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United States District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania
July 23, 2015
THE CONSTITUTION PARTY OF PENNSYLVANIA, et. al., Plaintiffs,v.PEDRO CORTES, et. al., Defendants
Page 487
For The Constitution Party of Pennsylvania, The Green Party of Pennsylvania, The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, Joe Murphy, James N. Clymer, Carl J. Romanelli, Thomas Robert Stevens, Ken Krawchuk, Plaintiffs: OLIVER B. HALL, LEAD ATTORNEY, CENTER FOR COMPETITVE DEMOCRACY, Washington, DC USA; JAMES N. CLYMER, CLYMER & MUSSER PC, Lancaster, PA USA.
For Carol Aichele, Jonathan M. Marks, Defendants: GREGORY R. NEUHAUSER, LEAD ATTORNEY, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, Harrisburg, PA USA; KEVIN R. BRADFORD, LEAD ATTORNEY, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, Philadelphia, PA USA; SEAN A. KIRKPATRICK, LEAD ATTORNEY, OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL, Harrisburg, PA USA.
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This is an action brought by three political parties to challenge a portion of Pennsylvania's Election Code. The Constitution Party of Pennsylvania (CPPA), the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPA), the Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA), and several party leaders[1] contend that the Commonwealth's ballot access rules violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. Specifically, plaintiffs attack 25 P.S. § 2911(b)[2] and
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25 P.S. § 2937[3] which, in combination, force a minority party to assume the risk of incurring substantial financial burdens to defend nomination papers they are required by law to submit. Plaintiffs assert both as-applied and facial challenges against the Election Code. The defendants are Pedro Cortes, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and Jonathan Marks, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Commissions, Elections, and Legislation.[4] The plaintiffs and the defendants have filed cross motions for summary judgment. For the reasons that follow, I find that the statutes are unconstitutional as applied to the plaintiffs but they are facially valid.
I Background
To place the plaintiffs' allegations in context, I will first discuss the relevant provisions of the Pennsylvania Election Code.
a) The Pennsylvania Election Code
The Pennsylvania Election Code distinguishes political parties from political bodies. 25 P.S. § 2831(a). A political party is one whose candidates " polled a total vote in the State equal to at least two per centum of the largest entire vote cast in the State for any elected candidate" in the preceding general election.[5] Id. Political bodies are those groups which do not cross the 2% threshold. § 2831(c). The Election Code further classifies political parties as either major or minor parties. Constitution Party of Pennsylvania v. Aichele, 757 F.3d 347, 350-51 (3d Cir. 2014) (citing § 2872.2(a)). A minor party is " a political party whose state-wide registration is less than fifteen per centum of the combined state-wide registration for all state-wide political parties...." § 2872.2(a). The major parties[6] are those whose membership exceeds 15% of all registered voters.
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Aichele, 757 F.3d at 350-51. " At present, there are only two major parties in Pennsylvania, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, as has been the case since the election code was enacted more than three-quarters of a century ago." Id. at 351.
Neither the CPPA, LPPA nor GPPA fielded candidates in the 2014 general election and are currently classified as political bodies. Pls.' Statement of Undisputed facts, doc. no. 60-2, ¶ 40. In earlier years, plaintiffs have qualified as minor political parties. Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ ¶ 1-3.[7] " Ultimately, the distinction between minor parties and political bodies is of less consequence in this case than is the distinction between major parties and non-major parties, since all non-major parties face essentially the same fight to get their candidates on the ballot through the submission of nominating papers." Constitution Party of Pennsylvania v. Aichele, 757 F.3d 347, 351 (3d Cir. 2014). Despite the plaintiffs' current classification, I will, at times, refer to the plaintiffs as the minor parties.
The major political parties place their candidates on the general election ballot by way of publicly funded primary elections. § 2862. To access the primary election ballot, major party candidates for President, United States Senator and Governor[8] must submit nomination petitions containing at least 2,000 valid signatures of registered members of their party. § 2872.1. Major party candidates for Pennsylvania Treasurer, Auditor General and Attorney General must obtain 1,000 valid signatures.[9] Id. Major party candidates for statewide office circulate nomination petitions for three weeks ending on the tenth Tuesday prior to the primary election when they must file the petitions with the Secretary of the Commonwealth. § § 2868, 2873(c). " The winner of the plurality of votes in the primary is placed on the general election ballot as the candidate of his or her respective party." Rogers v. Corbett, 468 F.3d 188, 191 (3d Cir. 2006).
Minor party, political body and independent candidates do not run in primary elections. § 2872.2; § 2911. Instead, they must circulate nomination papers in order to place their names on the general election ballot. § 2911(b). For statewide candidates,[10] the number of valid signatures required must exceed 2% of the " largest entire vote cast for any elected candidate in the State at large at the last preceding election at which State-wide candidates were voted for." § 2911(b). In recent years, the minimum signature requirement has been 25,697 in 2004; 67,070 in 2006; 24,666 in 2008; 19,056 in 2010; 20,601 in 2012; and 16,639 in 2014. Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 10. Candidates have approximately five months to circulate
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nomination papers which must be filed on or before August 1. § 2913(b); Rogers, 468 F.3d at 191; Dfs.' Statement of Undisputed Facts, doc. no. 59-2, ¶ 14.[11] The 2% signature requirement was enacted in 1971,[12]
Aichele, 757 F.3d at 353 (internal citations omitted), and does not violate plaintiffs' associational rights or their rights to equal protection of the law. Rogers, 468 F.3d at 197 - 98.
