On January 31, the U.S. Supreme Court requested that Hawaii file a response in Nader v Cronin, 10-728. This is the case that challenges the number of signatures needed for an independent presidential candidate. That number is approximately six times as many signatures as are required for an entire new political party with its own primary ballot.

When the U.S. Supreme Court asks for a response from the side that had won the case in the lower court, that is a sign that the Court is thinking that it might possibly take the case. The response from Hawaii is due March 2.

In other U.S. Supreme Court news, the Court has put Burris v Judge on its February 18 conference. This means that the Court will probably reveal on the following Monday (February 21) whether it will hear that case. Burris v Judge, 10-367, is the lawsuit filed by former U.S. Senator Roland Burris, over ballot access in the Illinois special U.S. Senate election of November 2, 2010. Roland Burris wanted to run for the two-month term, but the 7th circuit had ruled that no one could run in that special election except the candidates who were already on the ballot for the regular U.S. Senate election.

Also, in the Connecticut case over discriminatory public funding, Green Party of Connecticut v Lenge, 10-795, the state of Connecticut has asked again asked for time to respond. The state’s original response was due January 14, but then the Court gave the state until February 14, and now the Court has granted a second extension, to February 22.