Summary
assuming "King's Bench authority over the instant appeal"
Summary of this case from Ball v. ChapmanOpinion
No. 102 MM 2022
11-01-2022
David BALL, James D. Bee, Jesse D. Daniel, Gwendolyn Mae Deluca, Ross M. Farber, Lynn Marie Kalcevic, Vallerie Siciliano-Biancaniello, S. Michael Streib, Republican National Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, and Republican Party of Pennsylvania, Petitioners v. Leigh M. CHAPMAN, in Her Official Capacity as Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth, and All 67 County Boards of Elections, Respondents
Adam Craig Bonin, Esq., for Amicus Curiae Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), for Intervenors Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), Democratic National Committee, Intervenor Pennsylvania Democratic Party. Joel L. Frank, Esq., West Chester, for Amicus Curiae The Honest Elections Project. Brian Patrick Gallagher, Esq., Allison Park, for Amicus Curiae Bradford County Republican Committee and Friends of the Committee. Jennifer L. Gilliland-Vanasdale, Esq., Gilliland Vanasdale Sinatra Law Office, LLC, Cranberry Township, for Amicus Curiae Butler County Republican Committee. Linda Ann Kerns, Esq., Law Offices of Linda A. Kerns, LLC, Philadelphia, for Amicus Curiae Lawyers Democracy Fund. Curtis Michael Schube, Esq., Dhillon Law Group, for Amici Curiae Citizens United, Citizens United Foundation, Presidential Coalition. Witold J. Walczak, Esq., American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, for Amici Curiae The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower and Rebuild, Black Political Empowerment Project, Common Cause Pennsylvania, Make the Road Pennsylvania, The NAACP Pennsylvania State Conference. Zachary Michael Wallen, Esq., Chalmers & Adams LLC, for Amici Curiae Bryan Cutler, Kerry Benninghoff, Jake Corman, Kim Ward, Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus, Pennsylvania Senate Republican Caucus. Walter S. Zimolong III, Esq., Zimolong LLC, Wayne, for Amicus Curiae Thomas More Society. Justin Baxenberg, Esq., Daniela Lorenzo, Esq., Uzoma N. Nkwonta, Esq., Elias Law Group LLP, Daniel Cohen, Esq., Elias Law Group LLP, Bethlehem, for Intervenor Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Peter Poggi Elliot, Esq., Kevin Michael Greenberg, Esq., Adam R. Roseman, Esq., Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Philadelphia, for Intervenor Pennsylvania Democratic Party. Clifford B. Levine, Esq., Alice Birmingham Mitinger, Esq., Emma Frances Elizabeth Shoucair, Esq., Dentons Cohen & Grigsby, Pittsburgh, for Intervenors Democratic National Committee, Pennsylvania Democratic Party. Thomas E. Breth, Esq., Thomas W. King III, Esq., Dillon McCandless King Coulter & Graham, LLP, Cranberry Township, Kathleen A. Gallagher, Esq., Russell David Giancola, Esq., Gallagher Giancola LLC, for Petitioners. Brian Howard Benjet, Esq., Ilana H. Eisenstein, Esq., DLA Piper, Philadelphia, Zachary Gene Strassburger, Esq., City of Philadelphia, for Respondent Philadelphia County Board of Elections. Jacob Biehl Boyer, Esq., Michael John Fischer, Esq., Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Elizabeth Pidcock Lester-Abdalla, Esq., for Respondent Acting Secretary Leigh M. Chapman. Nicholas Michael Centrella Jr., Esq., James Manly Parks, Esq., Duane Morris LLP, for Respondent Delaware County Board of Elections. Anthony V. Clarke, Esq., Bradford, for Respondent McKean County Board of Elections. Joseph Matthias Cosgrove, Esq., Selingo Guagliardo, LLC, for Respondent Luzerne County Board of Elections. Casey Alan Coyle, Esq., Harrisburg, Elizabeth A. Dupuis, Esq., Babst, Calland, Clements and Zomnir, PC, State College, Anna Skipper Jewart, Esq., Pittsburgh, for Respondents Bedford County Board of Elections, Carbon County Board of Elections, Centre County Board of Elections, Columbia County Board of Elections, Dauphin County Board of Elections, Fayette County Board of Elections, Huntingdon County Board of Elections, Indiana County Board of Elections, Jefferson County Board of Elections, Lawrence County Board of Elections, Lebanon County Board of Elections, Northumberland County Board of Elections, Venango County Board of Elections, York County Board of Elections. Matthew