The Peace & Freedom Party of California is holding six presidential debates in different parts of California. The party’s ballot has these 7 candidates listed: Stewart Alexander, John Crockford, Stanley Hetz, Gloria LaRiva, Cynthia McKinney, Brian Moore, and Ralph Nader.

The only listed candidates who will appear at all six debates are Stewart Alexander, Brian Moore, and Gloria LaRiva. Neither Ralph Nader nor Cynthia McKinney will attend any of the debates. However, Peter Camejo will speak for Nader at the first two debates. PFP candidate John Crockford will participate in the Fresno debate.

The first three debates are: 7 pm, Friday, January 11, Sacramento, Sierra Center for the Arts, 2791 24th St; 1 pm, Saturday, January 12, San Francisco, Brava Theater, 2781 24th St.; 2 pm, Sunday, January 13, Fresno, City College Forum Hall 101.

There will also be debates in Los Angeles on January 14, Riverside on January 15, and San Diego on January 16. Check www.peaceandfreedom.org web page in the near future for details on the southern California debates. The Riverside debate will be at Zacatecas Restaurant, 2472 University Ave., at 7 pm. The San Diego debate will be at Hot Monkey Love Cafe, 6875 El Cajon Blvd., at 7 pm.

Two election law cases were argued in the U.S. Supreme Court in early October 2007. One is from Washington state and one is from New York. Neither decision has come out yet, and neither one will be out this week.

Many election law attorneys and professors are anxiously awaiting the oral argument on Wednesday, January 9, in the Indiana photo voter-ID case. The questions and comments from the Justices may give some clues as to how the justices feel about voting rights.

On January 7, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Jonker of Michigan refused to issue an injunction, stopping the Democratic presidential primary that is set for January 15. The case is Hayes v Michigan Democratic Party, 1:07-cv-1237, western district. The plaintiff had pointed out that Barack Obama and John Edwards don’t appear on the ballot. She had also pointed out that Michigan Democrats have been deprived of their delegates, regardless of whom they vote for. She blamed the state, because all these flaws result from the fact that the primary is too early to conform to national Democratic Party rules.

The Michigan Democratic Party opposed the plaintiff. Therefore, the Judge said the lawsuit is just an intra-party dispute and that he would not get involved. Thanks to Thomas Jones for this news. The Michigan presidential primary ballots do contain write-in space. There will probably be hundreds of thousands of write-in votes cast in the Democratic race. The ballot also contains a choice of “Uncommitted.”