Correction: An earlier version of this story had misspelled Cathy Clardy Patterson's first name. (10:16 a.m. MST, Aug. 28, 2024)

New polling showed Americans believe the upcoming presidential election will have a major effect on the future of the U.S. Supreme Court and an Arizona legal expert contends the nation's foundational institutions and principles are being challenged like never before.

Cathy Clardy Patterson, council member of the advocacy group Courage for America and a lawyer, said the scandal-plagued Supreme Court finds itself at an "inflection point." She added the court's legitimacy depends on the confidence citizens have in it but noted it has been plummeting recently because of rulings by the high court.

"I've said to friends, 'I don't even know why I went to law school,' because all of the rules look like they're being skirted," Clardy Patterson explained. "There is no adherence to precedent anymore, they are taking fictitious plaintiffs, they're dealing with hypotheticals that are not before the court."

Just last month, President Joe Biden laid out his plan to reform the court, which includes an enforceable code of ethics, term limits for justices and a constitutional amendment to limit the justices' recent decision on presidential immunity.

Skeptics said it is unlikely Biden can get his proposals over the finish line with a divided Congress and with less than 150 days left in office. Clardy Patterson argued he has taken the important first step to incite change and remains hopeful.

Fewer than half of Americans have a favorable view of the court, while just over half of Americans said they have an unfavorable one, according to the Pew Research Center. While Republicans are more likely to view the conservative majority court in an approving light, Clardy Patterson urged those who have been discouraged to fight against the idea change cannot be achieved.

"If we become active, if we raise this in discussions with our friends, our neighbors, our family members and in turn we become engaged with our members of Congress, we can make a difference," Clardy Patterson contended.

Clardy Patterson emphasized everything is at stake. Data show most Republicans support Biden's proposals, but only expressed support when they did not know Biden was behind them.

"Whether it is in regard to bodily autonomy, whether it is in regard to workers' rights, the environment, there is not an issue that is not on the table," Clardy Patterson stressed. "That is why it is so critical."

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.


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Legal groups are weighing an appeal after a court ruling this week that left voters in several states, including North Dakota, at a disadvantage in making use of the Voting Rights Act.

At issue is their ability to sue based on racial discrimination. A three-judge panel with the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a pathway under Section Two of the landmark law for voters to bring lawsuits if they feel local and state election policies have violated their civil rights. The decision stems from a recent redistricting victory for a pair of Native American Tribes in North Dakota.

Mark Gaber, senior director of redistricting for the Campaign Legal Center, said he was shocked by the latest outcome.

"The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has done what no court in the country has ever done, and there's been 400-plus Voting Rights Act cases filed for decades," Gaber pointed out.

The decision affirmed a ruling from the full 8th Circuit, which said language in this section of the law does not specifically mention private individuals. One judge filed a dissenting opinion. The 8th Circuit covers seven states, and civil rights groups said if the outcome stands, voters in those states would have to lobby the Justice Department to bring a case forward.

Gaber noted the problem with asking the Justice Department is, the agency is not equipped to move quickly on such requests.

"They simply don't have the resources," Gaber pointed out. "The individual voters who are familiar with what is happening in their localities and on the ground are frankly, in many cases, better suited to bring these cases."

The Justice Department is also part of budget-cutting moves by the Trump administration. Meanwhile, the Native American Rights Fund said this week's ruling sets a dangerous precedent for minority voters who do not want to be silenced.


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Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has seen the last few bills of the 2025 legislative session cross his desk and as the ink dries, policy experts reminded Montanans some bills will face the courts before they take effect.

Gianforte signed Senate Bill 490, which changes the Election Day cutoff for same-day voter registration from 8 p.m. to noon. It also eliminates early registration the Monday before Election Day, shifting the deadline to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Zuri Moreno, state legislative director for the advocacy group Forward Montana, said the change especially affects Montanans who drive long distances to vote.

"We've already heard from the courts that you're not supposed to mess around with same-day voter registration," Moreno pointed out. "It just takes away that opportunity for working folks and young folks and rural people across the state."

Montana's Supreme Court ruled last year banning same-day voter registration is unconstitutional. In January, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to the decision.

Laws passed this session may still be challenged in court, including those centered on the LGBTQ+ community, which was targeted by at least 23 bills. Moreno noted the "community really showed up this session."

"We saw so many folks sharing personal stories and public testimony, so many folks showing up for lobby days and rallies," Moreno recounted. "Thousands of people engaged in the legislative process, which is essential."

In a win for renters, Gianforte also signed House Bill 311 , which requires rental application fees to be returned to people who do not end up signing a lease.

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During every big election, tens of thousands of California voters make a mistake on their mail-in ballot and often get differing advice on how to fix it, depending on who they ask. A new bill aims to standardize the response.

Assembly Bill 1072 would require the Secretary of State and county elections officials to come up with clear answers, applicable statewide.

Kim Alexander, founder and president of the California Voter Foundation, said the problem causes widespread delays in counting.

"In Orange County in the last election, officials had to duplicate over 40,000 ballots," Alexander pointed out. "There are other reasons why ballots have to be duplicated, but the primary one is that the voter made a mistake filling out their ballot, indicated a different choice, and it has to be remade."

Common mistakes include accidentally filling in the wrong bubble, signing the witness signature box or signing their spouses' envelope. If there is time, the county will often send a new ballot.

Alexander noted a common set of instructions should be posted on the website of the Secretary of State and every county registrar.

"They are instructed, typically, to cross out the choice and fill out the choice that they preferred and draw an arrow to it or circle it to indicate that is their intent," Alexander explained. "What they should not do is initial it, and sometimes voters think that's what they should do."

The outlook for the bill is good. It is currently on the consent calendar for the Assembly Appropriations Committee.


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