Pennsylvania judge orders halt to further vote certification, Gov. Tom Wolf to appeal

[sandensea]

Source: Morning Call

A Pennsylvania appeals court judge ordered state officials on Wednesday to halt any further steps toward certifying election results, a day after Gov. Tom Wolf said he had certified Democrat Joe Biden as the winner of the presidential election in Pennsylvania.

It wasn't immediately clear if the order from Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough, a Republican, could hold up the certification of state and local contests on the ballot or interrupt the scheduled Dec. 14 meeting of the state's 20 electors. McCullough scheduled a hearing for Friday.

Wolf's administration quickly asked the state Supreme Court to block the ruling from taking effect, saying there was no "conceivable justification" for it.

"Since the birth of our nation nearly 250 years ago, no court has ever issued an order purporting to interfere with a state's ascertainment of its presidential electors - until today," the administration said in its motion.

Read more: https://www.mcall.com/news/elections/mc-pa-judge-vote-certification-20201125-story.html

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Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Judge Patricia McCullough (GOP)

"Since the birth of our nation nearly 250 years ago," Gov. Tom Wolf noted, "no court has ever issued an order purporting to interfere with a state's ascertainment of its presidential electors - until today."

[secondwind]

1. Am flabbergasted...no words.....

[WheelWalker]

2. Game on!

[NJCher]

3. read this earlier

I dont' really understand it. It seems like a Johnny come lately move that ????

Can anyone explain what's going on here?

[Happy Hoosier]

9. Short version...

A gaggle of GOP Folks have sued, claiming that the expanded “no excuse” absentee voting in PA violates the State Constitution. The act was passed with majority GOP support in Oct 2019. No one objected, notably, none of the plaintiffs. Heck they encouraged their voters to use the new voting method. Then Trump lost. They are now claiming ALL mail-in ballots in PA have to be tossed.

That will not happen. It’s an absolute fantasy. The electors were appointed yesterday in accordance with state law. This TRO does nothing to stop that. And it will likely be tossed by the State Supreme Court.

[NJCher]

20. thank you, Happy Hoosier

Your explanation helps. What seemed so nonsensical is that
the votes were certified. Surely she had to know this, lest she appear a fool.

But then the Dem governor seemed to be taking it seriously in saying that he would appeal. That is what confused me the most.

What a waste of time, effort, and tax dollars. And from reading the posts downthread, it appears this judge doesn't mind joining the ship of fools.

[SergeStorms]

28. Shouldn't the litigation of their complaint...

have taken place before the election? The republicans are trying to close the barn door after the horse has already escaped, and then swear to god that the horse is still in the barn (even though no one can see it). Aren't these assholes ever going to admit they lost?

[Happy Hoosier]

41. Yes, that's one reason it will be tossed. NT

[rlegro]

40. An almost identical scenario is plahing out in Wisconsin

Only difference is that Trump requested a recount (in the two most populous blue counties) and certification can't occur until after that's done. Which hasn't prevented a Republican interest group from petitioning the right-wing state supreme court to let the GOP-controlled state legislature ignore whatever the final count is and choose their own slate of Electoral College delegates. Other Republicans have already floated the "throw out all the absentee ballots" idea. Quelle surprise.

[arlyellowdog]

4. Meaningless

The Pennsylvania AG said votes already certified so blocking certification of further votes is meaningless

[sandensea]

6. Absolutely. Judge Patty seems to be auditioning for some (potential) GOP post in 2024.

Which as you know, requires something unethical, illegal, amoral, shameless and/or extreme - preferably something that makes headlines.

[dware]

15. ...

Which as you know, requires something unethical, illegal, amoral, shameless and/or extreme - preferably something that makes headlines.

Well, she got a score of 4 out of 5, so she's well on her way.

[TeamPooka]

38. she needs to go through some things.

[William769]

42. trumps new lawyer.

[DeminPennswoods]

23. Not exactly meaningless since down ballot elections

haven't been certified. It means the entire state house and half the state senate are in limbo. Both house and senate are GOP-controlled.

[Thomas Hurt]

5. The fascists on The Hill are gleefully saying this is the big save for the Pig.

[sandensea]

7. Try Brazil!

[Happy Hoosier]

10. Yeah, they are high. NT

[arlyellowdog]

8. Pennsylvania AG says it's meaningless

The results are certified and electors chosen.

[sandensea]

12. Exactly.

If Judge Patty thinks this stunt will guarantee her the AG post in some future GOP regime, then she's just whistling Dixie.

[Ford_Prefect]

24. That's exactly the tune she's playing ...on a dog whistle.

There's no basis to rule now, since the counting is done. No process exists to undo it. The argument may have theoretical merit but is has no practical application. The majority of the legislature voted to make this the law in 2019. The appropriate time for legal challenge of their process was either then or before the election began. I I doubt this one single Commonwealth judge has the authority to stop the entire process and also invalidate all those ballots. I suspect that will be how the State Supreme Court will rule as well.

This is GOP grandstanding to generate the fantasy that the GOP are defending the voters. It's also a chickenshit move.

