On December 12, a state supreme court judge in Niagara County heard arguments in Hurley v Public Campaign Financing & Election Commission, and Jastrzemski v Public Campaign Financing & Election Commission. These are the two similar lawsuits that argue the New York legislature cannot delegate to a commission the power to revise the ballot access laws. The Hurley case was filed by the Working Families Party and is case E169547-2019. The Jastrzemski case was filed by the Conservative Party and is E169561-2019.

Here is a news story about the hearing. Thanks to Jim Riley for the link. UPDATE: also see this Buffalo News story.

This New York Times story says President Trump is discussing with his advisors whether to skip the general election debates. Thanks to Political Wire for the link.

One may listen to the oral argument in Libertarian Party of Arkansas v Thurston at this link. It lasted 41 minutes. First the state argued for 19 minutes, then the Libertarian Party argued for 21 minutes. Finally there was a two-minute rebuttal by the state. Most of the discussion concerned the petition deadline, September of the year before the election.

In the U.S. District Court, where the petition was enjoined, the state presented an expert witness who said it would cost $55,000 to complete the 3% petition. In the Eighth Circuit oral argument, the state said a petition that costs $55,000 to complete is not “severe.”