On May 10, the 8th circuit will hear oral arguments in Green Party of Arkansas v Martin, 10-3106. This is the ACLU lawsuit against the Arkansas election law that removes parties from the ballot each time they fail to poll at least 3% for the office at the top of the ticket (president or governor, depending on which year it is). The hearing will be at 9 a.m. in Kansas City before Judges Michael Melloy, Duane Benton, and James Gritzner, all of whom are Bush Jr. appointees. Judges Melloy and Gritzner are from Iowa, and Judge Benton is from Missouri.

On May 2, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Siefert v Alexander, 10-405. This lawsuit attacked Wisconsin’s ban on judges making public endorsements of candidates for partisan office. The 7th circuit had upheld that ban 2-1. Wisconsin does not prevent judges from endorsing candidates in non-partisan elections, but does prevent them from endorsing candidates in partisan elections. The plaintiff, a Democrat, had wanted to publicly endorse Barack Obama in 2008 and had also wanted to endorse various Democrats in 2010.

The case also involves Wisconsin’s ban on judges asking personally for campaign contributions. Wisconsin elects its state court judges in non-partisan elections. The 7th circuit had unanimously upheld that Wisconsin restriction.

On April 28, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed SB 1402, which adds ten new categories of specialized license plates, including a “Don’t Tread on Me” plate that will raise money for an Arizona Tea Party Committee (see section 28-2439.01 of the bill). Groups that wish to profit by any of these specialized license plates take some risk, however. They must pay $32,000 to the state to start the process. Then the state manufactures and sells the license plate for $25, and the sponsoring group receives $18 for each plate sold. Obviously, if the plate is unpopular, the sponsoring groups may lose money.

The part of the law concerning the Tea Party says that the Tea Party Committee’s mission is to bring together, empower, and train tea party groups, to work for these goals: (1) promoting the Constitution; (2) promoting limited government; (3) protecting state sovereignty; (4) standing for the security of borders with other nations. Thanks to Ken Bush for this news.