Here is the second brief on the merits, in the U.S. Supreme Court case on Arizona public funding. Both briefs that have been filed so far are opposed to the Arizona system of giving extra public funding to certain candidates who have well-funded opponents. The case is Arizona Free Enterprise Club’s Freedom Club PAC v Bennett, 10-238. The briefs in defense of the existing state policy will be filed next month. The case will be argued on March 28. Thanks to Rick Hasen’s ElectionLawBlog for the link.

According to this Politico story, U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman will probably announce on January 19 that he will not run for re-election in 2012. In 2006 he was re-elected as an independent candidate. His 2006 ballot label was “Connecticut for Lieberman Party.” He is one of three sitting U.S. Senators who was last elected even though not the Democratic nor Republican Party nominee. The other two are Lisa Murkowski and Bernie Sanders. Thanks to Gene Berkman for the link.

At the November 2, 2010 election, the Arkansas Treasurer’s race had only two candidates on the ballot, Democrat Martha Shoffner, and Green Party nominee Bobby Tullis. Tullis polled over 40% of the vote in thirteen counties. His highest percentages were in Baxter County (45.01%) and Howard County (46.57%).

Statewide, the Green Party polled 32.46% in this race. That is the highest percentage for a statewide minor party nominee in Arkansas since 1968, when George Wallace carried the state for President on the American Party line, with 38.65%.

Yet the state is still arguing in court (in the 8th circuit) that the Green Party does not have enough voter support to be on the ballot automatically for 2012, and that the party must submit yet another petition of 10,000 names, if it wants to be on the 2012 ballot.