The Secretary must examine both the nomination petitions filed by major party candidates and the nomination papers[13] filed by non-major party candidates and reject those petitions and papers which contain material errors, material alterations, or an insufficient number of signatures. § 2936. Although permitted to do so, id., the Secretary and his staff do not review the validity of signatures appearing on the nomination petitions and papers. Defs.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 18. The verification of signatures is left to private parties who, within seven days of the filing deadline, may object to the validity of a candidate's signatures and petition[14] the Commonwealth Court to set aside the nomination petition or paper. § 2937; In re Nader,
588 Pa. 450, 905 A.2d 450, 459 (Pa. 2006) (" Commonwealth Court has original exclusive jurisdiction of matters relating to statewide office." ). The Commonwealth Court must set aside the nomination petition or paper if it finds:
that said nomination petition or paper is defective under the provisions of [§ 2936] or does not contain a sufficient number of genuine signatures of electors entitled to sign the same under the provisions of this act, or was not filed by persons entitled to file the same....
§ 2937. " [A] member of an opposing party [or an unaffiliated elector] does not have standing to challenge the nomination petition of a candidate in another party's primary election." In re Williams, 155 Pa.Cmwlth. 494, 625 A.2d 1279, 1281 (Pa.Cmwlth. 1993). On the other hand, any registered voter in the Commonwealth, regardless of party affiliation, may challenge the nomination paper of a non-major party candidate seeking a place on the general election ballot. Cf. In re Barlip, 59 Pa.Cmwlth. 178, 428 A.2d 1058, 1060 (Pa.Cmwlth. 1981) (" [I]t is clear that any person who is registered to vote in a particular election has a substantial interest in obtaining compliance with the election laws by any candidate for whom that elector may vote in that election, and such electors therefore have standing to challenge the nominating petitions of those candidates." )
Pennsylvania is the only state which venues petition verification in the judiciary.
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Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 13. Other states shoulder the costs of petition verification, and the task is conducted by the employees of an executive branch agency. Id. The process is quite different in Pennsylvania. At the beginning of each challenge proceeding, the Commonwealth Court issues its standing order instructing both the candidate and objector to provide workers to review the signatures on the challenged nomination paper. Pls.' Statement of Undisputed facts ¶ 13. The workers compare the information on the nomination paper with the information recorded in the Statewide Uniform Registry of Electors (" SURE" ) system.[15] Defs.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 22. Based on this review, the candidates and objectors stipulate to the validity or invalidity of as many signatures possible. Order at ¶ 5, In Re: Nomination Paper of Virgil H. Goode, No. 508 M.D. 2012 (Pa. Commw. August 10, 2012), doc. no. 60-1, p. 8-11. The Court then reviews the signatures that remain in dispute and ultimately determines whether the candidate should be placed on the ballot. Defs.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 26. The Commonwealth Court's procedure for signature verification is an exercise of its inherent powers. The procedures are not mandated by the Election Code. Id. ¶ 24.
At the conclusion of an objection proceeding, the Commonwealth Court may award costs " as it shall deem just." § 2937. " [A]n award of costs to the prevailing party is not warranted solely on the basis that the party prevailed in the underlying nomination petition challenge." In re Farnese, 609 Pa. 543, 17 A.3d 357, 369 (Pa. 2011) (reversing an award of costs to candidate). An award of costs may be appropriate where " fraud, bad faith, or gross misconduct is proven, ... [but] a party's conduct need not proceed to such an extreme before an award of costs may be dictated by justice." Id., at 372. In awarding costs, the Commonwealth Court must keep in mind: the candidate's right to run for office; the voters' right to elect the candidate of their choice; that objections serve an important check on the nomination process; and that " both parties in election contests are operating within the truncated timeframes[16] of the Election Code." Id. at 372 - 73.
b) Recent Elections
In 2000, 2002 and 2004, the minor parties had candidates on Pennsylvania's general election ballot. Pennsylvania Department of State, Election Returns, http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us . Each of the plaintiffs crossed the 2% threshold in 2004 and attained minor party status. See Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 15. Ralph Nader and Peter Camejo also attempted to place their names on the 2004 ballot as independent candidates for President and Vice President respectively. However, private parties successfully challenged the Nader/Camejo nomination papers, and the Commonwealth Court removed the independent candidates from the ballot. Additionally, the Court ordered the independent candidates to pay the objectors' court costs in the amount of $81,102.19 upon a finding of extensive fraud and deception in the signature gathering efforts.
In re Nomination Paper of Nader, 588 Pa. 450, 459, 466, 905 A.2d 450 (Pa. 2006) cert. denied
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549 U.S. 1117, 127 S.Ct. 995, 166 L.Ed.2d 712 (2007). This was the first time costs were assessed against a defending candidate for failing to submit the required number of valid signatures.[17] Aichele, 757 F.3d at 353; Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 16. The imposition of such substantial costs was shocking to plaintiffs and has hindered the minor parties' efforts to recruit and place candidates on the general election ballot.
In 2006, the CPPA, GPPA and LPPA nominated candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and U.S. Senate.[18] Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 17. Due to the threat of litigation costs, the CPPA and LPPA candidates refused to file nomination papers. Id. The GPPA candidates filed nomination papers and an objection was filed. For fear of cost shifting, Marakay Rogers and Christina Valente, the GPPA candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, withdrew from the election upon receiving the challenge. Id.; First Decl. of Christina Valente, doc. no. 46-1 at 13-14,[19] ¶ 5. Carl Romanelli, the GPPA candidate for United States Senate, was the only minor party candidate to defend his nomination papers. Pls.' Statement of Undipusted Facts ¶ 18. Mr. Romanelli's defense was unsuccessful.
