Federal appeals judges questioned the Justice Department’s challenge to California mail ballots
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voiced skepticism Sunday about the Justice Department’s request to block 20,000 California mail ballots. The judges questioned whether the request intrudes on states’ constitutional authority over elections. Circuit Judge Gabriel Sanchez also questioned the appeals court’s jurisdiction, noting a lower-court judge had scheduled a hearing for Tuesday.
More context
On Sunday, three judges of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals questioned the Justice Department’s push to have California set aside mail ballots, a request concerning 20,000 ballots, and the department’s lawsuit over the state’s voter rolls. The Los Angeles Times reported that judges asked federal lawyers whether the request violates states’ constitutional authority over elections and whether the appeals court could rule on it. Circuit Judge Gabriel Sanchez said he was confused about why the appeals court had jurisdiction at this stage, Reuters reported, noting that the lower-court judge had already scheduled a hearing for Tuesday.
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Reporting
- U.S. News & World Report — US Appeals Court Appears Skeptical of Trump DOJ's Lawsuit Over California Voter Rolls
- Los Angeles Times — 9th Circuit panel questions basis for feds’ request to block 20,000 California ballots
- news8000.com — Judges skeptical of Trump administration effort for force California to set aside mail ballots
Verifier’s note
All three results report Sunday’s appeals-court hearing and judicial skepticism over the DOJ’s California voter-roll or ballot-related lawsuit. Their reporting is consistent with the proposed event and its timing.