U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald, an Obama appointee, will hear De La Fuente v Padilla, c.d., 2:16cv-3242, on Monday, August 21, at 3 p.m., in Los Angeles. This is the case that challenges the California law requiring independent presidential candidates to submit almost 200,000 valid signatures. In 2016 the requirement had been 178,039, but since then California has taken steps to substantially increase the number of registered voters, and the petition requirement is keyed to the number of registered voters, so it will probably be 200,000 by the next presidential election.

On July 26, the California government cleared the way for proponents of independence for California to begin circulating their new initiative petition. If it gets on the ballot, the ballot would say, “California Autonomy from Federal Government. Repeals provision in California Constitution stating California is an inseparable part of the United States. Directs Governor, in consultation with those members of Congress who represent California, to negotiate continually greater autonomy from federal government, up to and including agreement establishing California as a fully independent country, provided voters agree to revise the California Constitution. Creates new state commission to research and make recommendations on ways of increasing California’s autonomy and independence.”

The initiative needs 585,407 valid signatures in the next six months.

On July 25, the Federal Elections Commission filed this 27-page brief in Level the Playing Field v FEC, U.S. District Court, D.C., 1-15cv-1397. The FEC hopes to persuade the judge to dismiss the case without any additional fact-finding or discovery.