Tag Archives: Federalist Society

Politico reports: Groups aligned with the conservative legal movement and its financial architect, Leonard Leo, are working to promote a publicly funded Christian school in Oklahoma, hoping to create a test case to change the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the First Amendment’s separation of church and state. At issue is the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma’s push to create the …

The Lever reports: In 2021 and 2022, two conservative, billionaire-funded legal interests sent more than 100 federal judges on 251 trips to conferences and seminars in cushy locations around the country and overseas, according to a Lever review of hundreds of federal financial disclosure forms. In all, George Mason University (GMU) and The Federalist Society, a conservative lawyers network, funded …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: A Tampa lawyer and “Jeopardy!” champion will join Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Disney World oversight board, which is at the center of his nationally watched battle with the world-famous attraction. DeSantis named Charbel Barakat to the five-member Central Florida Tourism Oversight District’s Board of Supervisors on Thursday. He will replace Michael Sasso, an Orlando attorney who resigned …

Politico reports: A network of political non-profits formed by judicial activist Leonard Leo moved at least $43 million to a new firm he is leading, raising questions about how his conservative legal movement is funded. Leo’s own personal wealth appeared to have ballooned as his fundraising prowess accelerated since his efforts to cement the Supreme Court’s conservative majority helped to …

Mediaite reports: Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito received a standing ovation at a Federalist Society event this week over his opinion overturning Roe v. Wade. Alito received praise from the audience after Stephen Markman, a former justice on the Michigan Supreme Court, declared the opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization is an “indelible part” of the justice’s legacy. …

The New York Times reports: A new conservative nonprofit group scored a $1.6 billion windfall last year via a little-known donor — an extraordinary sum that could give Republicans and their causes a huge financial boost ahead of the midterms, and for years to come. The source of the money was Barre Seid, an electronics manufacturing mogul, and the donation …

The Associated Press reports: Justice Neil Gorsuch is speaking this weekend to the conservative legal group that boosted his Supreme Court candidacy, in a session at a Florida resort that is closed to news coverage. Gorsuch is billed as the banquet speaker Friday at the Florida chapter of the Federalist Society’s annual meeting, which is being held at the Walt …

Via press release from Lambda Legal: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit today reversed a lower court ruling and struck down local Palm Beach County. Florida, and City of Boca Raton ordinances banning so-called conversion therapy on minors. Lambda Legal CEO Kevin Jennings issued the following statement: “The City of Boca Raton and Palm Beach County joined …

Federalist Society co-founder Steven Calabrisi writes: I have voted Republican in every presidential election since 1980, including voting for Donald Trump in 2016. I wrote op-eds and a law review article protesting what I believe was an unconstitutional investigation by Robert Mueller. I also wrote an op-ed opposing President Trump’s impeachment. But I am frankly appalled by the president’s recent …

Politico reports: CRC Public Relations, the prominent Alexandria, Virginia-based P.R. firm, guided Ed Whelan through his roller-coaster week of Twitter pronouncements that ended in embarrassment and a potential setback for Kavanaugh’s hopes of landing on the high court, according to three sources familiar with their dealings. Best known for its work with the Swift Boat Veterans in 2004, CRC bills …

Politico reports: After Justice Anthony Kennedy told President Donald Trump he would relinquish his seat on the Supreme Court, the president emerged from his private meeting with the retiring jurist focused on one candidate to name as his successor: Judge Brett Kavanaugh, Kennedy’s former law clerk. Trump, according to confidants and aides close to the White House, has become increasingly …