State

Power Play in Maine: Secretary of State Shenna Bellows Engages Controversial Lawyer Marc Elias as Gubernatorial Campaign Heats Up

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Washington, D.C. — Prominent election attorney Marc Elias recently triggered a wave of speculation in political circles when he shared a story highlighting Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ dismissive response to the U.S. Department of Justice. The Justice Department had sought access to Maine’s voter registration data, and Bellows reportedly told officials to “go jump in the Gulf of Maine.” However, what drew less attention was that Bellows’ gubernatorial campaign has enlisted Elias’s services, paying his law firm at least $8,000, according to recent campaign finance disclosures. Interest in Bellows’ decision to hire Elias … Read more

Red State Attorneys General Urge Congress to Preempt Abortion Shield Laws Amid Ongoing Legal Battles

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and 15 fellow attorneys general from Republican-led states are calling for federal intervention to counteract “shield laws” enacted in Democratic-run states that protect abortion providers from liability. The group addressed U.S. House and Senate leaders in a letter, urging Congress to take action to preempt these state laws that they argue obstruct pro-life legislation. The letter references the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which returned the authority to regulate abortion to individual states. Since that decision, many states with strict abortion … Read more

New York Climate Law Under Fire: Judge Suggests State is Failing to Meet Mandates Amid Growing Legal Challenges

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ULSTER COUNTY, N.Y. — A judge signaled on Friday that New York may be in violation of its climate change law, casting doubt on the state’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions as required. Ulster County Supreme Court Justice Julian Schreibman sharply challenged a lawyer from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), who argued that the agency could not implement necessary regulations in the near future. During the hearing, Schreibman questioned the validity of the DEC’s claim that it needed flexibility due to the uncertainty of the times. “I don’t know that … Read more

Washington State Empowers Good Samaritans with New Law Protecting Rescuers of Children and Pets from Locked Vehicles

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OLYMPIA, Wash. — A new law is now in effect in Washington State aimed at providing legal immunity to individuals who take the initiative to rescue children or pets from locked vehicles. This legislation is part of a broader set of more than 300 laws that have recently been enacted statewide. Under the new law, individuals who break into a locked vehicle to save someone in imminent danger will be protected from civil lawsuits, provided they act with good intentions. This protection is specifically designed for rescues involving vulnerable persons, including children and adults with … Read more