No. 20-883

Donald J. Trump v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, et al.

Lower Court: Seventh Circuit
Docketed: 2021-01-04
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived Experienced Counsel
Tags: absentee-voting election-integrity election-law election-procedures elections-clause electors-clause equal-protection legislative-intent voter-fraud
Key Terms:
DueProcess FirstAmendment Trademark JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2021-03-05
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether WEC and local election officials violated Art. II, § 1, cl. 2 of the United States Constitution and the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of Equal Protection during the 2020 Presidential election by implementing unauthorized absentee voting practices in disregard of the Wisconsin Legislature's explicit command that absentee voting must be 'carefully regulated' and absentee ballots cast outside of the Legislature's authorized procedures 'may not be counted

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED Since the 1980s, the Wisconsin Legislature has authorized absentee voting but explicitly commanded it must be “carefully regulated to prevent the potential for fraud and abuse.” Wis. Stat. § 6.84(1). During the 2020 Presidential election, however, the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) and local election officials implemented unauthorized, illegal absentee voting drop boxes, compelled illegal corrections to absentee ballot witness certificates by poll workers, and encouraged widespread voter misuse of “indefinitely confined” status to avoid voter ID laws, all in disregard of the Legislature’s explicit command to “carefully regulate” the absentee voting process. After Election Day, Respondents encouraged the counting of, and did count, tens of thousands of invalid absentee ballots received in violation of the “mandatory” requirement of Wis. Stat. § 6.84(2) that absentee ballots “in contravention of the [specified statutory absentee balloting] procedures...may not be counted.” The foregoing raises the following questions: 1. Whether WEC and local election officials violated Art. II, § 1, cl. 2 of the United States Constitution and the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of Equal Protection during the 2020 Presidential election by implementing unauthorized absentee voting practices in disregard of the Wisconsin Legislature’s explicit command that absentee voting must be “carefully regulated” and absentee ballots cast outside of the Legislature’s authorized procedures “may not be counted”? ii 2. Whether this Court should declare the Wisconsin election unconstitutional and void under Article II and thus failed under 3 U.S.C. § 2 and allow the Wisconsin Legislature to appoint its electors? 3. Whether federal courts may rely on the doctrine of laches to avoid reviewing Electors Clause or Equal Protection claims arising after absentee balloting began or which could not have reasonably been brought before absentee balloting commenced? ili

Docket Entries

2021-03-08
Petition DENIED.
2021-02-17
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/5/2021.
2021-02-09
Supplemental brief of petitioner Donald J. Trump filed.
2021-01-27
Waiver of right of respondent Wisconsin Elections Commission, et al. to respond filed.
2021-01-25
Waiver of right of respondent George L. Christenson, Julietta Henry to respond filed.
2021-01-22
Waiver of right of respondents Cory Mason, Mayor of the City of Racine, et al. to respond filed.
2021-01-21
Waiver of right of respondents Wisconsin State Conference NAACP; Dorothy Harrell; Wendell J. Harris, Sr.; Earnestine Moss to respond filed.
2021-01-21
Waiver of right of respondent Democratic National Commitee to respond filed.
2021-01-20
Waiver of right of respondent Governor Tony Evers to respond filed.
2021-01-19
Waiver of right of respondent Satya Rhodes-Conway, Maribeth Witzel-Behl, and Scott McDonell to respond filed.
2021-01-15
Waiver of right of respondents Wisconsin Elections Commission, et al. to respond filed.
2021-01-11
Motion to expedite consideration filed by petitioner DENIED
2020-12-30
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due February 3, 2021)
2020-12-30
Motion to expedite consideration of the petition for a writ of certiorari filed by petitioner.

Attorneys

Cory Mason, Mayor of the City of Racine, et al.
Daniel S. LenzLawton & Cates, S.C., Respondent
Dane County Clerk and Dane County Board of Canvassers
David Ray GaultDane County Corporation Counsel, Respondent
Democratic National Commitee
John M. DevaneyPerkins Coie LLP, Respondent
Donald J. Trump
William Bock IIIKroger, Gardis & Regas, LLP, Petitioner
George L. Christenson, Julietta Henry
Andrew Alston JonesHansen Reynolds LLC, Respondent
Governor Tony Evers
Jeffrey A. MandellStafford Rosenbaum, LLP, Respondent
John M. DevaneyPerkins Coie LLP, Amicus
Satya Rhodes-Conway, Maribeth Witzel-Behl, and Scott McDonell
Michael P. MayBoardman & Clark LLP, Respondent
Wisconsin Elections Commission, et al.
Thomas Charles BellaviaWisconsin Department of Justice, Respondent
Wisconsin State Conference NAACP; Dorothy Harrell; Wendell J. Harris, Sr.; Earnestine Moss
Joseph Salter GoodeLaffey, Leitner & Goode LLC, Respondent