Support for Trial Judges Hearing Election Law Disputes
Greetings
As we enter one of the most intense and anticipated election cycles in recent memory, the legal community faces several challenges. Public confidence in the electoral system is of paramount concern as the nation prepares to elect its next President along with other state and local officials this November.
To support judges who will hear legal challenges on Election Day, the ABA has partnered with the National Center for State Courts and the College of William & Mary School of Law in developing resources.
These resources include a bench book, Election Law Manual for Trial Judges, a series of training videos and other materials. The purpose of this combined effort is to provide state and local judges with reference materials that will support them as they make legal decisions on questions that demand instant judgments.
Election law is a complex subject. In a Presidential election cycle, it is crucial that the legal community has the tools to help determine whether a voter can cast his or her vote, whether a voter may use a provisional ballot, or whether the polls can stay open for an extra hour.
The ABA appreciates this opportunity to offer these resources to protect the integrity of the election process this November.
H. Thomas Wells Jr.
President
American Bar Association
Acknowledgements
This guide would not have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of judges, lawyers and law school faculty. The ABA thanks the College of William & Mary School of Law and the National Center for State Courts as well as the following individuals for their contributions:
Executive Editors: Liz Howard and Brandis Zehr
Assistant Editor: Michael Willems
Contributors:
Grace Applefeld, Anthony Auriemma, Jennifer Bacon, Christine Bestor, Laura Bower, Andrew Caffrey, John Calabrese, Michael Chang, Yul-Mi Cho, Erva Cockfield, Charles Crimmins, Jason Greene, Cassie Haynes, Jeannie Ho, Jeremy Hunt, Amanda Karr, Aaron Larrimore, Daphne Fanghau Li, Daniel Lipton, Joe Mauk, Emily Mayer, Ali McGuire, Kevin Pickens, Jonathan Payne, Rob Poggenklass, Gage Raley, Samantha V. Ricci, Kimberly Rotzell, Kristin Russell, Catherine Scott, Monisha Sujan, William Colonel Smith, Julia Snyder, Adam Sparks, Justin Walling and Dana Weekes
Special Advisors:
Professor Davison Douglas and John Hardin Young
Sponsors: Section on Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice
H. Russell Frisby, Jr., Current Chair
Michael Asimow, Immediate Past Chair
Election Law Committee
Chairs: Elizabeth Getman and Trevor Potter
Vice-Chairs: J. Gerald Hebert, Scott E. Thomas, Judith Reed and Dana Weekes
Judicial Division
The Honorable Barbara M.G. Lynn, Chair
Standing Committee on Election Law John C. Keeney, Jr., Chair
In collaboration with the William & Mary Election Law Program and Election Law Society, and the National Center for State Courts with the support of the Deer Creek Foundation.