Robert Cravitz, Esq., Selinsgrove, for Respondent Snyder County Board of Elections. James V. Fareri, Esq., McFall, Layman & Jordan, P.C., Stroudsburg, for Respondent Monroe County Board of Elections. Jonathan Paul Foster, Esq., Foster Law Office PLLC, Athens, for Respondent Bradford County Board of Elections. Colleen Mary Frens, Esq., County of Chester, West Chester, Nicholas J. Stevens, Esq., County of Chester, Philadelphia, Faith Anne Mattox-Baldini, Esq., Chester County Solicitor's Office, for Respondent Chester County Board of Elections. Christopher P. Furman, Esq., Pittsburgh, for Respondents Clarion County Board of Elections, Susquehanna County Board of Elections, Tioga County Board of Elections. Carmen Iguina Gonzalez, Esq., Joshua Matz, Esq., Raymond P. Tolentino, Esq., for Respondents Acting Secretary Leigh M. Chapman, Jessica Mathis. Daniel Donovan Grieser, Esq., Bucks County, Norristown, Jessica L. VanderKam, Esq., Stuckert and Yates, Newtown, for Respondent Bucks County Board of Elections. Robert Eugene Grimm, Esq., for Respondent Greene County Board of Elections. Melissa Ann Guiddy, Esq., Westmoreland County Solicitor's Office, for Respondent Westmoreland County Board of Elections. Maureen E. Herron, Esq., John Amos Marlatt, Esq., Montgomery County Solicitor's Office, for Respondent Montgomery County Board of Elections. Jennifer B. Hipp, Esq., Bogar & Hipp Law Offices, LLC, Shiremanstown, for Respondent Cumberland County Board of Elections. George M. Janocsko, Esq., Allegheny County Law Department, Pittsburgh, Lisa G. Michel, Esq., Bacharach & Michel, Pittsburgh, Allan Joseph Opsitnick, Esq., Opsitnick and Associates, Pittsburgh, for Respondent Allegheny County Board of Elections. Nathan W. Karn, Esq., Hollidaysburg, for Respondent Blair County Board of Elections. Cody Lee Kauffman, Esq., Berks County Solicitor's Office, for Respondent Berks County Board of Elections. Lauren Lynn Mathews, Esq., Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, Pittsburgh, for Respondent Washington County Board of Elections Molly Ruth Mudd, Esq., for Respondent Adams County Board of Elections. Melvin Eugene Newcomer, Esq., Kluxen, Newcomer & Dreisbach, Lancaster, for Respondent Lancaster County Board of Elections. Catharine Meade Roseberry, Esq., Lehigh County, for Respondent Lehigh County Board of Elections. Andrew Joseph Sacco, Esq., Steiner Sacco Law, for Respondent Armstrong County Board of Elections. Nathaniel Justus Schmidt, Esq., Warren County Solicitor's Office, for Respondent Warren County Board of Elections Joseph David Smith, Esq., McCormick Law Firm, for Respondent Lycoming County Board of Elections. Elliott Bernard Sulcove, Esq., Chambersburg, for Respondent Franklin County Board of Elections. H. William White III, Esq., Butler County Solicitor's Office, Cranberry Township, for Respondent Butler County Board of Elections. Donald Kenneth Zagurskie, Esq., Mifflin, for Respondent Juniata County Board of Elections. Beaver County Board of Elections, Pro se. Cambria County Board of Elections, Pro se. Cameron County Board of Elections, Pro se. Clearfield County Board of Elections, Pro se. Clinton County Board of Elections, Pro se. Crawford County Board of Elections, Pro se. Elk County Board of Elections, Pro se. Erie County Board of Elections, Pro se. Forest County Board of Elections, Pro se. Fulton County Board of Elections, Pro se. Lackawanna County Board of Elections, Pro se. Mercer County Board of Elections, Pro se. Mifflin County Board of Elections, Pro se. Montour County Board of Elections, Pro se. Northampton County Board of Elections, Pro se. Pike County Board of Elections, Pro se. Pike County Board of Elections, Pro se. Potter County Board of Elections, Pro se. Schuylkill County Board of Elections, Pro se. Somerset County Board of Elections, Pro se. Sullivan County Board of Elections, Pro se. Union County Board of Elections, Pro se. Wayne County Board of Elections, Pro se. Wyoming County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Adam Craig Bonin, Esq., for Amicus Curiae Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), for Intervenors Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), Democratic National Committee, Intervenor Pennsylvania Democratic Party.
