On April 1, the 9th circuit set a briefing schedule in Chamness v Bowen, 11-55534, the lawsuit over California’s new policy of banning the word “independent” on the ballot next to the names of candidates who are not members of qualified parties. Chamness may file his brief as early as he wishes, but he must file it by April 27. He plans to file it before that deadline. The response brief is due four weeks later.
The 9th circuit declined to issue an injunction giving Michael Chamness a better label that “No party preference”, because ballot printing has already started. The election will be May 17. Probably the 9th circuit set a rapid briefing schedule because everyone knows that California has lots of special elections, which occur unexpectedly at any time. The year is only three months old and already four special elections have been held or are about to be held.
What is the status of political parties in CA — even ONE person parties ???
Will CA save Western CIVILATION ??? — regardless of the robot gerrymander party hack incumbents in the CA Legislature ??? Stay tuned.
P.R. and App.V.
Candidate/incumbent replacement lists for vacancies = NO special elections.
NOT atomic physics.
Perhaps SCOTUS will get the case in 2011 — just in time for the 2012 elections — to put the top 2 folks out of their misery permanently ???
Chamness has asked the 9th Circuit to dismiss the case.
No, he hasn’t. He has decided to go back to the U.S. District Court and get a declaratory ruling, and then appeal that, assuming he loses in US District Court. He won’t try to get the denial of injunctive relief overturned.
How come your lawyer doesn’t sue the governor to stop him from issuing any more writs of election for unconstitutional quasi-elections, and the legislature for failing to pass legislation so that elections may be held for statewide and legislative offices? Don’t the People of California have a right to a republican form of government?
Have you ever found out why the Secretary of State and Dean Logan persist in grouping candidates by party preference?