State District Judge Jim Jordan ruled this week that he doesn’t have the jurisdiction to resolve legal issues related to conducting a recount in the House District 105 race this week, meaning that a recount will begin December 1 unless the Texas Democratic Party appeals the case to a higher court.
Here is why Jordan declined to rule on the case:
“I was looking forward to this case,” Judge Jordan said in ruling that only an appellate or the state Supreme Court has jurisdiction. “It has some interesting issues I would have enjoyed working with. And it has issues that need dealing with.”
Judge Jordan issued his jurisdictional ruling after hearing all the evidence and testimony in the case that centers around two hot-button election issues — straight-party voting and electronic voting machines.
I would tend to agree, actually, but I’d go one step farther than Judge Jordan did. I’m not sure that this is an issue for the state courts at all. I’d actually say that Bush v. Gore applies here. albeit in microcosm.
In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that the method of recounting ballots in Florida in 2000 was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. To me, applying different standards to electronically cast ballots and paper ballots doesn’t provide “equal protection” to the voters–or the candidates. The candidates are forced to deal with different standards for two different types of ballots. The very nature of the fact that this has to come in to play could create a myriad of difficulties. Of course, the courts may not agree with that because it could ultimately mean the death of electronic voting (at least, so long as absentee and provisional ballots are cast on paper).
December 1, 2008 at 11:44 pm
the only industry in America that is allowed by EPA to inject KNOWN hazardous material-unchecked-directly into or adjacent to underground drinking water supplies. EARTHWORKS-Hydraulic Fracturing of Oil and Gas Wells Vince at Capitol Annex notes thata state district judge has ruled that he does not have jurisdiction to rule on a case related to the House District 105 recount.
December 1, 2008 at 6:50 pm
the only industry in America that is allowed by EPA to inject KNOWN hazardous material-unchecked-directly into or adjacent to underground drinking water supplies. EARTHWORKS-Hydraulic Fracturing of Oil and Gas Wells Vince at Capitol Annex notes thata state district judge has ruled that he does not have jurisdiction to rule on a case related to the House District 105 recount.
December 1, 2008 at 2:17 pm
only industry in America that is allowed by EPA to inject KNOWN hazardous material-unchecked-directly into or adjacent to underground drinking water supplies. EARTHWORKS-Hydraulic Fracturing of Oil and Gas Wells Vince at Capitol Annex notes thata state district judge has ruled that he does not have jurisdiction to rule on a case related to the House District 105 recount.
December 1, 2008 at 12:25 pm
l and gas industry is the only industry in America that is allowed by EPA to inject KNOWN hazardous material-unchecked-directly into or adjacent to underground drinking water supplies. EARTHWORKS-Hydraulic Fracturing of Oil and Gas Wells Vince at Capitol Annex notes thata state district judge has ruled that he does not have jurisdiction to rule on a case related to the House District 105 recount.
December 1, 2008 at 2:58 am
the only industry in America that is allowed by EPA to inject KNOWN hazardous material-unchecked-directly into or adjacent to underground drinking water supplies. EARTHWORKS-Hydraulic Fracturing of Oil and Gas Wells Vince at Capitol Annex notes thata state district judge has ruled that he does not have jurisdiction to rule on a case related to the House District 105 recount.
December 1, 2008 at 6:02 am
the only industry in America that is allowed by EPA to inject KNOWN hazardous material-unchecked-directly into or adjacent to underground drinking water supplies. EARTHWORKS-Hydraulic Fracturing of Oil and Gas Wells Vince at Capitol Annex notes thata state district judge has ruled that he does not have jurisdiction to rule on a case related to the House District 105 recount.
December 1, 2008 at 7:09 am
[...] Vince at Capitol Annex notes that a state district judge has ruled that he does not have jurisdiction to rule on a case related to the…. [...]
December 1, 2008 at 8:40 am
[...] Vince at Capitol Annex notes that a state district judge has ruled that he does not have jurisdiction to rule on a case related to the…. [...]
December 1, 2008 at 8:42 am
[...] Vince at Capitol Annex notes that a state district judge has ruled that he does not have jurisdiction to rule on a case related to the…. [...]
December 2, 2008 at 11:32 am
[...] Fracturing of Oil and Gas Wells Vince at Capitol Annex notes that a state district judge has ruled that he does not have jurisdiction to rule on a case related to the…. Posted by Charles Kuffner on December 02, 2008 to Blog stuff [...]
April 9, 2010 at 9:58 am
[...] supplies.EARTHWORKS-Hydraulic Fracturing of Oil and Gas WellsVince at Capitol Annex notes that a state district judge has ruled that he does not have jurisdiction to rule on a case related to the….Tags: Texas, TPA, liberal+news, progressive, news, blogs, bloggers Gary Permalink on 12/01/2008 [...]