On April 6, independent congressional candidate James Hall filed this brief in the Eleventh Circuit in Hall v Merrill, 16-16766. The issue is whether the state can require a difficult petition for an independent candidate in a special election, when the time for gathering signatures is severely shortened. Hall won the case in U.S. District Court last year, and the state is trying to get that decision reversed.
Another excellent brief. Pointing out that “Appellant repeatedly announced … no obligation to prove the legitimacy or relevance of any of its stated interests” was very to the point. There are some aspects that art typically not found in such type briefs. Page 4 – “Appellant simply just does not get it.” Page 21 – “Portions of appellant’s Brief read like they were written on ‘Opposites Day’.” And, on page 32 it mentions that Hall was a former Marine. While all spot on and certainly appeal to a non-legal reader, as mentioned they aren’t typical of Briefs. Hopefully, they will not negatively influence the court since the Brief really states the case well.