On July 1, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that the Governor’s Executive Order, allowing electronic signatures for initiatives, violates the State Constitution. Ritchie v Polis, 2020 CO 69. Here is the decision.
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On July 1, all the full-time judges of the Eleventh Circuit agreed to hear Jones v Governor of Florida, 20-12003, even though the case so far has only been decided by a U.S. District Court Judge. It is very rare for the judges of any Circuit to hear a case en banc before a 3-judge panel has heard it. Jones v Governor is the case over whether ex-felons who owe court costs, restitution, fines, or other fees can register to vote. The U.S. District Court Judge had ruled that ex-felons who cannot afford to pay may still register to vote.
There are twelve full-time Eleventh Circuit judges. Six of them are Trump appointees, and one other, William Pryor, is a Bush Jr. appointee. The judges also voted on July 1 to stay the order of the U.S. District Court Judge in this case. That suggests that the en banc panel will not rule favorably for the ex-felons. The case will be heard the week of August 10-14. This case could easily end up in the U.S. Supreme Court before the election. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the news.
As already noted, U.S. District Court Judge Lance E. Walker declined injunctive relief to the Maine Libertarian Party on June 11. The party asked for reconsideration. On June 30, the Judge expedited the briefing schedule for the reconsideration request. The state’s brief is due July 6, and the reply is due July 8. Baines v Dunlap, 1L19cv-509.
On June 30, Joseph Kishore, the Socialist Equality Party presidential candidate, filed a federal lawsuit against the California law that requires independent presidential candidates to submit 196,964 signatures in 105 days. Kishore v Newsom, c.d., 2:20cv-5859. Here is the Complaint.
The case is assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Dolly M. Gee, an Obama appointee.
On June 30, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order setting petition requirements for 2020 independent candidates and the nominees of unqualified parties. Statewide petitions will require 30,000 signatures, to be collected starting July 1 and ending July 30. That is considerably more difficult than any previous requirements in the history of the state. Between 1992 and 2018, the statewide petition was 15,000 signatures, with a collection period of six weeks.
The proclamation makes no provision for electronic signatures.
U.S. House petitions need 2,450 signatures. Thanks to Joe Burns for this news.