The Commonwealth Court ordered Mr. Romanelli and the objectors to each provide nine individuals to verify signatures for each day of the challenge, In re Nomination Paper of Rogers, 942 A.2d 915, 920 (Pa. Commw. Ct.) aff'd sub nom. In re Rogers, 598 Pa. 598, 959 A.2d 903 (Pa. 2008), but Mr. Romanelli was unable to comply with this order. Rather, on average, only six individuals were present for Mr. Romanelli during the 29 days of proceedings. Id. at 926. Despite Mr. Romanelli filing 99,802 signatures, the challengers were able to successfully strike over 32,000 signatures, and the court set aside the nomination papers. Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 18. As a result, no plaintiff fielded a candidate in the 2006 election and each lost their status as a minor party. Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 20.
The Commonwealth Court awarded costs to Mr. Romanelli's challengers in the amount of $80,407.56. In re Nomination Paper of Rogers, 942 A.2d at 930. The first portion of the award represented court and witness fees in the amount of $32,122.56. Id. at 923 - 927.[20] The court
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awarded this amount pursuant to § 2937 because Mr. Romanelli's failure to provide nine workers each day unnecessarily prolonged the review process. Id. at 926. The second portion of the award was for the challengers' counsel fees totaling $48,285.00.[21] Id. at 929. Since the Election Code does not authorize the imposition of attorney fees, the court relied on the Judicial Code which allows for counsel fees as a sanction for " dilatory, obdurate or vexatious conduct." Id. at 928 (citing 42 Pa.C.S. § 2503(7)). In addition to failing to provide adequate signature verifiers, the court found that Mr. Romanelli and his counsel had been disingenuous in their representations that they could rehabilitate enough signatures to keep Mr. Romanelli on the ballot. Id. at 922. Thus, the Court found that the conduct of Mr. Romanelli had " crossed the line into bad faith" warranting attorney's fees.[22] Id. at 928.
In 2008, the LPPA fielded candidates for President, Vice President, Attorney General, Auditor General and Treasurer, and their nomination papers went unchallenged.[23] Pls' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 22. While the national Constitution and Green Parties nominated candidates for President and Vice President in 2008, the parties did not file nomination papers in Pennsylvania because " supporters were unwilling to devote time and resources to a petition drive that could result in substantial assessment of costs against their nominees." Pls' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 23.
In 2010, the LPPA and GPPA candidates filed nomination papers for U.S. Senator and Governor. John Krupa, CPPA's 2010 nominee for Governor, did not submit papers to the Department of State because he could not afford to incur litigation costs. Id. ¶ 28. Challengers aided by the Democratic and Republican parties objected to
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the LPPA and GPPA nomination papers. As a result, Melvin Packer, GPPA's nominee for U.S. Senate, withdrew his nomination papers. Id. ¶ 27. On August 16, Ronald Hicks, Esq., the attorney representing LPPA's challengers, sent an email to Marc Arrigo, Esq., LPPA's attorney, stating:
Following up on our conversation earlier this evening, I do not have exact figures on what our costs will be if this signature count continues and my clients are required to complete the review and/or move forward with a hearing. However, a rough estimate would be $92,255 to $106,455.... These costs are comparable to the costs awarded in recent years by the Commonwealth Court in similar nomination paper challenges... which, as you know, were assessed not only against the candidates but also their lawyers and their law firms.
Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 25. The LPPA candidates withdrew their nomination papers the next day. Id. ¶ 26. As a result, only Democratic and Republican candidates appeared on the 2010 general election ballot. Id. ¶ 29.
In 2012, Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala, the Green Party Candidates for President and Vice President, filed nomination papers which went unchallenged. Id. ¶ 39. On August 8, 2012, private parties filed challenges to the nomination papers submitted by the CPPA and LPPA. Id. ¶ 33. On August 10, 2012, the Commonwealth Court filed an order in each objection proceeding:
Each party shall have present 20 individuals, in addition to counsel, who are capable of performing computer searches utilizing the SURE system.... The signature review will continue between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday until further order of Court.... The individuals designated by the parties shall review the challenged signatures commencing with those alleged to be unregistered and shall tabulate the number of signature stipulated to be valid and those stipulated to be invalid.
Order, In re: Goode, No. 508 M.D. 2012, doc. no. 60-1 at 8-11, ¶ ¶ 4 and 5 (August 10, 2012); Order, In re: Robinson, No. 507 M.D. 2012, doc. no. 60-1 at 56. The signature review commenced on August 20, 2012. Id.
The 2012 CPPA candidates[24] submitted 36,000 total signatures to satisfy the 20,601 signature requirement. Decl. of Alan Goodrigch, doc. no. 60-1 at 2-6, ¶ 6. To survive the challenge the CPPA needed a validity rate of approximately 57%, but by the end of the first day, the CPPA only had a 30% validity rate.[25] Id. at ¶ 8. On the second day, the challengers' attorney threatened to seek costs against the CPPA and its candidates personally unless the CPPA withdrew its nomination papers. Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 36. The Commonwealth Court also warned the CPPA that it would consider a motion for costs and fees if the CPPA pursued its defense. Third Decl. of James Clymer, doc. no. 46-1 at 36-38, ¶ 10; Defs.' Resp. to Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 36. The CPPA candidates withdrew their nomination papers because they were concerned by the number of signatures that were being invalidated and they did not believe they could continue to provide 20 workers to review signatures. Decl. of
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Alan Goodrich ¶ 11; Compare Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 36 with Defs.' Resp. to Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 36.[26] According to the CPPA,[27] its defense cost $10,000 to $15,000. Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 50.
The 2012 LPPA candidates[28] submitted 49,164 signatures to the Department of State. Decl. of William Redpath, doc. no. 60-1 at 51-54, ¶ 5. Commonwealth Court Judge James Gardner Collins ordered the candidates to provide 20 workers to validate signatures for the first 10 days of the challenge. Decl. of Paul Rossi, doc. no. 60-1 at 74-86, ¶ 13; Defs.' Resp. to Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 42. Judge Collins only required eight workers for the last three days of review. Id. At the conclusion of signature review, the parties stipulated that 12,686 signatures remained contested. Id. ¶ 24. The parties argued the legal validity of the remaining signatures until Judge Collins denied the objection on October 10, 2012. Id. ¶ 36.
