In a rural county in New Mexico, the nation has been given a terrifying glimpse into the bleak future of democracy, absent aggressive intervention by those who care about its protection.

In a shocking refusal to perform their legal obligation, three Otero County Commissioners refused to certify the results of the June 7 primary election, instead citing vague – and false – concerns about Dominion voting machines and voter fraud. 

If you think the loss of democracy can't happen here, read this important article in Justia by Amherst College Professor Austin Sarat and our Lawyers Defending American Democracy colleague, Dennis Aftergut.

For the past several days, we have been reading and thinking about the jury’s verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse case. Our work at LDAD is based on a fundamental belief in our democratic institutions and the rule of law, so we are not inclined to second-guess jury verdicts.

Last summer, LDAD warned about efforts by the states to overrule federal election results by empowering State legislatures to overrule the actual vote count whenever it disliked the result. Measures to do this, we noted, were afoot in some forty States and, if successful, would fundamentally change the American electoral system. At the time, we thought the threat to American democracy would be obvious and that a warning against the folly would be enough to divert the efforts.

We were wrong.

Kudos to Drexel University for revoking the honorary degree it had granted Rudy Giuliani.

"The totality of Giuliani’s recent actions, which have led to the suspension of his license to practice law, include repeated unfounded claims of widespread election fraud, have significantly contributed to undermining the public’s faith in our democratic institutions and the integrity of our judicial system, and stand in clear opposition to Drexel’s values."

More of this please!

Kudos to Judge Neureiter. Holding lawyers accountable for this kind of behavior is critical to the defense of not just the legal profession but American democracy. Read the Boston Globe's coverage 'The stuff of which violent insurrections are made' on BostonGlobe.com.

Jeffrey Clark should be the subject of a disciplinary investigation by any state bar to which he belongs. His disturbing efforts to use the Department of Justice to undermine the 2020 election are a violation of his oath as an attorney. Read ABC's coverage, 'DOJ officials rejected colleague's request to intervene in Georgia's election certification,' on ABCNews.com.

Fred Hiatt, in a recent Op-Ed, likens voter suppression legislation pending or passed in state legislatures around the country to termites eating away at the foundations of democracy (Wash. Post, June 13, A21). His focus is on measures that would strip election officials of their power to certify presidential election results or expose them to criminal penalties if they fail to certify results to the legislature’s liking.