Associated Press
Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted (R)
Last week, a federal judge ordered Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted (R) to leave the state's early-voting window open for all of the state's eligible voters, overturning a Republican law approved last year. Husted's next step should have been, obviously, establishing expanded hours for early voting and setting a statewide schedule.
But Husted had other ideas. On Tuesday, the Republican official, who helps oversee Ohio's elections process, said he intended to ignore the court ruling until after an appeal.
I'm not an attorney, but it's my understanding that federal courts get a little peeved when someone tries to ignore their decisions.
A federal judge ordered Secretary of State Jon Husted on Wednesday to personally appear next week at a hearing about his reluctance to restore early voting the weekend before the Nov. 6 election.
Judge Peter Economus, whose ruling Husted has resisted, scheduled the hearing on Sept. 13 in the U.S. District Court in Columbus.
Economus set the hearing after President Barack Obama's re-election team filed a motion Wednesday requesting the court to enforce its order to restore in-person early voting during the final three days before the presidential election.
Rick Hasen posted a copy of yesterday's order.
From Husted's perspective, his appeal is likely to work -- the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has a reputation for a conservative-friendly circuit -- so he doesn't see any point to making it easier for his own constituents to cast ballots during the upcoming election. On the contrary, as a Republican official, Husted is eager to make it more difficult for Ohio voters to participate, not less.
Unfortunately for the Ohio Secretary of State, however, judges don't much care about defendants' expectations. Economus issued a ruling and he wants Husted to follow it. Decisions from federal courts are not suggestions and they're not optional.
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We want back down!!!
If any one of us pulled this crap, we'd be in jail for contempt of court. That's where he needs to be. NOW.
Your right, but most of us don't have enough money or power to get away with this kind of thing.
Can some one fire him for ignoring a federal order, kind of like he did to the 2 dems he fired.
Only the legislature can fire him. But the judge can go over his head and let the Justice Department step in to assist counties that want early voting. Also, the counties that want the early voting can ignore Husted and set up the early voting. If Husted attempts to fire anyone for following a federal court order, another contempt charge will be done in the federal court, and a state court can grant the county officials the necessary injunctions to prevent Husted from interfering.
Can he be put in jail for ignoring the injunction?
Yes.
Husted even LOOKS like a douche.
Just nitpicking, but "They're not optional."
"Decisions from federal courts are not suggestions and their not optional."
Great story, guys!! But, really? There, they're, and their are not the interchangeable.
The teacher in me thanks you for the edit.
Evidently Husted has sworn a blood oath and a pinky oath to the GOP. He has demonstrated that he has been bought by the highest bidder. Therefore he has demonstrated that he holds loyalty to party over loyalty to country. The man has demonstrated publicly that he does refuses to uphold the Constitution. He is either ignorant or a traitor to the USA. I think that he is too smart to be called ignorant so he must be a traitor. Throw the bum in jail.
Poor Steve, you're never going to live this one down.
This is not Russia where you control people to get what you want. Republicans you can not have your cake and eat it too. You guys really need to learn the word compromise. This is not a company you are running; we are people. You are taking the rites of others away. Isn't this a form of bullying to show that you have power over the people and to show that you can do what you want because of the position you are in. Those days are gone and we the people will do everything in our power to make sure the bullying stops.
Where is the outrage from the people of Ohio? This is not just a campaign issue, this is a voting rights issue. Where are the lawsuits from the people who live in the counties where they originally denied early voting hours? The blatant efforts to deny people access to the polls makes me angry and I don't live there...
If when he appears in front of the judge and still refuses to abide by the courts ruling he should be held in contempt and immediately put in jail until he does comply.
A lot of Republicans like Husted think they can ignore a court's order, but the judge can make his decisions very, very personal for Husted. Looking at his picture I am not sure he is bright enough to realize his is the ass on the line, not the party officials and Koch funded consultants who told him to suppress Ohio voting.
Can Husted go to jail for ignoring it?
would love to see him jailed on a contempt charge.
I am not surprised laws are ignored and probably laughed at since the truth doesn't seem matter to the Republicans and lying is OK for the conservative people wearing religion as a badge of honor. I guess I didn't know that it is OK to lie in some religions.
There is so much lying, deceit, and probably illegal activities by the Republicans trying to buy /misinform the voters this election, it is disgusting. How can people brush off the comment by the republican super pac about murdering someone?
Many people in Wisconsin are ashamed at how low P. Ryan has went in attempts to win this election. Hope he loses both of them so he has time to think about his personal value system and then ask for forgiveness from the Wisconsinites and our creator for representing us so terribly
He should be in jail and held there until Sep 13th!!!!
Has anyone pointed out the they're/their error yet?
I don't think so. I was about to do it myself.
YES, about 30 times...It has been fixed.
Imagine what he would've done without any restrictions! Guns for shooting, rope for hanging; gasoline for burning; tar and feathers to top it all off with; and a white sheet to cover his identity!
this guy has no regard for the law.........something republicans seem to have in common thinking they are above the law and can do what ever they want. It is now OK to buy an election, outright lie in campaigning, and stopping people from exercising their right to vote. This is so disgusting.
I keep on asking myself how we were able to become this low in something that is all about leadership, of which, high values, integrity, and ethics are foundational to it.
how in the 21'st century do we now try to deny people rights to vote. this is really f$%# up.
Its a win win for him ...a martyr for the teabaggers and racists in the Republican Party . Guaranteed senate nomination in the primary
Ohio's voter suppresion laws not only impacts the presidential race but will have a real impact on the "down ticket" races. We can't afford to lose a great progressive senator like Sherrod Brown. The judge needs to stand firm and hold Husted in contempt.
God, I wish my state wasn't run by slimy, moralizing pissants. Thanks, rural morons. Your idiocy helped make this state a lot worse off than it otherwise would have been.
The judge is ordering him to appear only after the Obama re-election team filled a motion. Why didn't the judge do it on his own?
I notice there are no Republicans commenting on this they must be embarrassed to be Republicans by now
Nah, they don't have the decency to be embarrassed. They just haven't gotten their troll scripts yet.
Those on the right are devoid of conscience and incapable of shame.