Welcome to the Friday, Jan. 10, Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:

1. Two states expanded voting rights of convicted felons in December
2. The Return of Heart of the Primaries
3. Changes coming to Supreme Courts in Alaska and Maine

Two states expanded voting rights of convicted felons in December

Voting rights for convicted felons vary substantially from state to state. For example, Maine and Vermont allow incarcerated felons to vote, while Iowa never restores the right of convicted felons to vote. Last month, we tracked changes to these laws in two states—both Kentucky and New Jersey expanded voting rights for convicted felons.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) issued an executive order Dec. 12 allowing those convicted of certain felonies to regain the right to vote upon the completion of their sentences, including prison time, probation, and parole. Rights are restored at that time regardless of whether the person has paid all fines or restitution. However, individuals who are convicted of treason, election bribery, and certain violent felonies do not regain voting rights.

Beshear was elected governor of Kentucky in 2019 after defeating incumbent Matt Bevin (R), 49.2% to 48.8%. Prior to that, Beshear was the state’s attorney general.

Previously, individuals convicted of any felony in Kentucky—as well as some misdemeanors—were permanently disenfranchised. The governor could restore those rights via a pardon, but such pardons were reversible.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signed legislation Dec. 18 restoring voting rights to the state’s convicted felons once they complete their prison sentences. The law will take effect on March 17, 2020. State law previously barred felons from voting until completion of their full sentences, including prison time, probation, and parole.

Felons cannot vote while incarcerated but regain the right to vote at some point after their release in 47 states. Eight of those states permanently disenfranchise felons who commit certain crimes. Seventeen states automatically restore voting rights after release from incarceration. The rest restore voting rights at a different point, such as completion of probation or parole.

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The Return of Heart of the Primaries

Two years ago, our elections team published Heart of the Primaries, a weekly newsletter that gave readers a first-hand look at Democratic and Republican primary races across the country.

The response to our coverage was phenomenal. We were so thrilled to provide readers a helpful tool to keep up with all of the primary season activity. And so we're heading back to the campaign trail, covering the 2020 primaries from coast to coast.

We produce two free newsletters -- one version focusing on the Democratic party battleground primary elections, and one for the Republican party battleground primary elections. As a subscriber, you can choose to receive one or both editions each week.

In each edition, we’ll give you the breakdown on the issues, money, polling, strategy, and more.

Make sure you're on the list to receive the first edition of 2020’s Heart of the Primaries coming this Wednesday!

Changes coming to Supreme Courts in Alaska and Maine

Every state—and the District of Columbia—has at least one supreme court that issues final and binding rulings about cases involving state law. Oklahoma and Texas both have two such courts—one for civil appeals and one for criminal appeals. All told, there are 344 state supreme court judges nationwide. Here’s a quick rundown of two upcoming state Supreme Court changes in Alaska and Maine.

Alaska

Alaska Supreme Court Justice Craig Stowers announced Jan. 7 he would retire from the bench effective June 1, 2020. Gov. Sean Parnell (R) appointed Justice Stowers to the court in 2009, and voters retained him for a 10-year term in 2014. He served as chief justice of the court from June 2015 to July 2018. Stowers’ replacement will be Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s (R) first nominee to the five-member Supreme court.

Selection of state Supreme Court justices in Alaska occurs through assisted appointment. The Alaska Judicial Council forwards a list of nominees to the governor, who must then choose a name from the list within 45 days to fill any vacancy. Justices serve 10-year terms, but newly appointed justices are subject to a retention election at the state’s first general election that is more than three years after their appointment. After that, each justice is subject to a retention election every 10 years.

The Alaska Supreme Court is the court of last resort in Alaska. Four of the court’s current justices were appointed by Republican governors, and one—Justice Susan Carney—was appointed by independent Gov. Bill Walker. Carney faces a retention election in November 2020.

Maine

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court gained two new members after Governor Janet Mills (D) appointed appellate attorney Catherine Connors and Maine Superior Court Justice Andrew Horton to the court. Connors and Horton were Mills’ first and second nominees to the seven-member court. Pending confirmation from the state Senate, they will succeed Justices Jeffrey Hjelm and Donald Alexander. Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) appointed Hjelm, while former Gov. Angus King (I) appointed Alexander.

Connors is an appellate lawyer with Pierce Atwood, where she handles civil and criminal litigation matters in federal and state courts.

Horton is a superior court justice for the Cumberland County Superior Court in Maine. Gov. John Baldacci (D) first appointed him to this court in January 2007. Horton was a judge on the Maine District Courts from 1999 to 2007.

In Maine, governors appoint justices, who must they be approved by the Senate. Whether newly appointed or reappointed, judges serve seven-year terms. Appointed judges must be reappointed if they wish to serve additional terms. If Mills' nominees are approved, the court will have five Democrat-appointed members and two Republican-appointed members.

In 2020, there have been four supreme court vacancies in four of the 29 states where replacement justices are appointed instead of elected. All four vacancies were caused by retirements. In 2019, there were 22 supreme court vacancies across 14 states. Fourteen of those vacancies resulted from retirements.

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