Opinion ID: 2639372
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Secretary of State was the Proper Defendant

Text: Beauprez's contention that Davidson is not the proper defendant is not persuasive. The secretary of state is required by law to administer Colorado's congressional elections, and is thus a proper defendant. See § 1-1-107, 1 C.R.S. (2001). Further, the secretary of state is required to implement a court-ordered redistricting plan. See In re Reapportionment of Colo. Gen. Assembly, 647 P.2d 209, 213 (Colo.1982). In addition, the judiciary does not have the power to order the general assembly to convene, consider issues, or enact specific legislation, rendering the general assembly an improper defendant for the relief requested by the Avalos plaintiffs. See, e.g., Lucchesi v. State, 807 P.2d 1185, 1190 (Colo.Ct.App.1990). Furthermore, the judiciary cannot compel the governor to sign legislation, rendering Governor Owens an improper defendant for the relief sought by the Avalos plaintiffs. See, e.g., Romer v. Colo. Gen. Assembly, 840 P.2d 1081, 1084-85 (Colo.1992). Finally, all interested parties intervened, including representatives of the Republican and Democratic parties and Governor Owens. Case law further supports our conclusion that Davidson was the proper defendant in this case. We have found numerous cases, all of them adjudicated on the merits, in which the secretary of state was named as the defendant in a congressional redistricting action. See, e.g., Growe v. Emison, 507 U.S. 25, 27, 113 S.Ct. 1075, 122 L.Ed.2d 388 (1993); White v. Weiser, 412 U.S. 783, 786, 93 S.Ct. 2348, 37 L.Ed.2d 335 (1973); Kirkpatrick v. Preisler, 394 U.S. 526, 528, 89 S.Ct. 1225, 22 L.Ed.2d 519 (1969). We conclude that Davidson, in her official capacity as secretary of state, was properly named as the defendant in this action.