On September 1, a Solano County, California Superior Court Judge had ruled that the faction of the American Independent Party that supported Alan Keyes for president in 2008 should answer the complaint in King v Robinson, 034452.  That faction has still not answered the complaint.

On October 29, the case was before a new judge, who set a hearing in early 2011 on the Keyes faction’s request that the case be dismissed, on the grounds that the defendant is Markham Robinson, and that Robinson is no longer state chair of that faction of the party.

The California Secretary of State sends a voter handbook to each voter in the state, before each state election.  The general election booklet has a page for statements from each ballot-qualified party.  The 2010 booklet statement from the American Independent Party is signed by Nathan Sorenson, Chairman.  But then that page lists Markham Robinson’s address, 476 Deodara Street, Vacaville Ca 95688.  It lists Markham Robinson’s e-mail, mark@masterplanner.com.  It lists a phone number that belongs to Robinson, 707-359-4884.  The voters handbook is available on the Secretary of State’s web page, with all that contact information.  This gives the impression that Robinson is still the de facto chair, even though he no longer officially holds that title.  UPDATE:  Markham Robinson is the new Secretary, so it makes sense that his contact information is in the pamphlet.

If the Keyes faction of the American Independent Party really believed that its officers are the legally valid officers, one would expect them to be eager to proceed with the lawsuit.  The matter is been pending for over two years with no actual evidence gathered so far.