More Law Professors File Amicus Curiae Brief in U.S. Supreme Court, in Case Involving Territorial Voting Rights

Posted on by June 28, 2018
2

On June 28, some law professors filed this amicus curiae brief in Segovia v United States, 17-1463. This is the case that challenges federal law and Illinois law that says U.S. citizens who move to Guam, Puerto Rico, or U.S. Virgin Islands lose their ability to vote, yet if the same voters moved to American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, or a foreign country, they could continue to vote absentee in Illinois elections.

Another set of law professors had already filed. Both sets of professors are on the side of the voters who brought the lawsuit.

The U.S. Supreme Court earlier had asked the government to file a brief, defending its policy. The brief of the government defendants had been due June 28, but the government asked for another month, so now the government briefs are due at the end of July.

One of the Republicans Running for Governor of Florida Sues Over Debate Exclusion

Posted on by June 28, 2018
Reply

Seven Republicans are on the August 28 Florida primary ballot. One of them, Bruce Nathan, is being excluded from an upcoming televised debate on the FOX network. On June 28 he sued to be admitted into that debate. Nathan v Republican National Committee, m.d., 6:18cv-1025. The case is assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Roy B. Dalton. Here is the complaint.

It is somewhat unusual for major party members to file such lawsuits over primary season debates.

Arizona Supreme Court Puts Candidate on Republican Primary Ballot, Seems to Say that There is No One-Year Residency Requirement in District to run for Legislature

Posted on by June 28, 2018
3

On June 27, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that Don Shooter should be on the August 28 Republican primary ballot for State Senate, and seemed to rule that there is no requirement that candidates for the state legislature must have lived in the district for a full year before filing. See this story. The case is Backus v Shooter, cv-18-152. The opinion isn’t up on the court’s web page yet.

Democratic National Rules Committee Votes to Deny Super-Delegates Ability to Vote for President on First Ballot if No One Otherwise Has a Majority

Posted on by June 28, 2018
4

On June 27, the Democratic National Committee’s Rules Committee voted to change the rules for presidential conventions. Superdelegates would no longer vote for president on the first ballot, if it appeared that there would be a second ballot. See this story. Superdelegates are delegates who were not chosen through the normal primary/caucus process, but who hold the position by virtue of who they are (generally public officials).

Primary Write-in Tally in California Shows that Laura Wells, Green Party Congressional Candidate, Will be on General Election Ballot

Posted on by June 27, 2018
3

Enough write-in returns from the June 5 California primary have now been tallied to reveal that Laura Wells, a Green Party activist, came in second in the U.S. House race, 13th district, in Alameda County. See this story. The only name on the June 5 ballot in this district was Democratic incumbent Barbara Lee, so it was inevitable that whoever got the most write-in votes in the race would place second and appear on the November ballot.

In 2014 and 2016, a Republican filed against Congresswoman Lee, so it wasn’t possible for a minor party member to come in second.

There will be three Greens on the November ballot for U.S. House in California this year. All placed second because, in each case, only one Democrat, and no Republican, filed to be on the ballot. This will be the first time any Greens have been on the November ballot for a California U.S. House race since the top-two system started. There were no minor party candidates in November 2016 or November 2012 for U.S. House in California. In 2014 there was one Peace & Freedom Party member.