Title: David Orel v. Kansas Democratic party, et al

State: kansas

Issuer: Kansas Supreme Court

Document:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS
No. 112,487

Davi OREL,

Petitioner,

KANSAS DEMOCRATICPARTY,,
JOAN WAGNON, INHER OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS CHAIR OF THE
KANSAS DEMOCRATICPARTY,
‘L&E KINCH, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS VICE CHAIR OF THE
KANSAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND
JASON PERKEY, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE.
KANSAS DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
Respondents,

ORDER

‘On September 18, 2014, this court granted Chad Taylor's original petition for writ
‘of mandamus seeking to compel Kris Kobach, Kansas Secretary of State, o not include

‘Taylors name on the ballots as the Democratic Party candidate for the office of United
States Senator in the November 4, 2014, general election.

Later that day, David Orel filed an original petition for wrt of mandamus and
‘memorandum in support secking to compel the Kansas Democratic Party; Joan Wagnon,
in her official capacity as Chair ofthe Kansas Democratic Party; Lee Kinch, in his

 

ity as Vice Chair of the Kansas Democratic Party; and Jason Perkey, in his,
official capacity as Executive Director of the Kansas Democratic Party (the

 

Respondents), to name a Democratic Party candidate whose name and party affiliation

‘would appear on the ballots for the office of United States Senator in the November 4,
2014, general election,
‘Orel contends relief in mandamus is appropriate because the Respondents have a
clear duty under K.S.A. 25-3905(a) to name a candidate to replace Taylor. He urges this
court to grant his petition and compel Respondents to immediately name a replacement
because of a federal statutory deadline requiring ballots be mailed to members of the
‘armed forces and civilians living overseas 45 days before the general election.

According to Orel, that deadline originally fell on September 20, 2014. But Orel
filed a Supplemental Notice on September 22, alleging that Kobach had extended the
deadline for mailing overseas ballots, Based on Orel's filings, the court hereby orders the
following:

1, Per Supreme Court Rule 9,01(b) (2013 Kan. Ct. Rule Annot, 83), this case
is hereby transferred to the district court of Shawnee County, Kansas, the
county where, according to Orel's Proof of Service and Supplemental
Personal Service filed on September 19, Perkey “accepted service forall
defendants [sic], including himself."

2. Transfer is

 

ippropriate because Orel's pleadings do not contain sworn
evidence necessary to enable this court to make any of a myriad of legal
determinations, including, but not limited to, ripeness, the nature of the
parties, the existence of standing, and the propriety or adequacy of the
mandamus relief requested. By contrast in Taylor v. Kobach, Case No.

112, 431, uncontroverted writen communications were attached as exhibits
to a swom affidavit submitted with a pleading, Two exhibits enabled our
statutory interpretation, « purely legal determination. See Taylor v. Kobach,
Onder of September 11, 2014:

"There is no need to refer this matter for fact finding by a judge
Of the district court or a commissioner as authorized by Supreme

2
Court Rule 9.01(€) (2013 Kan. Ct, Rule Annot, 83). The two
pieces of evidence relevant to the controlling legal issue of the
interpretation and application of K.S.A. 25-306b(b) are attached
to Petitioner's sworn affidavit as Exhibits A and B."

BY ORDER OF THE COURT this 23rd day of September 2014.

KOR My

Lawton R. Nuss
Chief Justice