The LPPA successfully defended the nomination papers undeterred by threats that the challengers would move for $100,000 in costs. Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 37. The defense was an all-consuming task. The LPPA expended at least $47,500[29] on the effort and recruited over 70 volunteers to validate signatures. Id. ¶ ¶ 52, 53. The LPPA received significant support from the Libertarian National Committee and the campaign of Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate for president. Id. ¶ 55, 56. The LPPA expended most of their resources on the nomination challenge to the detriment of the 2012 campaign. Decl. of Steve Sheetz, doc. no. 60-1 at 69-73, ¶ 8.
No CPPA, GPPA or LPPA candidate was able to gather enough signatures to submit nomination papers to the Department of State for the 2014 Gubernatorial Election. Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 40. According to plaintiffs, their unsuccessful 2014 petition drive resulted
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from the combined effect of § 2911(b) and § 2937.
Members and supporters of CPPA, GPPA and LPPA are increasingly unwilling to dedicate the time and resources necessary to conduct a successful petition drive, because they know that the filing of a challenge pursuant to section 2937 may force the petitions to be withdrawn, whether or not they include enough valid signatures to comply with Section 2911(b)
Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 46.[30] Additionally, unlike 2012, the GPPA and LPPA did not have a presidential campaign to assist with signature gathering or defending nomination papers. Decl. of John Sweeney, doc. no. 60-1 at pp. 12 - 15, ¶ 6; Decl. of William Redpath ¶ 12. Since the plaintiffs did not field any candidates in 2014, they are currently classified as " political bodies."
c) Procedural History
Plaintiffs filed their complaint on May 17, 2012 in the middle of the signature drive to place minor party candidates on the general election ballot. Aichele, 757 F.3d at 356. " Count I alleges that § § 2911(b) and 2937 violate the Aspiring Parties'[31] 'freedoms of speech, petition, assembly, and association for political purposes' under the First and Fourteenth Amendments by imposing substantial financial burdens on them to defend their nomination papers." Id. " Count II alleges that § § 2911(b) and 2937 violate the Aspiring Parties' right to equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment by requiring them to bear the costs of validating nomination papers, while Republican and Democratic Party candidates are placed on the general election ballots automatically and by means of publicly funded primary elections." Id. " Count III alleges that § 2937 is unconstitutional on its face for authorizing the imposition of costs against candidates, even if they do not engage in misconduct, thereby chilling First Amendment rights to freedom of speech, petition, assembly, and association." Id.
Following a hearing on September 11, 2012, I dismissed the complaint ruling that the plaintiffs lacked standing. Constitution Party v. Aichele, No. CIV.A. 12-2726, 2013 WL 867183, at *7 (E.D. Pa. Mar. 8, 2013). " A party facing prospective injury has standing to sue where the threatened injury is real, immediate and direct." Davis v. FEC, 554 U.S. 724, 734, 128 S.Ct. 2759, 171 L.Ed.2d 737 (2008). I concluded that allegations of the past enforcement of Section 2937 did not establish the likelihood that costs would be assessed against the plaintiffs in the future. On appeal, the Third Circuit reversed. Relying on Susan B. Anthony List v. Driehaus, 134 S.Ct. 2334, 2346, 189 L.Ed.2d 246 (2014), the court found that " the threat of cost shifting [was] entirely believable in light of recent history." Aichele, 757 F.3d at 364.[32] The Court of Appeals' opinion
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only addressed the issue of standing and did not reach the merits of the case. Nonetheless, several of the court's observations are relevant to the resolution of the pending motions.
On remand, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding new facts describing events which occurred since they filed the original complaint in 2012. The counts remain the same. Plaintiffs request a declaratory judgment that 25 P.S. § 2911(b) and 25 P.S. § 2937 are unconstitutional as applied to plaintiffs and that § 2937 is invalid on its face. Plaintiffs and defendants have filed cross motions for summary judgment which are now ripe for disposition.
II Legal Standard
A motion for summary judgment may be granted when " there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). Summary judgment is proper when no " reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A party seeking summary judgment initially bears the burden of identifying those portions of the record that it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Summary judgment is therefore appropriate when the non-moving party fails to rebut the moving party's argument by pointing to evidence that is " sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial." Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322. " Evidence of the non-movant is to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to be drawn in his favor." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255.
III Discussion
a) Counts I and II - Section 2937 and Section 2911(b), as applied to plaintiffs, violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments
Republican Party of Arkansas v.
Faulkner Co.,
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49 F.3d 1289, 1293 n.2 (8th Cir. 1950)). " A burden that falls unequally on new or small political parties or on independent candidates impinges, by its very nature, on associational choices protected by the First Amendment." Anderson v. Celebrezze, 460 U.S. 780, 793, 103 S.Ct. 1564, 75 L.Ed.2d 547 (1983). Thus, the framework established by Anderson governs my review of both Counts I and II. See Rogers, 468 F.3d at 194 (" [W]e conclude that Anderson sets out the proper method for balancing both associational and equal protection concerns and the burdens that the challenged law creates on these protection as weighed against the proffered state interests." ).
