On June 26, U.S. District Court Judge Morrison C. England, a Bush Jr. appointee, refused injunctive relief to the Common Sense Party, which had been trying to qualify as a new party in California using the registration membership alternative. That requires approximately 68,000 party members by July 3, for a party that just wants to participate in the presidential election. The Common Sense Party v Padilla, e.d., 2:20cv-01091.

Here is the 17-page order, which says that the party could have been gaining registrations via e-mail and postal mail, so the health crisis should not have been fatal to the party’s registration drive. The party has appealed to the Ninth Circuit, case number 20-71888.

According to Political Wire, which links to another story, the Republican National Committee may cancel the second half of its national convention, the Jacksonville event set for August 25-27. All the formal business will be in Charlotte on August 24, and of course no one is proposing to cancel that.

The U.S. Supreme Court issued no opinions on July 2, but will do so on July 6. The presidential elector decisions are still pending.