Joel L. Frank, Esq., West Chester, for Amicus Curiae The Honest Elections Project.
Brian Patrick Gallagher, Esq., Allison Park, for Amicus Curiae Bradford County Republican Committee and Friends of the Committee.
Jennifer L. Gilliland-Vanasdale, Esq., Gilliland Vanasdale Sinatra Law Office, LLC, Cranberry Township, for Amicus Curiae Butler County Republican Committee.
Linda Ann Kerns, Esq., Law Offices of Linda A. Kerns, LLC, Philadelphia, for Amicus Curiae Lawyers Democracy Fund.
Curtis Michael Schube, Esq., Dhillon Law Group, for Amici Curiae Citizens United, Citizens United Foundation, Presidential Coalition.
Witold J. Walczak, Esq., American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, for Amici Curiae The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower and Rebuild, Black Political Empowerment Project, Common Cause Pennsylvania, Make the Road Pennsylvania, The NAACP Pennsylvania State Conference.
Zachary Michael Wallen, Esq., Chalmers & Adams LLC, for Amici Curiae Bryan Cutler, Kerry Benninghoff, Jake Corman, Kim Ward, Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus, Pennsylvania Senate Republican Caucus.
Walter S. Zimolong III, Esq., Zimolong LLC, Wayne, for Amicus Curiae Thomas More Society.
Justin Baxenberg, Esq., Daniela Lorenzo, Esq., Uzoma N. Nkwonta, Esq., Elias Law Group LLP, Daniel Cohen, Esq., Elias Law Group LLP, Bethlehem, for Intervenor Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
Peter Poggi Elliot, Esq., Kevin Michael Greenberg, Esq., Adam R. Roseman, Esq., Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Philadelphia, for Intervenor Pennsylvania Democratic Party.
Clifford B. Levine, Esq., Alice Birmingham Mitinger, Esq., Emma Frances Elizabeth Shoucair, Esq., Dentons Cohen & Grigsby, Pittsburgh, for Intervenors Democratic National Committee, Pennsylvania Democratic Party.
Thomas E. Breth, Esq., Thomas W. King III, Esq., Dillon McCandless King Coulter & Graham, LLP, Cranberry Township, Kathleen A. Gallagher, Esq., Russell David Giancola, Esq., Gallagher Giancola LLC, for Petitioners.
Brian Howard Benjet, Esq., Ilana H. Eisenstein, Esq., DLA Piper, Philadelphia, Zachary Gene Strassburger, Esq., City of Philadelphia, for Respondent Philadelphia County Board of Elections.
Jacob Biehl Boyer, Esq., Michael John Fischer, Esq., Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Elizabeth Pidcock Lester-Abdalla, Esq., for Respondent Acting Secretary Leigh M. Chapman.
Nicholas Michael Centrella Jr., Esq., James Manly Parks, Esq., Duane Morris LLP, for Respondent Delaware County Board of Elections.
Anthony V. Clarke, Esq., Bradford, for Respondent McKean County Board of Elections.
Joseph Matthias Cosgrove, Esq., Selingo Guagliardo, LLC, for Respondent Luzerne County Board of Elections.
Casey Alan Coyle, Esq., Harrisburg, Elizabeth A. Dupuis, Esq., Babst, Calland, Clements and Zomnir, PC, State College, Anna Skipper Jewart, Esq., Pittsburgh, for Respondents Bedford County Board of Elections, Carbon County Board of Elections, Centre County Board of Elections, Columbia County Board of Elections, Dauphin County Board of Elections, Fayette County Board of Elections, Huntingdon County Board of Elections, Indiana County Board of Elections, Jefferson County Board of Elections, Lawrence County Board of Elections, Lebanon County Board of Elections, Northumberland County Board of Elections, Venango County Board of Elections, York County Board of Elections.
Matthew Robert Cravitz, Esq., Selinsgrove, for Respondent Snyder County Board of Elections.
James V. Fareri, Esq., McFall, Layman & Jordan, P.C., Stroudsburg, for Respondent Monroe County Board of Elections.
Jonathan Paul Foster, Esq., Foster Law Office PLLC, Athens, for Respondent Bradford County Board of Elections.
Colleen Mary Frens, Esq., County of Chester, West Chester, Nicholas J. Stevens, Esq., County of Chester, Philadelphia, Faith Anne Mattox-Baldini, Esq., Chester County Solicitor's Office, for Respondent Chester County Board of Elections.
