carry out widespread immigration raids throughout the country, their actions are increasingly facing scrutiny. @bgodar.bsky.social evaluates whether federal officials who violate state criminal law are immune from state prosecution.
Are Federal Officials Immune From State Prosecution?
Contrary to recent assertions, federal officers do not have blanket immunity from criminal prosecutions brought by states.
www.lawfaremedia.org
November 6, 2025 at 9:24 PM
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...
Watch the recording here: statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/events-summa...
November 4, 2025 at 3:52 PM
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...
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...
Resistance to Public Policies Assisting the Poor
Property owners have challenged programs meant to assist vulnerable populations, alleging they are unconstitutional takings of private property for public use.
statecourtreport.org
November 3, 2025 at 5:45 PM
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...
Watch the recording here: statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/events-summa...
October 28, 2025 at 5:49 PM
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...
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...
statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/featured/202...
Ninth Circuit – Quiñonez v. United States Amicus Brief Filed
PDF Available Here On October 22, the State Democracy Research Initiative’s faculty co-directors, Miriam Seifter and Rob Yablon, filed an amicus brief with nine other legal scholars in Quiñonez v. Uni...
statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu
October 23, 2025 at 5:17 PM
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...
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
Register here: go.wisc.edu/zame95
October 23, 2025 at 1:42 PM
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
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...
statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/featured/202...
Oregon Supreme Court – Farrell-Smith v. Oregon Department of Justice Amicus Brief Filed
PDF Available Here On October 16, the State Democracy Research Initiative’s faculty co-directors, Miriam Seifter and Rob Yablon, filed an amicus brief with six other legal scholars in Farrell-Smith v....
statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu
October 20, 2025 at 8:50 PM
@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...
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...
Resuscitating State Damages Remedies Against Federal Officials
There are forceful legal arguments that individuals can use state civil rights statutes to sue federal employees who violate the U.S. Constitution.
statecourtreport.org
October 16, 2025 at 1:29 PM
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
October 15, 2025 at 2:03 PM
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
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
Explainer: Can States Prohibit Federal Law Enforcement from Masking on the Job?
Bridget Lavender PDF Available Here Published: October 3, 2025 Introduction As the federal government ramps up immigration enforcement under President Trump’s second administration, federal agents som...
go.wisc.edu
October 6, 2025 at 7:10 PM
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
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
go.wisc.edu/zame95
October 2, 2025 at 6:05 PM
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
go.wisc.edu/zame95
Happening tomorrow! There's still time to register here: go.wisc.edu/190re6
October 2, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Happening tomorrow! There's still time to register here: go.wisc.edu/190re6
Although the Pennsylvania Constitution has never included a provision describing the procedure for holding a constitutional convention, the state has held seven constitutional conventions throughout its history.
Learn more here: 50constitutions.org/pa/
Learn more here: 50constitutions.org/pa/
September 29, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Although the Pennsylvania Constitution has never included a provision describing the procedure for holding a constitutional convention, the state has held seven constitutional conventions throughout its history.
Learn more here: 50constitutions.org/pa/
Learn more here: 50constitutions.org/pa/
It's not too late to sign up for our Election Matters event happening next week! For more information and to register, go to go.wisc.edu/190re6
September 26, 2025 at 2:05 PM
It's not too late to sign up for our Election Matters event happening next week! For more information and to register, go to go.wisc.edu/190re6
Reposted by State Democracy Research Initiative
Join us in Madison on 11/14!
As courts weigh lifting WI's fusion ban, come for a day of cross-partisan expert panels.
@politicalreform.newamerica.org
@centerforballotfreedom.org
@law.wisc.edu
@uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social
@electionscenter.bsky.social
Register here: t.co/04yxGXyiwm
As courts weigh lifting WI's fusion ban, come for a day of cross-partisan expert panels.
@politicalreform.newamerica.org
@centerforballotfreedom.org
@law.wisc.edu
@uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social
@electionscenter.bsky.social
Register here: t.co/04yxGXyiwm
September 23, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Join us in Madison on 11/14!
As courts weigh lifting WI's fusion ban, come for a day of cross-partisan expert panels.
@politicalreform.newamerica.org
@centerforballotfreedom.org
@law.wisc.edu
@uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social
@electionscenter.bsky.social
Register here: t.co/04yxGXyiwm
As courts weigh lifting WI's fusion ban, come for a day of cross-partisan expert panels.
