On November 4, the Second Circuit ruled that New York state prosecutors may have copies of President Trump’s tax returns for the last eight years. Trump v Vance, 19-3204. Here is the 34-page opinion. The decision is by Judge Robert Katzmann, a Clinton appointee. It is also signed by Judge Denny Chin, an Obama appointee; and Judge Christopher F. Droney, a Clinton appointee.

The New York prosecutor had been trying to get the tax returns from President Trump’s accountant. The case does not require President Trump himself to furnish the returns. It is expected that he will ask for U.S. Supreme Court involvement. Thanks to Political Wire for this news.

The Maine Libertarian Party ballot access case now has a docket number. The case is Baines v Dumlap, 1:19cv-509, assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Lance E. Walker, a Trump appointee. Last year Judge Walker upheld Maine’s ranked choice voting law after the Maine Republican Party sued to overturn it.

Here is the Complaint. It challenges the January deadline to qualify a new party, and the number of signatures that members of new and small qualified parties need to place themselves on the primary ballot. The statewide petition for primary candidates is 2,000 signatures of party members, regardless of how many registered members the party has.

Eastpointe, Michigan, will use ranked choice voting for its city council election on November 5, 2019. This will be the first time it has been used to elect public officials in Michigan. See this story. Thanks to Rob Richie for the link.