Republic of Atlasia -vs- The Imperial Dominion of the South

[Ebowed]

We'll get back to you on this, but certification of the election result is suspended for the time being.

[Ebowed]

Normally I would wait until the Court decides to hear the case, but my Internet may be interrupted this weekend, so I would like to get this in now in case I cannot later... If the Court does decide to hear this case, I would like to file an amicus brief.

Yeah brother, go for it.

[Ebowed]

Sorry, gentlemen, I am just waiting to hear from one of the Justices as to whether we will accept the case.

[Ebowed]

Official Atlasia Supreme Court Release
Nyman, DC

Writ of Certiorari
The Atlasian Supreme Court grants certiorari to hear this case.

Schedule
Petitioner has seventy-two hours to file his brief.  It is expected no later than 5:00AM EDT on Wednesday, April 3 2013.

Respondent has an additional forty-eight hours to file his brief.  It is expected no later than 5:00AM EDT on Friday, April 5, 2013.

Amicus Briefs will be accepted until 5:00AM EDT, April 5, 2013, unless the filing party can show sufficient need.

Additional time may be granted to either party upon a showing of sufficient need.

A possible period of argument (Q&A) may be scheduled after presentation of the briefs in case any member of the Court has any questions for the parties.

[Ebowed]

For the record, who is the respondent?

The brief will be in before the deadline.

John Dibble is the Southeast magistrate, I believe, but otherwise contact the author of the provision in Southeast law allowing for this discrepancy between federal and regional standards so that he may defend it.

[Ebowed]

Any further briefs?

[Ebowed]

I won't have time to work on a ruling till the weekend actually, so we can continue to accept amicus briefs.

[Ebowed]

I hope this is not to become an exercise where we simply give the defense as many shots as they require from as many respondents as they require.

Relax, I just haven't had time to work on the case, and given that there had been no defense of the law in the given time frame it didn't seem especially egregious to allow that opportunity to go forward.  Nonetheless, we will take Magistrate Dibble's thoughts into consideration as we formulate our opinion.

[Ebowed]

A ruling should be ready shortly.  Thank you everyone for your patience.

[Ebowed]

The Chief Justice delivers the unanimous opinion of the Court.

Statement of Facts

Article V, Section 2, Clause 1 of the Constitution states in part that

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Article VIII, Clause 11 of the Southeast Constitution, however, states in part that

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Ruling

Independently of the outcome this discrepancy may incur on the results of any regional elections conducted within the Southeast, or indeed the intended scope of relevant disputed statute, this inconsistency is plainly unconstitutional and reflects an attempt on the part of the Southeast to usurp the authority of the federal government to determine voter registration standards.  As these minimum requirements have been ratified by national referendum through the constitutional amendment process, they apply to all regions due to the simple fact that voter registration is handled federally.  The Southeast does not have its own Secretary to handle regional voter registration, nor should it; under the logic that the region may bar federally registered voters from participating in its elections, it would also be able to register voters who are not yet eligible to register federally.  Rather than allow for the potential complications that may result in a dual system of voter registration, the constitution makes it clear in no uncertain terms that this is a duty to be undertaken exclusively by the federal government.

We rule the 50 post voting requirement in the Southeast constitution to be in direct violation of the constitution and accordingly strike it down, and order any voters disenfranchised by this unconstitutional provision to have their ballots counted.