Georgia Republicans cancel election for state Supreme Court, meaning governor can appoint a Republic

[demmiblue]

Source: Vox

The state of Georgia was supposed to hold an election Tuesday to fill a seat on the state Supreme Court. Justice Keith Blackwell, a Republican whose six-year term expires on the last day of this year, did not plan to run for reelection. The election, between former Democratic Rep. John Barrow and former Republican state lawmaker Beth Beskin, would determine who would fill Blackwell’s seat.

But then something weird happened: Georgia’s Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and the state’s Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, canceled Tuesday’s election. Instead, Kemp will appoint Blackwell’s successor, and that successor will serve for at least two years — ensuring the seat will remain in Republican hands.

On May 14, the state Supreme Court handed down a decision that effectively blessed this scheme to keep Blackwell’s seat in the GOP’s hands. The court’s decision in Barrow v. Raffensperger is unusual in many regards — among other things, six of the state’s regular Supreme Court justices recused from the case, and they were replaced by five lower court judges who sat temporarily on the state’s highest court. The court’s decision in Barrow turns upon poorly drafted language in the state constitution, which does suggest that Blackwell, Kemp, and Raffensperger’s scheme was legal.

The scheme, briefly explained

In late February, just a few days before the deadline for candidates to file to run to replace Justice Blackwell was about to expire, Blackwell sent a letter to Kemp announcing that he intends to resign his seat, effective November 18. That means that Blackwell will leave office a few weeks before his term was set to expire on December 31.

Read more: https://www.vox.com/2020/5/19/21262376/georgia-republicans-cancel-election-state-supreme-court-barrow-kemp-blackwell

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. This is so wrong. . . . nt

[dalton99a]

2. Republicans will stop at nothing.

[magicarpet]

3. A cheat is as good as a fair election win in upside down,..

inside out ReThug land.

Once they gain a grip on power they never want to let go.

[samsingh]

4. So when Democrats get into power WE better hold these criminals responsible

[NEOBuckeye]

5. Brian Kemp is a bastard who needs to be locked up n/t

[keithbvadu2]

6. Jared will be very interested in this ruling.

Last edited Tue May 19, 2020, 11:06 AM - Edit history (1)

[Botany]

7. Republicans are consolidating their power as they are destroying our democracy

BTW Kemp is only governor because he cheated.

[bucolic_frolic]

8. Amazing they see nothing wrong with it

and therefore won't understand why patriots won't like it

[turbinetree]

9. So I guess a lawsuit is out of the question...........you know if this was done in a jury pool

and discovered.......there would be a mistrial................so in essence ...of stacking the court..........is just fine and fucking dandy.....corruption never stops in the republican state(s)...........

[RhodeIslandOne]

10. Anyone who thinks we're winning anything in Georgia is crazy

Rigged. Up and down the ballot.

[SKKY]

11. And don't think for one minute this is being paid close attention to...

...at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Very, very close. No doubt about it.

[GriffenRamsey]

12. And come November, they will cancel the election and appoint electors.

[oasis]

13. What the....

[Nancy Waterman]

14. So it is ok to open the state

but not to vote? I hope someone is taking this to court.