Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. v. Boockvar (Dem Counties Challenge)

Lawsuit filed by the Trump campaign seeking to stop certification of election results in 7 democratic counties in Pennsylvania. Three days after filing the lawsuit, 2 of Trump's attorneys withdrew from the case. Then, on the eve of a hearing, 3 more of Trump's attorneys withdrew from the case. The court ultimately dismissed the case with prejudice noting that the Trump campaign presented "strained legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations . . . and unsupported by evidence." The appellate court affirmed.

People are saying

"Voters, not lawyers, choose the President. Ballots, not briefs, decide elections." - Judge Stephanos Bibas

"And the Campaign's charges are selective. Though Pennsylvanians cast 2.6 million mail-in ballots, the Campaign challenges 1.5 million of them. It cherry-picks votes cast in 'Democratic-heavy counties' but not 'those in Republican-heavy counties.'" - Judge Stephanos Bibas

"'Upon information and belief' is a lawyerly way of saying that the Campaign does not know that something is a fact but just suspects it or has heard it." - Judge Stephanos Bibas

"The Campaign's claims have no merit. . . And it never claims fraud or that votes were cast by illegal voters. Plus, tossing out millions of mail-in ballots would be drastic and unprecedented, disenfranchising a huge swath of the electorate and upsetting all down-ballot races too." - Judge Stephanos Bibas

"Free, fair elections are the lifeblood of our democracy. Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so. Charges require specific allegations and proof. We have neither here." - Judge Stephanos Bibas

"Even assuming that they can establish that their right to vote has been denied, which they cannot, Plaintiffs seek to remedy the denial of their votes by invalidating the votes of millions of others. . . . This is simply not how the Constitution works." - Judge Matthew W. Brann

"Plaintiffs' only remaining claim alleges a violation of equal protection. This claim, like Frankenstein's Monster, has been haphazardly stitched together from two distinct theories in an attempt to avoid controlling precedent." - Judge Matthew W. Brann

"In the United States of America, this [lack of legal arguments and proof] cannot justify the disenfranchisement of a single voter, let alone all the voters of its sixth most populated state. Our people, laws, and institutions demand more." - Judge Matthew W. Brann

"One might expect that when seeking such a startling outcome [disenfranchising almost seven million voters], a plaintiff would come formidably armed with compelling legal arguments and factual proof of rampant corruption . . .. That has not happened." - Judge Matthew W. Brann


Trump's Lawyers

Court Filings

Name Filed On Type Status
Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief 11/09/20 Complaint Dismissed
Memo in Support of Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction 11/12/20 Motion Denied
Motion for Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction 11/12/20 Motion Denied
Motion for Withdrawal of Appearance 11/12/20 Withdrawal Granted
Order Withdrawing Counsel 11/13/20 Order Filed
Amended Complaint 11/15/20 Complaint Dismissed
Opposition to Motion to Dismiss 11/15/20 Opposition Denied
Amended Complaint (redlined) 11/15/20 Complaint Dismissed
Motion for Order to Show Cause 11/15/20 Motion Denied
Motion to Withdraw as Counsel (II) 11/16/20 Motion Granted
Motion for Continuance 11/16/20 Motion Denied
Order Withdrawing Counsel II 11/16/20 Order Filed
Order Denying Motion for Continuance 11/16/20 Order Filed
Response to Discovery Letter 11/17/20 Opposition Filed
Order Canceling Evidentiary Hearing and Denying Motion to Show Cause 11/18/20 Order Filed
Opposition to Motion to Dismiss 11/18/20 Opposition Denied
Motion for Expedited Discovery 11/18/20 Motion Denied
Motion for Leave to File Second Amended Complaint 11/18/20 Motion Denied
Order Withdrawing Counsel (III) 11/19/20 Order Granted
Amended Motion for Temporary Restraining Order or Preliminary Injunction 11/19/20 Motion Denied
Memo in Support of Amended Motion for TRO and Preliminary Injunction 11/19/20 Motion Denied
Memo in Support of Motion for Leave to File Second Amended Complaint 11/20/20 Motion Denied
Reply in Support of Amended Motion for TRO and Preliminary Injunction 11/21/20 Motion Denied
Opinion Dismissing Case 11/21/20 Order Filed
Order Dismissing Case 11/21/20 Order Filed
Notice of Appeal 11/22/20 Appeal Filed
Emergency Motion for Expedited Review 11/22/20 Motion Denied
Amended Emergency Motion to Expedite 11/23/20 Motion Granted
Emergency Motion for Temporary Restraining Order 11/23/20 Motion Denied
Appellate Brief to Third Circuit 11/23/20 Appeal Dismissed
Emergency Motion for TRO and Preliminary Injunction 11/23/20 Motion Denied
Third Circuit Opinion 11/27/20 Order Filed
Appeal to SCOTUS 12/20/20 Appeal Filed
Motion for Expedited Consideration 12/20/20 Motion Denied
Amicus Brief by Pennsylvania GOP 12/30/20 Motion Denied
Reply to Defendants' Opposition to Motion to Expedite Consideration 12/31/20 Motion Denied