General Assembly to put votes online, in real time

According to today's Providence Journal the when the Rhode Island General Assembly convenes today it will put its votes online, in real time. This is an important move toward a more transparent legislative process, and Common Cause salutes the Assembly for taking this step.

John Marion and Gary Sasse on Newsmakers

On Sunday, December 12th, John Marion and Gary Sasse appeared on WPRI-TV's Newsmakers program to discuss the coalition, Citizens for an Accountable Legislature. You can watch it here.

Register for The Politics and Process of Judicial Selection

If you would like to attend the panel on The Politics and Process of Judicial Selection this Monday, November 8, you must register here:

http://www.acslaw.org/chapters/lawyer/rhodeisland/rsvp

The reception begins at 6 pm, and the panel discussion at 6:30 pm

It will take place in the Waterman Room, at the University Club of Providence, 219 Benefit St., Providence, RI.

Citizens for an Accountable Legislature gains endorsement

On Friday, November 5th the Providence Journal editorialized in favor of the Citizens for an Accountable Legislature agenda. Come read more about it here.

Common Cause co-hosts two educational events

Common Cause Rhode Island is pleased to be co-hosting two educational events this November. Both are free and open to the public, although you must RSVP to attend the November 8th panel:

November 8th--The Politics and Process of Judicial Selection

Co-hosted with the American Constitution Society

Featuring:

The Honorable Ernest C. Torres, Senior Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island
Jared A. Goldstein, Professor of Law, Roger Williams University School of Law
Emily J. Sack, Professor of Law, Roger Williams University School of Law
David Fontana, Associate Professor of Law, George Washington University Law School

And moderated by:

Michael J. Yelnosky, Professor of Law, Roger Williams University School of Law

Monday, November 8, 2010
Reception: 6 pm
Program: 6:30 pm
The University Club of Providence
219 Benefit St.
Waterman Room
Providence, RI

You must RSVP here.

November 15th--The First Amendment: Five Freedoms, If We Can Keep Them--Where Do You Draw the Line?

Co-hosted with the Providence Athenaeum as part of ACCESS/RI the state's freedom of information coalition

A talk by Gregory V. Sullivan, professor of First Amendment and Media Law at Suffolk University Law School.

Monday, November 15th
Reception: 5:30 pm
Talk: 6 pm
Providence Athenaeum
251 Benefit St.
Providence, RI

Common Cause Urges State Senate to Finish Work

In the Thursday, October 28th edition of the Providence Journal Common Cause takes the position that the Rhode Island State Senate should return to provide advice and consent for outstanding appointments. Common Cause would like to further clarify our comments. We believe that the Governor and the State Senate should fulfill their constitutionally mandated roles in appointments. In particular, we have held since the passage of the Separation of Power amendments in 2004 that the Governor can immediately make appointments to replace all vacancies on boards and commissions in Rhode Island. That belief was reinforced by the December 2008 Advisory Opinion of the Rhode Island Supreme Court in the CRMC case. Likewise, as long-time supporters of the 1994 constitutional reforms creating the Judicial Nominating Commission we have held that the Governor should abide by the law requiring him to make appointments within the 21 day time frame mandated in the statute. We have also long held that the State Senate should abide by its statutory requirement to provide advice and consent for those appointments too.

Upcoming Events for Common Cause

We have two exciting events coming up at Common Cause Rhode Island. Please join us if you can.

On Monday, November 8th we will co-host a panel discussion on "The Politics and Process of Judicial Selection" with the American Constitution Society. The panel will feature a number of speakers discussion federal judicial selection, including Judge Ernest Torres, and Professors Jared Goldstein and Emily Sack. The event will be held at the University Club in Providence at 6 pm. You must RSVP and you can do so here.

On Monday, November 15th we will co-host a speaker with ACCESS/RI and the Providence Athenaeum. Attorney Greg Sullivan will speak on "The First Amendment: Five freedoms if we can keep them." The event will be held at 5:30 pm at the Athenaeum and is free and open to the public.