About That Terrifying PA Supreme Court Decision

[Rule of Claw]

it is bad, BUT, it was only based on an application to grant a stay not a full ruling on the merits.

Which would be much scarier.

https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/101920zr1_ebfi.pdf

[procon]

1. Background? nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I would greatly appreciate some background on this decision.

I'm sure I saw it here on DU today but it's late and I'm tired. Perhaps you could link a thread or something?

Many folks besides myself would like that.

Thanks!

[regnaD kciN]

4. It turned down an appeal from PA Republicans to stop the extended mail deadline...

...which, in itself, is good. The problem is that it was by a 4-4 margin, with Gorsuch and Kavanaugh joining the pro-GOP side (in what really was an absurd case in the first place). Meaning that, once the Handmaid joins the Court, they appear to have an automatic 5-4 majority for anything Trump tries to pull to overturn the will of the voters.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Thanks so much. I appreciate your input. n/t

[hlthe2b]

6. the only solace is that Roberts joined the liberals to deny a win for the PA Republicans. But...

he will be unable to block--even where he wants to-- with Barrett on the bench.

[Hoyt]

3. It's a small win for now. Winning Prez and maybe Senate will be a big win.

[Eid Ma Clack Shaw]

7. I'm honestly less worried about it than I first thought

as you say, it’s not a full decision and, honestly, I have mixed feelings about allowing ballots without a postmark that are received after the 3rd. I think that if it’s marked, it should be counted - these are exceptional times - but if it comes after without one, it's a lot trickier. Also, my understanding is that the PA statute says all ballots received after 8pm on the day should be discounted, so perhaps that plays into their reasoning. My expectation? That the winner of PA - very likely Biden - will have a lead greater than the total number of ballots received after election day.

Look, there’s no question that this court is worryingly lopsided and I get the worry, but I think this idea that suddenly there’s going to be a ruling that says all ballots have to be counted within a day of the election or something is wide of the mark.

[sl8]

8. Why are you calling it terrifying and bad?

It's good that the application was denied.

It would have been bad if there were another conservative justive involved.