The fact that both Counts I and II assert as-applied challenges also supports my joint review of these claims. An as-applied attack contends that a law's " application to a particular person under particular circumstances deprived that person of a constitutional right." United States v. Marcavage, 609 F.3d 264, 273 (3d Cir. 2010) (citing Wis. Right to Life, Inc. v. FEC, 546 U.S. 410, 411-12, 126 S.Ct. 1016, 163 L.Ed.2d 990 (2006). A successful as-applied attack blocks the enforcement of a statute against the plaintiff alone. See Citizens United v. Fed. Election Comm'n, 558 U.S. 310, 331, 130 S.Ct. 876, 175 L.Ed.2d 753 (2010). As-applied challenges fundamentally differ from facial challenges. I will address these differences in greater detail in my discussion of Count III which avers that the Section 2937 is facially invalid.
1) The Anderson Test
" Restrictions on ballot access burden [the] fundamental right[]... 'of individuals to associate for the advancement of political beliefs.'" llinois State Bd. of Elections v. Socialist Workers Party, 440 U.S. 173, 184, 99 S.Ct. 983, 59 L.Ed.2d 230 (1979) (citing Williams v. Rhodes, 393 U.S. 23, 30, 89 S.Ct. 5, 21 L.Ed.2d 24(1968)). A state law which affects the exercise of a fundamental right is " subject to strict scrutiny and will pass constitutional muster only if it is narrowly tailored to serve a compelling state interest." Maldonado v. Houstoun, 157 F.3d 179, 184 (3d Cir. 1998) (citations omitted). However, ballot access cases are an exception. Traditional strict scrutiny analysis does not apply. Rather, Anderson teaches that I must balance the burden the state regulation imposes on plaintiffs' associational rights against the asserted state interest for the rule. 460 U.S. at 789.
Under Anderson, I " first consider the character and magnitude of the asserted injury" to plaintiffs' association rights. 460 U.S. at 789. Freedom to associate for political ends has little practical value if the plaintiffs cannot place their candidates on the ballot and have an equal opportunity to win votes. Illinois State Bd. of Elections, 440 U.S. at 184 (citing Williams v. Rhodes, 393 U.S. 23, 30, 89 S.Ct. 5, 21 L.Ed.2d 24(1968)). Furthermore, the impact of Section 2911(b) and Section 2937 on voters is relevant to this inquiry. See Illinois State Bd. of Elections, 440 U.S. at 184 (ballot access restrictions also burden the fundamental right of voters to " cast their votes effectively" ). This is because " the rights of voters and the rights of candidates do not lend themselves to neat separation....." Bullock v. Carter, 405 U.S. 134, 143, 92 S.Ct. 849, 31 L.Ed.2d 92 (1972). Ballot access regulations may impinge on voters' rights by " limit[ing] the field of candidates from which voters might choose." Anderson, 460 U.S. at 786 (quoting Bullock, 405 U.S. at 143).
After considering the magnitude of the burden, I " must identify and evaluate the precise interests put forward by the state
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as justifications for the burden imposed by its rule." Id. at 789. The Constitution grants Pennsylvania broad power to regulate elections. See Clingman v. Beaver, 544 U.S. 581, 586, 125 S.Ct. 2029, 161 L.Ed.2d 920 (2005) (citing Art. I, § 4, cl. 1; Tashjian v. Republican Party of Conn., 479 U.S. 208, 217, 107 S.Ct. 544, 93 L.Ed.2d 514 (1986)). The Supreme Court has recognized that some regulation is necessary to preserve the integrity of the democratic process and to ensure that elections are fair and produce reliable results. Anderson, 460 U.S. at 788. Inevitably, each election regulation will have some effect on the " individual's right to vote and his right to associate with others for political ends." Id. It follows, therefore, that not every burden on the right to vote and freedom to associate can offend the Constitution if we are to have a workable Election Code. Belitskus v. Pizzingrilli, 343 F.3d 632, 643 (3d Cir. 2003) (citations omitted).
Finally, I " must ... determine the legitimacy and strength of each of [the state] interests, [and] the extent to which those interests make it necessary to burden the plaintiff's rights." Anderson, 460 U.S. at 789. " The results of this evaluation will not be automatic; ...there is 'no substitute for the hard judgments that must be made.'" Id. at 789-90 (citing Storer v. Brown, 415 U.S. 724, 730, 94 S.Ct. 1274, 39 L.Ed.2d 714 (1974)). Pennsylvania must regulate elections " by a means that does not unfairly or unnecessarily burden either a minority party's or an individual candidate's equally important interest in the continued availability of political opportunity."
Lubin v. Panish, 415 U.S. 709, 716, 94 S.Ct. 1315, 39 L.Ed.2d 702 (1974). " [I]t is especially difficult for the State to justify a restriction that limits political participation by an identifiable political group whose members share a particular viewpoint, associational preference, or economic status." Anderson, 460 U.S. at 793. " [B]allot access must be genuinely open to all, subject to reasonable requirements."
Lubin, 415 U.S. at 719 (citing Jenness v. Fortson, 403 U.S. 431, 439, 91 S.Ct. 1970, 29 L.Ed.2d 554 (1971)).
Later cases have adopted a two-track approach to analyzing ballot access claims.
Crawford v. Marion county Election Bd., 553 U.S. 181, 205, 128 S.Ct. 1610, 170 L.Ed.2d 574 (2008) (Scalia, J., concurring) (" Burdick forged Anderson's amorphous 'flexible standard' into something resembling an administrable rule." (citing Burdick v. Takushi, 504 U.S. 428, 112 S.Ct. 2059, 119 L.Ed.2d 245 (1992))). When the right to vote and freedom to associate " are subjected to 'severe' restrictions, the regulation must be 'narrowly drawn to advance a state interest of compelling importance.'"
Burdick, 504 U.S. at 434 (citing Norman v. Reed, 502 U.S. 279, 289, 112 S.Ct. 698, 116 L.Ed.2d 711 (1992)). " But when a state election law provision imposes only 'reasonable, nondiscriminatory restrictions' upon the First and Fourteenth Amendment rights of voters, 'the State's important regulatory interests are generally sufficient to justify' the restrictions."
