On October 5, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Lazzara, a Clinton appointee, ruled against a lawsuit that had been filed to force the Democratic National Committee to seat delegates from Florida. The case is DiMaio v Democratic National Committee, middle district, 8:07cv-1552. This case had been filed on August 30, 2007.
This case should not be confused with the lawsuit filed this month by U.S. Senator Bill Nelson. On the other hand, the DiMaio outcome is not good news for the Nelson lawsuit.
The October 7 New York Times has this story on the possibility of an independent presidential candidacy for Michael Bloomberg.
On September 28, the 4th circuit upheld Maryland’s law, requiring that candidates be listed on primary ballots in alphabetical order. Schaefer v Lamone, 07-1003. The 4th circuit did not write its own opinion, but merely said it agrees with the U.S. District Court decision from 2006. That decision said that the state has a “compelling interest” in “avoiding voter confusion”, and that voter confusion would result if a random method of determining ballot order were used. This is a textbook example of how the courts use “voter confusion” to justify any state restriction that they aren’t inclined to examine closely and analytically. The three 4th circuit judges in this case are M. Blane Michael and William Traxler (Clinton appointees), and Roger Gregory (a Bush Jr. appointee).
On September 28, the 4th circuit upheld Maryland’s law, requiring that candidates be listed on primary ballots in alphabetical order. Schaefer v Lamone, 07-1003. The 4th circuit did not write its own opinion, but merely said it agrees with the U.S. District Court decision from 2006. That decision said that the state has a “compelling interest” in “avoiding voter confusion”, and that voter confusion would result if a random method of determining ballot order were used. This is a textbook example of how the courts use “voter confusion” to justify any state restriction that they aren’t inclined to examine closely and analytically. The three 4th circuit judges in this case are M. Blane Michael and William Traxler (Clinton appointees), and Roger Gregory (a Bush Jr. appointee).
Democrats in the Delaware legislature tried to make fusion illegal in 2007, but failed. However, the leader of the Democrats in the legislature has said he will try again in 2008. According to some reports, he will try to attach the anti-fusion amendment to a “must-pass” bill on some other subject. Thanks to Delaware Watch for this news.
