Marquette University Law School Faculty Blog

A “Paper-Shuffling Bureaucrat” at Center Stage in Wisconsin Politics

Post author:Alan J. Borsuk
Post published:January 20, 2012
Post category:Election Law Marquette Law School Political Processes & Rhetoric Public Speakers at Marquette

Kevin Kennedy refers to himself as “just a paper-shuffling bureaucrat. – I haven’t moved to rock star status.”

But sometimes, timing is everything. So that’s why there were a gaggle of television cameras, a cluster of reporters, and about 200 others in the room when Kennedy joined Mike Gousha for an “On the Issues” session at Eckstein Hall on Thursday.

Kennedy is director and general counsel of the Wisconsin Governmental Accountability Board. Now in possession of petitions with about 1.9 million signatures calling for recall elections for governor, lieutenant governor, and for four state Senate seats currently held by Republicans, the board is at center stage for one of America’s hottest political scenes. What the GAB decides in handling the petitions and setting the course for the elections that are almost sure to result will have a major bearing on Wisconsin’s future and become a vivid part of Wisconsin’s history.

“It’s an honor to be part this process,” Kennedy told Gousha, the Law School’s distinguished fellow in law and public policy. ”And it’s definitely energizing. You can’t help but get juiced when you’re working on something this challenging.”

Cory Maples May Avoid Procedural Default, But Will Anyone Else Ride His Coattails?

Post author:Michael M. O'Hear
Post published:January 20, 2012
Post category:Federal Criminal Law & Process Public U.S. Supreme Court

The Supreme Court ruled earlier this week that habeas petitioner Cory Maples may not have to bear the consequences of a truly egregious dereliction of duty by his pro bono lawyers. The lower federal courts had refused to consider Maples’ petition on the merits because he had missed a filing deadline in state court. Normally, criminal defendants are stuck with the mistakes of their lawyers, but in this case — “a veritable perfect storm of misfortune,” as Justice Alito called it — the defendant will have another opportunity to litigate his claims. (The full opinion in Maples v. Thomas is here.)

Here’s what happened. Maples was convicted of murder and sentenced to death by an Alabama state court. His direct appeals were unsuccessful. He then launched a collateral attack in state trial court. The Supreme Court recounted what happened next:

Providing Straight Information on Public Opinion in a Historic Political Time

Post author:Alan J. Borsuk
Post published:January 19, 2012
Post category:Election Law Marquette Law School Political Processes & Rhetoric Public

Amid the amazing tumult on the Wisconsin political scene, with partisanship and passion running so high, how can you get straight information about what voters are thinking?

One good answer: You can run a large-scale polling project, adhering to the highest standards of professionalism and non-partisanship. You can poll repeatedly throughout the year, so that you can follow trends. You can make all the results available promptly to anybody. You can go to lengths to give others a chance to see what you’ve found out.

That is what the Marquette Law School Poll is going to do. It will be the most extensive polling project in Wisconsin history, and we are fully committed to making it an independent effort that will have no agenda except to find out as much as we can about public opinion in Wisconsin and share it with all.

In fact, consider this your invitation to tune into the poll’s results. We are launching the first round of polling on Thursday, Jan. 19, and will release the results next Wednesday, Jan. 25.