Burdick, 504 U.S. at 434 (quoting Anderson, 460 U.S. at 788). Thus, while strict scrutiny does not automatically apply to ballot access claims, an election regulation may be subject to strict scrutiny review if the regulation is sufficiently severe.
Crawford, 553 U.S. at 205.
Accordingly, the first step in the Anderson analysis is to determine the severity of the burden. Belitskus, 343 F.3d at 644 (3d Cir. 2003). While Burdick refined the Anderson standard, the Supreme Court has not set forth a clear test for what constitutes a severe burden.
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See Timmons v. Twin Cities Area New Party, 520 U.S. 351, 359, 117 S.Ct. 1364, 137 L.Ed.2d 589 (1997) (" No bright line separates permissible election-related regulation from unconstitutional infringements." ); Demian A. Ordway, Disenfranchisement and the Constitution: Finding A Standard That Works, 82 N.Y.U. L.Rev. 1174, 1192 (2007) (" The word 'burden' is exceedingly vague when left unqualified, inviting courts to make ad hoc judgments concerning what is 'excessive' and what is 'reasonable.'" ). Justice Scalia has suggested that a burden is " severe if it goes beyond the merely inconvenient." Crawford, 553 U.S. at 205. In Storer v. Brown, the court asked " could a reasonably diligent independent candidate be expected to satisfy" the suspect regulation. 415 U.S. 724, 742, 94 S.Ct. 1274, 39 L.Ed.2d 714 (1974). In yet another case, the court found that " the right to vote is heavily burdened if that vote may be cast only for one of two parties at a time when other parties are clamoring for a place on the ballot." Williams v. Rhodes, 393 U.S. at 31. " Past experience will be a helpful, if not always an unerring, guide: it will be one thing if independent candidates have qualified with some regularity and quite a different matter if they have not." Storer, 415 U.S. at 742 (1974).
State election regulations which impose financial burdens on candidates are severe if they work to exclude legitimate candidates from the ballot. Bullock, 405 U.S. at 143. The Bullock Court considered a Texas statute which placed the burden of financing the primary election on the candidates rather than the government. Id. at 139. The statute accomplished this by charging a filing fee proportionate to the salary of the office sought. Id. at 138. The fees assessed against the plaintiffs in that case ranged from $1000 to $6,300. Id. at 136. Adjusted for inflation, those fees would be $5,660 to $35,000 in 2015. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, CPI Inflation Calculator, http://data.bls.gov.cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl (last visited June 11, 2015). These are not the type of fees " that most candidates could be expected to fulfill from their own resources or at least through modest contributions." Bullock, 405 U.S. at 143.
The Bullock Court found the size of the fees had a " patently exclusionary character." Id. at 143. Since the statute provided no alternative means of accessing the ballot, " [m]any potential office seekers lacking both personal wealth and affluent backers are in every practical sense precluded from seeking the nomination of their chosen party, no matter how qualified they might be, and no matter how broad or enthusiastic their popular support." Id. Furthermore, the exclusionary fees would limit the voters' choice of candidates and would fall with unequal weight " on the less affluent segment of the community, whose favorites may be unable to pay the large costs required by the Texas system." Id. at 144.
By requiring candidates to shoulder the costs of conducting primary elections through filing fees and by providing no reasonable alternative means of access to the ballot, the State of Texas has erected a system that utilizes the criterion of ability to pay as a condition to being on the ballot, thus excluding some candidates otherwise qualified and denying an undetermined number of voters the opportunity to vote for candidates of their choice.
Id. at 149. Accordingly, the court subjected the law to strict scrutiny and invalidated the statute. Id.
Building on Bullock, the Court in Lubin strictly scrutinized California's substantially smaller filing fees. 415 U.S. at 710
Page 502
($701.60 filing fee). The Lubin Court focused on the lack of alternative means to access the ballot and held that " a State may not, consistent with constitutional standards, require from an indigent candidate filing fees he cannot pay." Id. at 718. Such alternative means include requiring minor political parties " to file petitions for a place on the ballot signed by a percentage of those who voted in a prior election." Id. (citing American Party of Texas v. White, 415 U.S. 767, 94 S.Ct. 1296, 39 L.Ed.2d 744 (1974). Relying on Lubin, the Third Circuit recently invalidated Pennsylvania's filing fees which ranged from $5 to $200. Belitskus, 343 F.3d at 636, 647. The Court reasoned that " [i]n the absence of a reasonable alternative means of ballot access, any mandatory fee, no matter how small, will inevitably remain 'exclusionary as to some aspirants.'" Id. at 645 (emphasis added) (citing Lubin, 415 U.S. at 718).
Significantly for this case, the Eleventh Circuit invalidated a Florida statute which required minor party candidates to pay for petition signature verification. Fulani v. Krivanek, 973 F.2d 1539 (11th Cir. 1992). In Florida, county employees of the Supervisors of Elections verify the signatures on nomination petitions. See Id. at 1540. However, Florida statute authorized the supervisors to charge candidates a ten cent per signature verification fee. Id. The statute also provided for a fee waiver for indigent Democratic and Republican candidates, but specifically denied the fee waiver to minor party candidates. Id. (citing Fla. Stat. § 99.097(4)). In 1988, Ms. Fulani, a minor party candidate for President, had to submit petitions containing 56,312 signatures to access Florida's general election ballot. Id. at 1540. (citing Fla. Stat. § 103.021(3)). The signature verification fee was $5,631.20. Id. (citing Fla. Stat. § 99.097(1)(b)). The Eleventh Circuit found that the fee structure placed an unequal burden on minor party candidates and made it more difficult for minor party candidates to access the ballot. Id. at 1544 - 45. The Court of Appeals invalidated the statute because the state was unable to identify any interest to justify the burden. Id. at 1547.
