Arizona Supreme Court Sides with Kari Lake and Public Advocate on 2022 Irregularity
Eugene Delgaudio, president of Public Advocate today celebrated an important victory on election irregularities in Arizona in the Governors race in "Lake V. Hobbs".
Delgaudio said "We thank the Supreme Court for returning to the lower court the issue of irregularies in the signature cards in the 2022 Governor's race there. Public Advocate was also acknowledged by the court for their amicus brief which assisted the decision to reject the lower court.
Public Advocate's, and others filed amicus briefs. Public Advocate argued that the law requires and signature on early voting ballots and if there is no signature, the election official must verify the voter did, indeed, send the ballot.
COPY OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE OF THE US INC AMICUS BRIEF
The Arizona Supreme Court issued an order on the Lake Petition for Review.
Delgaudio
said:
"The
Court
ruled
that
the
dismissal
of
the
signature
verification
challenge
based
on
latches
(delay)
was
improper,
as
that
claim
could
not
have
been
brought
before
the
election.
The
signature
verification
issue
only
was
remanded
to
the
trial
court,
and
denied
review
of
the
other
five
issues
raised.
This
is
disappointing,
but
even
a
partial
victory
is
a
victory,"
Delgaudio
said.
Amici (Public Advocate is an Amici) got honorable mention: "The Court has also considered briefing of amici curiae in support of Petitioner."
See Supreme Court Order On the Lake Petition
AZ Supreme Court revives Kari Lake claim on signature verification
The high court ordered Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson to review that element of Lake's case again to determine if Lake can prove "votes (were) affected 'in sufficient numbers to alter the outcome of the election.'"
The Arizona Supreme Court declined to hear the majority of Republican Kari Lake's appeal on Wednesday during a challenge to her loss in the governor's race but kept the case alive by sending one of Lake's claims back to a lower court for review.
Lake made seven legal claims in her case, six of which the state's high court said were properly dismissed by lower courts. However, according to an opinion released Wednesday written by Chief Justice Robert Brutinel the trial court erroneously dismissed Lake's claim challenging the application of signature verification procedures on early ballots in Maricopa County and as a result sent the claim back to the lower court to reconsider.