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CMLawLibraryBlog

The CM Law Library Blog seeks to inform the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law community about key legal education, research, practice, and law library news, with a particular focus on Cuyahoga County and Ohio as well as faculty research interests.

The CIA's Family Jewels

Schuyler M. Cook | June 26, 2007 - 10:54

Some 15 years after filing a Freedom of Information Act action, the CIA released the report requested by George Washington University's National Security Archive. Today's post contains a link to the entire 27 MB, 702 page item as well as links to NSA's split of the report into five parts.

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Supreme Court Loosens Limits on Campaign Ads - Center for Election Integrity Addresses Election Problems

Sue Altmeyer, Electronic Services Librarian, sue.altmeyer@law.csuohio.edu | June 26, 2007 - 06:19

The U.S. Supreme Court held that the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act could not prohibit a corporation from financing ads concerning an issue, aired near election time, when the ad could reasonably be interpreted as something other than an appeal to vote for or against a specific candidate. Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc. No. 06-969, Slip Op.(U.S.S.C. June 25, 2007). Commentators view this case as an example of the Supreme Court's shift to the right, due to personnel changes. See Mark Sherman (AP), High Court Signals Rightward Tilt, The Plain Dealer, June 26, 2007. For summaries of other cases demonstrating the conservative shift in the court see Supreme Court Actions,The Plain Dealer, June 26, 2007.

Ohio and Cuyahoga County in particular have faced numerous election controversies and problems. One example concerns ads run by a group called "Common Sense Ohio", making negative statements against Ted Strickland during the 2006 race for governor. See John McCarthy, Who is Paying for Attack Ads?, Cincinnati Enquirer, Sept. 8, 2006; Court Rules That It Lacks Jurisdiction to Decide Campaign Finance Disclosure Dispute, Ohio Supreme Court Opinion Summaries, Oct. 3, 2006. Numerous articles have pointed out problems with the managing of elections in Cuyahoga County and troubles with voting machines. See Center for Election Integrity - Press Coverage.

The Center for Election Integrity a joint project of the Cleveland- Marshall College of Law and the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, aims to eliminate these problems. According to its web page, the Center "provides research, training, consultation, and public education to assist Ohio in becoming the national leader in transparent, legal, efficient and accurate elections."


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