Research hub at the University of Wisconsin Law School. Shining a spotlight on democracy, government, and public law in states across the USA.https://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3mkpulr5rg225Join us for "The Work of State Supreme Courts" on May 29, from 9-10:30 am, featuring state supreme court justices from across the country! Register to join us in-person or online⬇️ go.wisc.edu/h2ef9d30 Apr 2026 14:54 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkpulr5rg225https://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3mkn7rswt2c22🚨SDRI is hiring!🚨 Learn more about our Staff Attorney and Fellowship opportunities here ➡️ https://statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/get-involved/work-with-us29 Apr 2026 13:36 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkn7rswt2c22https://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3mjxaiburl22eA recent U.S. district court decision held that states can constitutionally prohibit federal agents from wearing masks, so long as they do not discriminate against them in the process. Staff Attorney Bridget Lavender explains what this means for other states who are considering their own mask bans. [contains quote post or other embedded content]20 Apr 2026 19:50 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjxaiburl22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3mjwpdunld22oState and local governments are increasingly using property law to push back on ICE operations. Our new report unpacks the viability of these efforts, from banning new detention centers to barring officers from staging operations on city property. https://statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/our-work/state-and-local-property-law-responses-to-federal-actions20 Apr 2026 14:43 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjwpdunld22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3mjf3qi522k2uWe had a lovely time in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan Law School co-sponsoring an academic roundtable on state and local governance with Alexandra Klass, Nina Mendelson, and @chrisjwalker.bsky.social!!13 Apr 2026 14:37 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjf3qi522k2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3mguixugjwc2zCongress approved Ohio's admittance into the Union in 1803, but failed to complete a step required to grant statehood: ratifying the state constitution. In 1953, the House voted to approve legislation to retroactively grant statehood to Ohio, effective March 1, 1803. 50constitutions.org/oh12 Mar 2026 13:28 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3mguixugjwc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3mgn7oqrnl22n📢🚀🚨 We just launched our new website! 🚨🚀📢 📍It's easier to navigate 🔍 Has improved search features 📌And allows users to filter our work by topic and type! Check it out at statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu 👉💻⬇️09 Mar 2026 15:54 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgn7oqrnl22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3mgde4eiews2fHappening tomorrow! There's still time to register here: go.wisc.edu/95y7s8 [contains quote post or other embedded content]05 Mar 2026 17:46 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgde4eiews2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3mg3hslzqk22wIt's not too late to register for our event, Election Matters: The Battle Over Mid-Decade Redistricting, taking place this Friday, March 6th! Register here: go.wisc.edu/95y7s8 [contains quote post or other embedded content]02 Mar 2026 14:31 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg3hslzqk22whttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3mftzkvqz2k2pToday, it’s almost impossible to sue federal officers for money damages if they violate your constitutional rights. As @harrisonstark.bsky.social explains in this Lawfare piece, state law could offer a solution through so-called “converse 1983” legislation. https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/can-state-law-remedy-constitutional-violations-by-federal-officers27 Feb 2026 15:27 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3mftzkvqz2k2phttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3mf5v2tdjuc2kThe U.S. Constitution envisions states as a key check against federal overreach. Check out @harrisonstark.bsky.social's State Forum piece explaining how states can fulfill that role today: https://www.statesforum.org/firebreak-federalism/18 Feb 2026 20:08 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3mf5v2tdjuc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3meokcwzpac2420 of the 51 amendments to the Iowa Constitution took place between 1962 and 1968. Some of these amendments included replacing partisan judicial elections with judicial nominating commissions and giving the governor line-item veto power. Learn more here: 50constitutions.org/ia12 Feb 2026 17:46 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3meokcwzpac24https://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3me4wxwjvzk2dJoin us for the next installment in our Election Matters series, "The Battle Over Mid-Decade Redistricting" on March 6, 3-4:15 pm CT. Panelists will offer an update on mid-decade redistricting and how it may impact the 2026 midterms. Register here: go.wisc.edu/95y7s805 Feb 2026 17:45 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3me4wxwjvzk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3mdnzjubjpk2nCheck out @miriamseifter.bsky.social & @bgodar.bsky.social 's forthcoming essay for Northwestern U. L. Rev., exploring how state constitutional principles inform