Christopher P. Furman, Esq., Pittsburgh, for Respondents Clarion County Board of Elections, Susquehanna County Board of Elections, Tioga County Board of Elections.
Carmen Iguina Gonzalez, Esq., Joshua Matz, Esq., Raymond P. Tolentino, Esq., for Respondents Acting Secretary Leigh M. Chapman, Jessica Mathis.
Daniel Donovan Grieser, Esq., Bucks County, Norristown, Jessica L. VanderKam, Esq., Stuckert and Yates, Newtown, for Respondent Bucks County Board of Elections.
Robert Eugene Grimm, Esq., for Respondent Greene County Board of Elections.
Melissa Ann Guiddy, Esq., Westmoreland County Solicitor's Office, for Respondent Westmoreland County Board of Elections.
Maureen E. Herron, Esq., John Amos Marlatt, Esq., Montgomery County Solicitor's Office, for Respondent Montgomery County Board of Elections.
Jennifer B. Hipp, Esq., Bogar & Hipp Law Offices, LLC, Shiremanstown, for Respondent Cumberland County Board of Elections.
George M. Janocsko, Esq., Allegheny County Law Department, Pittsburgh, Lisa G. Michel, Esq., Bacharach & Michel, Pittsburgh, Allan Joseph Opsitnick, Esq., Opsitnick and Associates, Pittsburgh, for Respondent Allegheny County Board of Elections.
Nathan W. Karn, Esq., Hollidaysburg, for Respondent Blair County Board of Elections.
Cody Lee Kauffman, Esq., Berks County Solicitor's Office, for Respondent Berks County Board of Elections.
Lauren Lynn Mathews, Esq., Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, Pittsburgh, for Respondent Washington County Board of Elections
Molly Ruth Mudd, Esq., for Respondent Adams County Board of Elections.
Melvin Eugene Newcomer, Esq., Kluxen, Newcomer & Dreisbach, Lancaster, for Respondent Lancaster County Board of Elections.
Catharine Meade Roseberry, Esq., Lehigh County, for Respondent Lehigh County Board of Elections.
Andrew Joseph Sacco, Esq., Steiner Sacco Law, for Respondent Armstrong County Board of Elections.
Nathaniel Justus Schmidt, Esq., Warren County Solicitor's Office, for Respondent Warren County Board of Elections
Joseph David Smith, Esq., McCormick Law Firm, for Respondent Lycoming County Board of Elections.
Elliott Bernard Sulcove, Esq., Chambersburg, for Respondent Franklin County Board of Elections.
H. William White III, Esq., Butler County Solicitor's Office, Cranberry Township, for Respondent Butler County Board of Elections.
Donald Kenneth Zagurskie, Esq., Mifflin, for Respondent Juniata County Board of Elections.
Beaver County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Cambria County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Cameron County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Clearfield County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Clinton County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Crawford County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Elk County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Erie County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Forest County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Fulton County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Lackawanna County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Mercer County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Mifflin County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Montour County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Northampton County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Pike County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Pike County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Potter County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Schuylkill County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Somerset County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Sullivan County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Union County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Wayne County Board of Elections, Pro se.
Wyoming County Board of Elections, Pro se.
TODD (CJ), DONOHUE, DOUGHERTY, WECHT, MUNDY, BROBSON, JJ.
PER CURIAM AND NOW , this 1st day of November, 2022, upon review of the briefs of the parties and amici , the Petitioners’ request for injunctive and declaratory relief is granted in part and denied in part. The Pennsylvania county boards of elections are hereby ORDERED to refrain from counting any absentee and mail-in ballots received for the November 8, 2022 general election that are contained in undated or incorrectly dated outer envelopes. See 25 P.S. § 3146.6(a) and § 3150.16(a).
The Court is evenly divided on the issue of whether failing to count such ballots violates 52 U.S.C. § 10101(a)(2)(B).
We hereby DIRECT that the Pennsylvania county boards of elections segregate and preserve any ballots contained in undated or incorrectly dated outer envelopes.
The Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee, and the Republican Party of Pennsylvania have standing. Petitioners David Ball, James D. Bee, Jesse D. Daniel, Gwendolyn Mae Deluca, Ross M. Farber, Lynn Marie Kalcevic, Vallerie Siciliano-Biancaniello, and S. Michael Streib are hereby DISMISSED from the case for lack of standing.
Opinions to follow.
Chief Justice Todd and Justices Donohue and Wecht would find a violation of federal law.
Justices Dougherty, Mundy and Brobson would find no violation of federal law.