Cocktails & Popcorn: Columbo Said "No Ballot For Your Client" To Butch

"Hey you, over there in the shadows,
come on over and join us for Cocktails & Popcorn!"

In this riveting episode of Cocktails & Popcorn, Judge Colombo denied Butch's request for his client to stay on the ballot.

I believe Columbo is trying really, really hard to stick to the rule of law.

Besides, Columbo did say that Butch's client can do a write-in campaign, but Butch wants to appeal the ruling.

This should be fun.

As of June 5, 2018, there are 61 days before the August 7, 2018 Primary Election.

I wonder what will ever transpire during this election window?

Oh, the possibilities.

Judge denies Conyers' request to get back on ballot

A Wayne County Circuit Court judge Tuesday rejected John Conyers III's request to put his name back on the Aug. 7 Democratic primary race ballot.

Conyers filed a lawsuit last week seeking the court to declare him an eligible candidate for the U.S. House in a bid to claim his father's old Congressional seat for the 13th District.

Conyers sought a court order, a writ of mandamus, to force Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett to put him on the ballot.

"I am denying the request ... and ordering dismissal of the complaint," Wayne County Chief Circuit Court Judge Robert Columbo said during the hearing on the request for the order.

Columbo said it isn't appropriate to issue the order in the case because of legal precedent and because Conyers has another legal remedy for getting on the ballot — launching a write-in campaign.

Conyers' attorney, Melvin Butch Hollowell, said the judge's ruling was disappointing. 

"We're obviously disappointed," he said after the hearing. "But we'll continue to fight for John Conyers III to be on the ballot. We do believe that on appeal he will be successful and we will get moving on that quickly."

Hollowell is managing partner of the Detroit office of the Miller Law Firm and former corporation counsel for the city of Detroit.

Conyers is the son of former Democratic U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr. of Detroit. The congressman stepped down in December amid allegations of sexual harassment by former staffers.

Two weeks ago, Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett disqualified Conyers from the race after she ruled he didn't have sufficient voter signatures to be on the ballot. 

The move was a win for state Sen. Ian Conyers of Detroit, the former congressman’s great nephew, who is also running for the seat. The state senator's attorney challenged Conyers III’s petition signatures and prompted the review by Garrett’s office.

The field of candidates seeking to succeed the elder Conyers is crowded. Others running for the office include former state Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Shanelle Jackson, Westland Mayor Bill Wild, Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones and state Sen. Coleman Young III.

The winner of the primary will take the seat. No Republican is running.

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©