permissible state court reforms and highlighting recent legislative efforts at odds with these principles. go.wisc.edu/4fr1x1 https://go.wisc.edu/4fr1x130 Jan 2026 19:21 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdnzjubjpk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3mdj4k3a7322lCheck out SDRI's Faculty Co-Director Miriam Seifter's latest scholarship roundup. @miriamseifter.bsky.social [contains quote post or other embedded content]28 Jan 2026 20:31 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdj4k3a7322lhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3mcaj36yub22eThis should be a great event. Please consider attending! [contains quote post or other embedded content]12 Jan 2026 16:56 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcaj36yub22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3maelm6b2ms2bThe federal government has been suing states to force them to hand over full voter registration lists, including personal details protected by state privacy law. Yesterday, DC, GA, IL, and WI became the latest to be sued. Our new explainer analyzes these legal disputes. go.wisc.edu/xb7m0v https://statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/featured/2025/explainer-can-the-federal-government-force-states-to-hand-over-citizens-voter-information/19 Dec 2025 21:02 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3maelm6b2ms2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3mabm4b2g6s2dCheck out some of this year’s most important state supreme court opinions, including @miriamseifter.bsky.social contribution. [contains quote post or other embedded content]18 Dec 2025 16:33 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3mabm4b2g6s2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3m7ngtbkl5k22As the federal government pulls back from policing public corruption, can states help to fill the void? This explainer by @bgodar.bsky.social explores the potential for states to use their own anticorruption laws and other tools to address federal-level corruption. go.wisc.edu/ive401 https://go.wisc.edu/ive40110 Dec 2025 16:05 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7ngtbkl5k22https://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3m52nogkdfc26One week left to submit an abstract for our Scholarship Roundtable in April! [contains quote post or other embedded content]07 Nov 2025 17:57 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m52nogkdfc26https://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3m4yisuphjc2xCheck out Staff Attorney Bryna Godar's Lawfare piece analyzing when states can prosecute federal officials for violations of state criminal law. [contains quote post or other embedded content]06 Nov 2025 21:24 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4yisuphjc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3m4svd6un6s2cIf 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: https://statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/events-summary/2025/education-rights-and-state-constitutions/04 Nov 2025 15:52 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4svd6un6s2chttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3m4ql5cadzs2aProperty 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. https://statecourtreport.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/resistance-public-policies-assisting-poor03 Nov 2025 17:45 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4ql5cadzs2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3m4bimfawes2eIf 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: https://statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/events-summary/2025/election-matters-2025-money-politics-and-the-first-amendment/28 Oct 2025 17:49 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4bimfawes2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3m3uuh5wqc22lIn 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. https://statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/featured/2025/ninth-circuit-quinonez-v-united-states-amicus-brief-filed/23 Oct 2025 17:17 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3uuh5wqc22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3m3uigo4zks2zJoin 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/zame9523 Oct 2025 13:42 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3uigo4zks2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3m3noy3hs3s2f@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. https://statedemocracy.law.wisc.edu/featured/2025/oregon-supreme-court-farrell-smith-v-oregon-department-of-justice-amicus-brief-filed/20 Oct 2025 20:50 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3noy3hs3s2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3m3cui6jg522gCheck out Harrison Stark's @statecourtreport.org piece exploring the long history -- and present possibility -- of suing federal officials under state law. https://statecourtreport.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/resuscitating-state-damages-remedies-against-federal-officials16 Oct 2025 13:29 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3cui6jg522ghttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3m3afv7na4c2iThe 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 [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 Oct 2025 14:03 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3afv7na4c2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social/post/3m2kculbecs22With 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 https://go.wisc.edu/bn0b1c06 Oct 2025 19:10 +0000at://did:plc:mp5pmdbu44525c2pzum46utz/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2kculbecs22