Fall 2012
Cover Story
Voter ID on Trial: Applewhite v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and State of Texas v. HolderOver 180 bills restricting voting have been introduced in 41states from January 2011 to the present, and of those, 16 states have now passed restrictive voting laws that will have a significant impact on the 2012 election. One of these states is Pennsylvania, where a constitutional challenge was recently mounted in state court against that state’s voter ID law.
Featured Articles
Local Governments Consider Using Eminent Domain to Seize Underwater Mortgages
Local authorities from San Bernardino County and the towns of Fontana and Ontario, all of which are located in California, have recently created a Joint Powers Authority with the purpose of seizing, through the use of the power of eminent domain, and restructuring certain mortgages in an effort to assist “underwater” homeowners and, ultimately, stimulate the local economy.
CEQA and Publicly Sponsored Projects:
Recent legislative efforts in Wisconsin and Ohio provide a framework for discussing the growing trend of limiting public sector bargaining rights that is rapidly sweeping the nation in response to recessiong-induced budget deficits.
Supreme Court Watch: Adios, S.B. 1070?
The U. S. Supreme Court recently released its decision in Arizona v. United States.1 At issue were certain provisions of an Arizona law, S.B. 1070, the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act. The ruling is of interest to local governments, as other states have since enacted similar laws,2 and citizens of some communities are pressing for action on what they perceive to be the problems caused by illegal immigrants.
Section News
Chair’s Message
I’m excited and honored to serve as Chair of the Section of State and Local Government Law. Thank you for affording me the opportunity to work with talented attorneys who address the kaleidoscope of legal issues impacted by state and local government laws.
Fordham Society Recognizes Professional Excellence During Chicago Annual Meeting
At its luncheon on August 3 during the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago, the Section’s Jefferson Fordham Society honored professional excellence in the practice of state and local government law by presenting its annual Jefferson Fordham Awards.