@politicalreform.newamerica.org
@centerforballotfreedom.org
@law.wisc.edu
@uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social
@electionscenter.bsky.social
Register here: t.co/04yxGXyiwm
North Carolina has passed 37 amendments since adopting its third Constitution in 1971. One of these amendments, passed in 1997, gave the governor the power to veto bills, making North Carolina the last US state to give their governor veto authority.
Learn more here: 50constitutions.org/nc
Learn more here: 50constitutions.org/nc
September 19, 2025 at 5:36 PM
North Carolina has passed 37 amendments since adopting its third Constitution in 1971. One of these amendments, passed in 1997, gave the governor the power to veto bills, making North Carolina the last US state to give their governor veto authority.
Learn more here: 50constitutions.org/nc
Learn more here: 50constitutions.org/nc
Staff Attorney @bgodar.bsky.social recaps the Wisconsin Supreme Court's 2024-25 term for @statebarofwi.bsky.social
Wisconsin Lawyer magazine, highlighting key cases on abortion, legislative committee powers, the governor's partial veto, and more: www.wisbar.org/NewsPublicat...
Wisconsin Lawyer magazine, highlighting key cases on abortion, legislative committee powers, the governor's partial veto, and more: www.wisbar.org/NewsPublicat...
Wisconsin Lawyer: Wisconsin Supreme Court: 2024-25 Term Review and 2025-26 Preview:
www.wisbar.org
September 15, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Staff Attorney @bgodar.bsky.social recaps the Wisconsin Supreme Court's 2024-25 term for @statebarofwi.bsky.social
Wisconsin Lawyer magazine, highlighting key cases on abortion, legislative committee powers, the governor's partial veto, and more: www.wisbar.org/NewsPublicat...
Wisconsin Lawyer magazine, highlighting key cases on abortion, legislative committee powers, the governor's partial veto, and more: www.wisbar.org/NewsPublicat...
In 2018 and 2022, Michigan voters amended the constitution to enshrine a series of voting-related provisions, including absentee ballot tracking, pre-paid postage for absentee ballots, and in-person voter registration through the day of the election.
Learn more here: 50constitutions.org/mi/
Learn more here: 50constitutions.org/mi/
September 12, 2025 at 2:59 PM
In 2018 and 2022, Michigan voters amended the constitution to enshrine a series of voting-related provisions, including absentee ballot tracking, pre-paid postage for absentee ballots, and in-person voter registration through the day of the election.
Learn more here: 50constitutions.org/mi/
Learn more here: 50constitutions.org/mi/
Call for papers for a Scholarship Roundtable on State and Local Governance taking place on 4/10/26 in Ann Arbor!
Details here: go.wisc.edu/rx53ph
Details here: go.wisc.edu/rx53ph
September 11, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Call for papers for a Scholarship Roundtable on State and Local Governance taking place on 4/10/26 in Ann Arbor!
Details here: go.wisc.edu/rx53ph
Details here: go.wisc.edu/rx53ph
Happening in 15 minutes! Watch here: www.azcourts.gov/AZ-Supreme-C...
September 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Happening in 15 minutes! Watch here: www.azcourts.gov/AZ-Supreme-C...
Happening tomorrow! There's still time to register here: go.wisc.edu/7ig7qx
September 11, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Happening tomorrow! There's still time to register here: go.wisc.edu/7ig7qx
Tomorrow at 12:15 pm CT, the AZ Supreme Court hears Center for Arizona Policy v. Secretary of State—a rare test of state‑constitutional limits on campaign finance disclosure.
Watch: www.azcourts.gov/AZ-Supreme-C...
Amicus from SDRI’s @miriamseifter.bsky.social
& @robyablon.bsky.social (& others):
Watch: www.azcourts.gov/AZ-Supreme-C...
Amicus from SDRI’s @miriamseifter.bsky.social
& @robyablon.bsky.social (& others):
September 10, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Tomorrow at 12:15 pm CT, the AZ Supreme Court hears Center for Arizona Policy v. Secretary of State—a rare test of state‑constitutional limits on campaign finance disclosure.
Watch: www.azcourts.gov/AZ-Supreme-C...
Amicus from SDRI’s @miriamseifter.bsky.social
& @robyablon.bsky.social (& others):
Watch: www.azcourts.gov/AZ-Supreme-C...
Amicus from SDRI’s @miriamseifter.bsky.social
& @robyablon.bsky.social (& others):
It's not too late to sign up for our Education Rights and State Constitutions event happening next week! For more information and to register, go to go.wisc.edu/7ig7qx
September 4, 2025 at 4:36 PM
It's not too late to sign up for our Education Rights and State Constitutions event happening next week! For more information and to register, go to go.wisc.edu/7ig7qx
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
September 4, 2025 at 2:25 PM
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