[judesedit]

32. The same rules that applied in 2016 when Dumpo won, should be

upheld for this election. If the GOP didn't let the absentee ballots be counted as they came in, so it's taking longer, that's their problem. Biden won. It's actually sad how stupid and/or gullible Dumpy's base is. But also dangerous.

[gab13by13]

36. This is the 1st year we had mail in voting, no reason,

We did vote that way in the primary without any objections.

[judesedit]

53. I just meant countrywide. If dems had questioned some of those small leads

in swing states, the results may have been shown to change the course of history. Hillary got more of the popular vote, but who knows, she may have gotten even more, but there were no recounts that I recall. I know in 2016 they were finding crates full of absentee ballots in post offices and other sites in more than one south Florida county.

[onetexan]

22. yup, this nutter judge is doing the con's bidding to front a sham

[blueinredohio]

11. Yep, her face is kind of orange too.

Must be a thing you have to be an asshole and have an orange glow to fit in with that crowd.

[sandensea]

13. And you have to be shameless

The more brazen the stunt - and the more headlines it makes - the better.

"I like killers, ok?"

[blueinredohio]

16. True

[NJCher]

21. very weird

orange face, white neck, and blue around the eyes.

[Lysol2020]

14. Don't worry about this

It is a dog and pony show for theatric effects. Pennsylvania is a wrap so nothing to see here.

[AllaN01Bear]

17. dump the ec once and for all.

[cstanleytech]

18. I wonder how long they had to judge shop before they found one willing to throw themselves upon

the altar of Trump to show how much of a true believer that they are.

[Evolve Dammit]

19. Use a two inch paintbrush for that eye shadow, Patty? Enjoy your ride supporting treason.

[DeminPennswoods]

25. The lastest development

is that AG Shapiro/Dems appealed directly to the state Supreme Court. That resulted in McCullough postponing or cancelling Friday's scheduled hearing while she/we wait to learn if PA SC will take the case.

I don't honestly see how she granted a prelim injunction since that requires a likelihood that the plaintiffs will win their case. Even the GOP and Dems were on the same side arguing against granting this injunction.

[BlueIdaho]

26. Judicial Malpractice.

She should be removed from the bench.

[mpcamb]

51. Dems should point to the needless pissing away of public money on a settled issue.

All of this month's republican time in court this month has been that. It costs taxpayers!

[BlueIdaho]

52. Absolutely!

Not to mention clogging up the court’s docket on these absurd filings.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

27. I think this judge and Trump have shared makeup tips

Very orange

[pazzyanne]

29. She uses the same shade of make-up as the pResident. nt

[bucolic_frolic]

30. Trump is creating a shadow election - an alternate to the actual vote

Sounds to me like he'll be pursuing this after inauguration day - trying to angle to the Supreme Court to unseat the sitting President.

[Evolve Dammit]

34. "alternate reality Donald lives in;" HRC 2016 debates. Boy she knew him. 4 yrs of alternate reality.

[azureblue]

31. the judge has no legal grounds

She can't undo the declaration.

[Paul Politerude]

33. AG Weighs In

AG Josh Shapiro
@PAAttorneyGen
This order does not impact yesterday’s appointment of electors. We will be filing an appeal with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court momentarily.

[LiberalArkie]

35. How come she has cadaver skin under the paint job?

No offense meant to cadavers.

[LiberalFighter]

37. Pennsylvania needs to do something about her.

[still_one]

39. Impeach her

[Demsrule86]

43. Update. Order has been stayed...

[helpisontheway]

44. What does that mean? Nt

[sandensea]

46. That Judge Patty's order can't be implemented

Here's to Dem layers.

They're saving democracy - just as lawyers have in other countries.

[helpisontheway]

47. Oh thank goodness!!! Thank you for the explanation! Nt

[sandensea]

54. You bet. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

[BumRushDaShow]

49. When the Governor appealed to the PA State Supreme Court

doing so automatically puts a stay on the lower court's ruling.

[sandensea]

45. Now THAT's an update

And there'll have to be more I'm sure. There is nothing they won't stoop down to.

[turbinetree]

48. Just think her next election is not until 2030, let that sink in...............

https://ballotpedia.org/Patricia_McCullough

[BumRushDaShow]

50. We just have to make sure to retain the current 5 (D) justices on the PA state Supreme Court

(there are only 2 (R)s there).



The 2 (R)s include the Chief Justice who will reach the mandatory retirement age in 2021 and will have to step down (he was made Chief Justice as a token to seniority and his apparent affability with the others) and then his will be an open seat for a new Justice (and Chief Justice). The other (R) is not up until 2027.

Of the 5 (D)s, there is one who will reach the mandatory retirement age in 2022 and that will be an open seat for a new Justice. The others will be up in 2025 (3) and 2027 (1).

So barring whatever happens during the next 5 years (i.e., no scandals, which actually helped Democrats get this type of majority there in the first place), Democrats would have a majority in the PA State Supreme Court at least until 2025.

These seats are elected.

These are the people who redrew our Congressional Districts so that it went from a gerrymandered 13 (R)s - 5 (D)s to a new split of 9 (R)s - 9 (D)s.