2) Section 2911(b) and Section 2937 impose a severe and unequal burden on plaintiffs' associational rights.
The combined effect of Section 2911(b) and Section 2937 imposes a severe burden on plaintiffs' associational rights. The potential costs which a minor party must absorb are astonishing. A minor party's defense of nomination papers, if taken to its conclusion, can cost up to $50,000. If that defense is unsuccessful, the party may then be liable for the challenger's costs which, in the last eleven years, have twice been levied in excess of $80,000. Thus, a minor party candidate who seriously wants to place his or her name on the general election ballot must be prepared to assume a $130,000 financial liability. This figure is staggering and would deter a reasonable candidate from running for office. See Storer, 415 U.S. at 742. These costs go far beyond what the Bullock Court considered to be " patently exclusionary." 405 U.S. at 143.
I recognize that the costs of defending a nomination paper in Pennsylvania differ from the fees imposed by the statutes discussed in Bullock and its progeny. There are no mandatory fees to file nomination papers in Pennsylvania. Belitskus, 343 F.3d at 636, 647. Theoretically, a minor party candidate should only incur costs of a defense when there is a problem with his or her nomination paper. Realistically, however, a minor party candidate can expect an aggressive challenge to his or her nomination paper and a failed defense will lead to great costs. See
Page 503
405 U.S. at 143 (" In approaching candidate restrictions, it is essential to examine in a realistic light the extent and nature of their impact on voters." ). Recent history shows that a nomination paper challenge is a near certainty. These challenges seem to be filed without regard for the strength of a candidate's support or the number of signatures collected. There is no realistic way for a minor party candidate to avoid the cost of defending an objection. The near certainty of incurring costs pursuant to § 2937 brings the facts of this case in line with Bullock.
Additionally, a motion for costs has become a routine weapon which major party challengers deploy against the minor party candidates. As the Third Circuit observed in the appeal of this matter, the major party challengers have used the decisions in In re Nader and In re Nomination Paper of Rogers " as a cudgel against non-major parties and their candidates." Aichele, 757 F.3d at 363.[33] " The threat of cost shifting, entirely believable in light of recent history, chills the Aspiring Parties' electioneering activities." Id. at 364. If a minor party candidate wishes to run in the general election, he has no alternative but to bear the cost of signature validation and the risk that he will have to pay his opponent's costs as well. Cf. Susan B. Anthony List, 134 S.Ct. at 2346 (there is a " real risk" objections will be filed since they may be filed by political opponents).
While the cost of ballot access is problematic under Bullock, the lack of alternative means to access the ballot creates problems pursuant to Lubin and Belitskus. The typical alternative to onerous ballot access costs is higher signature requirements for minor party candidates, Lubin, 415 U.S. at 718, but the Election Code already demands more signatures from minor party candidates than it does of the major parties. Compare § 2872.1 with § 2911(b). It is the combined effect of the signature requirement with Section 2937's signature validation procedures which creates the substantial burdens in this case. Storer, 415 U.S. at 727 (" [A] number of facially valid provisions of election laws may operate in tandem to produce impermissible barriers to constitutional rights." ). Thus, an additional signature requirement would not provide an alternative means to ballot access. " By failing to provide such an alternative, the Commonwealth has made economic status a decisive factor in determining ballot access [and] has run afoul of the Supreme Court's ballot access jurisprudence." Belitskus, 343 F.3d at 647 (citing Anderson, 460 U.S. at 805).
The burdens imposed by Pennsylvania's Election Code are not only financial in nature. A nomination paper challenge involves a substantial investment in time and resources. In 2012, the LPPA recruited 70 volunteers, their strongest supporters, to validate signatures.[34] The objection proceedings extended from August 20 until October 10. Decl. of Paul Rossi ¶ ¶ 11, 36. As a result, the LPPA's general election resources were completely diverted to the nomination paper defense. See Susan B. Anthony List, 134 S.Ct. at 2346 (expressing concern that a commission proceeding
Page 504
requires the target " to divert significant time and resources ... in the crucial days leading up to an election" ). By essentially silencing minor parties during the heat of a campaign, Section 2911(b) and Section 2937 render the plaintiffs' associational rights meaningless. See Illinois State Bd. of Elections, 440 U.S. at 184 (" The freedom to associate as a political party ... has diminished practical value if the party can be kept off the ballot" (citing Williams v. Rhodes, 393 U.S. 23, 30, 89 S.Ct. 5, 21 L.Ed.2d 24(1968)).
The chilling effect of Pennsylvania's regime is not temporally limited to the pendency of a challenge proceeding. The minor parties cannot grow within the confines of the Election Code. First, the parties have had trouble recruiting candidates because members have been unwilling to submit nomination petitions for fear of shifting litigation costs. Second, members of the minor parties see electioneering as a futile effort. They believe that even if they collect enough signatures to place a candidate on the ballot, the nomination papers will be challenged and the candidate will withdraw from the election. Pls.' Statement of Undisputed Facts ¶ 46. The ability of the minor parties to organize and voice their views has been decimated by Section 2911(b) and Section 2937. See Aichele, 757 F.3d at 364 (" When [plaintiffs] submit nomination papers as they must under § 2911(b), they face the prospect of cost-shifting sanctions, the very fact of which inherently burdens their electioneering activity." (citing Susan B. Anthony List v. Driehaus, 134 S.Ct. 2334, 2346, 189 L.Ed.2d 246 (2014)). The plaintiffs' right to develop their political parties has been severely burdened. See Norman v. Reed, 502 U.S. 279, 288, 112 S.Ct. 698, 116 L.Ed.2d 711 (1992) (citizens have a constitutional right to create and develop new political parties).
