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Justices Pass On 2nd Certificate Lawsuit
By John P. Connolly, The Bulletin
The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it has turned down another case relating to President-elect Barack Obama’s eligibility to serve as president.
The suit, filed by Cort Wrontowski of Connecticut, argued that Mr. Obama could not serve because he held dual citizenship at birth, due to his father’s Kenyan citizenship. The suit tested uncharted legal waters, asserting that dual citizenship at birth cannot be construed as “natural-born” citizenship, as is required by the Constitution for the office of the president.
Mr. Wrontowski’s case, dismissed without comment from the court, closely resembled a similar case filed by a New Jersey man. The Supreme Court also dismissed that case.
Several other court cases surrounding the controversy over Mr. Obama’s eligibility to serve as president are still progressing. Berg v. Obama, filed by a Pennsylvania deputy attorney general, argues that Mr. Obama was not born in the U.S., but in Kenya.
Continued On Page 6The case is awaiting consideration by the Supreme Court.
Lightfoot v. Bowen and Keyes v. Bowen are both hoping for legal proof that Mr. Obama is eligible to serve as president. The latter case has been filed with the California Supreme Court, which dismissed other cases because the plaintiffs were not presidential candidates. Lightfoot v. Bowen applied to the U.S. Supreme Court late last week.
In Washington state, 12 voters have filed a suit, asserting that the Secretary of State failed to impose the constitutional requirements on Mr. Obama to get on the state’s ballot. The case, called Broe v. Reed, is scheduled to be heard en banc at the Washington Supreme Court on Jan. 8.
“The issue of standing seems to be behind us,” said Stephen Pidgeon, counsel for the plaintiffs. “What remains is to establish the duty of the secretary of state, under Article III, Sections 4 and 17 of the Washington constitution, under RCW 29A.04.230 which names the secretary as the state’s chief of elections, and under relevant administrative codes which also require the secretary to act.”
In Washington state, the secretary of state has a constitutionally imposed duty to determine if the candidate is telling the truth in his election application.
John P. Connolly can be reached at jconnolly@thebulletin.us.
The suit, filed by Cort Wrontowski of Connecticut, argued that Mr. Obama could not serve because he held dual citizenship at birth, due to his father’s Kenyan citizenship. The suit tested uncharted legal waters, asserting that dual citizenship at birth cannot be construed as “natural-born” citizenship, as is required by the Constitution for the office of the president.
Mr. Wrontowski’s case, dismissed without comment from the court, closely resembled a similar case filed by a New Jersey man. The Supreme Court also dismissed that case.
Several other court cases surrounding the controversy over Mr. Obama’s eligibility to serve as president are still progressing. Berg v. Obama, filed by a Pennsylvania deputy attorney general, argues that Mr. Obama was not born in the U.S., but in Kenya.
Continued On Page 6The case is awaiting consideration by the Supreme Court.
Lightfoot v. Bowen and Keyes v. Bowen are both hoping for legal proof that Mr. Obama is eligible to serve as president. The latter case has been filed with the California Supreme Court, which dismissed other cases because the plaintiffs were not presidential candidates. Lightfoot v. Bowen applied to the U.S. Supreme Court late last week.
In Washington state, 12 voters have filed a suit, asserting that the Secretary of State failed to impose the constitutional requirements on Mr. Obama to get on the state’s ballot. The case, called Broe v. Reed, is scheduled to be heard en banc at the Washington Supreme Court on Jan. 8.
“The issue of standing seems to be behind us,” said Stephen Pidgeon, counsel for the plaintiffs. “What remains is to establish the duty of the secretary of state, under Article III, Sections 4 and 17 of the Washington constitution, under RCW 29A.04.230 which names the secretary as the state’s chief of elections, and under relevant administrative codes which also require the secretary to act.”
In Washington state, the secretary of state has a constitutionally imposed duty to determine if the candidate is telling the truth in his election application.
John P. Connolly can be reached at jconnolly@thebulletin.us.
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