On Jyly 1, the Idaho Governor Brad Little filed notice of appeal in Reclaim Idaho v Little, 20-35584. This is the case in which the U.S. District Court had ordered a 48-day extension for the deadline for statewide initiatives in Idaho.
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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.
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.