On June 28, a U.S. District Court refused to enjoin state court proceedings to remove Couy Griffin from the Otero County, New Mexico, County Commission. The state court proceedings were brought because Griffin was arrested for trespassing in the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Griffin sued to stop the state court proceedings, but the U.S. District Court said the lawsuit is premature because the state proceedings are not over. The federal case is Griffin v White, 2:22cv-362. Here is the order. The case was before U.S. District Court Judge Ken Gonzales, an Obama appointee. Judge Gonzales says Griffin can re-file his federal lawsuit if the state does remove him.

Griffin did not file to run for re-election in 2022. He was elected as a Republican in 2018 from the Second District. He is the founder of Cowboys for Trump.

Griffin has not been convicted of trespassing; that case is pending. The lawsuit to remove him is based on the “insurrection” language of the 14th amendment. That part of the 14th amendment applies to all elective office, not just federal office. UPDATE: he was convicted on June 17. Thanks to the comments for this update.

The First Circuit heard oral arguments in We the People PAC v Bellows, 21-1149, on July 27, 2021. This is the case over Maine’s ban on out-of-state circulators for initiatives. There is still no decision.

The Idaho Press, the state’s second oldest newspaper, has this article about the abortion planks of the state Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, and Constitution Parties. All four are different.