In the first of what are becoming regular clashes between Democratic state attorneys general and the new President, the attorneys general of Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia sought to intervene in federal court proceedings to defend the constitutionality of the Consumer Financial Protection Act (“CFPA”), which created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”),… More
Category Archives: 2016 Election
Summary of The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act
On November 8, 2016, Massachusetts voters passed Initiative Petition 15-37, The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act. The Act: legalizes the possession of one (1) ounce or fewer of marijuana for people age twenty-one (21) and older and the personal possession of ten (10) ounces and not more than twelve (12) plants cultivated in a person’s primary residence for personal use; establishes a Cannabis Control Commission with the authority to license,… More
Update: SJC Strongly Urges Plaintiffs to File Challenges to Ballot Initiatives by February 1
As we anticipated in an earlier post, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court provided clear guidance on the appropriate time to challenge ballot initiatives in two July 6 decisions. The opinions, both authored by Chief Justice Gants, strongly urge plaintiffs to bring challenges to ballot initiatives by February 1 in election years.
In Dunn v. Attorney General, the plaintiffs contested the Attorney General’s certification of a petition that would make it unlawful for farms to knowingly confine certain farm animals in a cruel manner and for businesses to knowingly sell certain products from animals that have been so confined.… More
SJC Appears Likely to Provide Guidance on Appropriate Timing for Filing Challenges to Ballot Initiatives
In a departure from its typical schedule — hearing oral arguments during the first full week of every month from September through May — the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court will hear challenges to two proposed ballot initiatives on June 8, 2016. The first case, Hensley v. Attorney General, concerns Petition 15-27 which would permit those 21 and older to possess,… More
Deadlines Fast Approaching to File Initiative Petitions with Massachusetts AGO
The deadline for the first step to place a measure on the November 2016 ballot is fast approaching. Proposed initiative petitions must be submitted to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (AGO) on or before Wednesday, August 5, 2015. The AGO will rule on or before Wednesday, September 2, 2015 whether proposed measures meet constitutional requirements. In addition, the AGO will prepare a fair, concise summary of each measure that is certified on that same date.… More