Eleventh Circuit Says Georgia Libertarian Campaign Finance Lawsuit is Moot

On August 2, the Eleventh Circuit issued an opinion in Graham v Georgia Attorney General, 22-13396.  This is the lawsuit filed by the Georgia Libertarian Party against a new law that says donors can give more money to Democratic and Republican nominees for Governor and Lieutenant Governor than they may give to the nominees of other parties for those offices.  The Eleventh Circuit says the case is moot.  It vacated the U.S. District Court decision that had said the plaintiffs lack standing.  The Eleventh Circuit did not decide the standing issue.

The decision is by Judge Elizabeth L. Branch and is also signed by Judges Kevin Newsom and Robert J.. Luck.  All three are Trump appointees.  The oral argument had been on December 11, 2023.

This is the second time in the last three weeks in which a U.S. Court of Appeals has said an election law case involving minor parties is moot.  The first was the New York lawsuit against the May independent candidate petition deadline.

It is very foolish for courts to declare such cases moot.  All it means is that someone files a new lawsuit over the same issue, which is wasteful for the courts as well as the litigants.


Comments

Eleventh Circuit Says Georgia Libertarian Campaign Finance Lawsuit is Moot — 4 Comments

  1. It’s certainly wasteful for the litigants, but I don’t know that it’s all that wasteful for the courts. I’ll tell you for whom it isn’t at all wasteful though, and who would like nothing better than for the same case to filed and declared moot over and over again – the lawyers. It seems to me, these judges are just trying to throw their lawyer buddies a bone.

    And Judge Kevin Newsom sounds like he also might just be Gavin Newsom under a wig and a false mustache.

  2. WHEN WILL THE LP GET COMPETENT SO-CALLED LAWYERS ???

    ESP ANY WHO CAN DETECT 1954 BROWN V BD OF ED — SEPARATE IS NOT EQUAL – 14-1 AMDT EP CL

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