The severity of the burdens imposed by Section 2911(b) and Section 2937 is demonstrated by the disappearance of minor parties from the general election ballot. Storer, 415 U.S. at 742 (1974). (" Past experience will be a helpful, if not always an unerring, guide: it will be one thing if independent candidates have qualified with some regularity and quite a different matter if they have not." ) Prior to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's ruling in In re Nader, minor party candidates regularly appeared on the general election ballot. Due to the looming threat of cost and the inability to organize post In re Nader, no minor party or independent candidates appeared on the ballot in the 2006, 2010 and 2014 elections. The GPPA has only been able to field two candidates[35] since 2004, and CPPA has not made a single appearance on the statewide ballot in the last decade.
The implications for Pennsylvania voters are obvious. Bullock, 405 U.S. at 143 (" [T]he rights of voters and the rights of candidates do not lend themselves to neat separation...." ). With few exceptions over the last decade, the electorate has been forced to choose between Democratic and Republican candidates, alone, for statewide office. The fact that the LPPA has been moderately successful during presidential election years does not minimize the impact on voters. The Election Code is hostile to minor parties and threatens to eliminate all competition to the major parties. " By limiting the choices available to voters, the State impairs the voters' ability to express their political preferences." Illinois State Bd. of Elections, 440 U.S. at 184.
Page 505
Thus, Section 2911(b) in combination with Section 2937 severely burdens the right to vote.
The Commonwealth defendants argue that plaintiffs enjoy the equal protection of the law because major party and minor party candidates are subjected to the same burdens under Section 2937. To an extent, this is true. Section 2937 governs challenges made against a major party candidate petitioning for a place on the primary ballot, and the same statute allows for objections to minor party candidate nomination papers. However, the burden of these challenges is not equal. At most, a major party statewide candidate must file 2,000 valid signatures to run in the primary election. To the contrary, minor party candidates, on average, must file ten times as many signatures, and of course, they file well in excess of the minimum in anticipation of the inevitable challenge. It is only logical that the cost of defending a minor party nomination paper will far exceed the cost of any major party candidate who must defend far fewer signatures. A challenge to a major party nomination petition would also require less time and less resources. Consequently, cost shifting pursuant to Section 2937 becomes formidable for minor party candidates but not equally so for the major party candidates.
The defendants rely on Rogers to avoid the appearance of inequality. 468 F.3d at 197. They maintain that the minor parties' greater financial burden is solely attributable to the signature requirements in Section 2911(b), and since the signature requirements are constitutionally sound, there can be no equal protection problem. No one is disputing the validity of Section 2911(b). Rather, plaintiffs contend that it is the combined effect of Section 2911(b) and Section 2937 which violate their constitutional rights. It is well established that " a number of facially valid provisions of election laws may operate in tandem to produce impermissible barriers to constitutional rights." Storer, 415 U.S. at 737. That is what has happened here. Pennsylvania election law imposes a financial burden on political candidates' First Amendment rights proportionate to Section 2911 (b)'s signature requirement. Since statewide minor party candidates will always need to file more signatures than major party candidates, the financial burden of ballot access will always weigh heavier on the minor parties. Pennsylvania may require minor party candidates to submit more signatures than major party candidates to run for office, Rogers, 468 F.3d at 197, but the Commonwealth may not impose a heavier financial burden on minor parties without depriving the minor parties of the equal protection of the law. Fulani, 973 F.2d 1539.
Defendants note the Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that " Section 2937 does not impinge upon any constitutional rights in a way that would warrant constitutional scrutiny." In re Nader 905 A.2d at 459. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is competent to adjudicate claims arising under the Constitution of the United States. Burt v. Titlow, 134 S.Ct. 10, 15, 187 L.Ed.2d 348 (2013). However, the Pennsylvania high court did not have the benefit of the facts developed in this litigation. Indeed, the minor parties did not feel the chilling effects of Section 2937 until after In re Nader. It was the Supreme Court's decision in that case coupled with the sanctions imposed by the Commonwealth Court on Mr. Romanelli which gave rise to the credible threat of astronomical litigation costs.[36] Afterwards,
Page 506
the major party challengers began using these decisions as a tactic to force minor party candidates to withdraw from elections. No other state court decision has since considered the constitutional implications of Section 2937. See In re Farnese, 17 A.3d at 373 (" [W]e will not reach the constitutional arguments presented by the objectors, having been able to decide this case on statutory grounds." ). If the Supreme Court reconsidered the issue in light of recent history, the justices may well reach a different result.
Finally, defendants believe that the burden on the minor parties is not imposed by the statute. Rather, the Commonwealth Court issues the management orders which require the candidates to validate the signatures on their nomination papers. These procedures are not dictated by the Election Code. Defendants also claim that it is private individuals, not state actors, who pursue court costs. To the contrary, it is the statute that makes this all possible. It is the statute which venues nomination paper objections in the judiciary, rather than the executive. It is the statute which allows private parties to challenge nomination papers. Aichele, 757 F.3d at 367 (" The Commonwealth cannot hide behind the behavior of third parties when its officials are responsible for administering the election code that empowers those third parties to have the pernicious influence alleged in the Complaint." ). It is the statute which provides for cost shifting. In any event, the actions of the judiciary are no less the action of the state, NAACP v. Alabama, 357 U.S. 449, 463, 78 S.Ct. 1163, 2 L.Ed.2d 1488 (1958) (" It is not of moment that the State has here acted solely through its judicial branch, for whether legislative or judicial, it is still the application of state power which we are asked to scrutinize." ), and there is compelling, although not undisputed, evidence that state employees have played a pivotal role in prosecuting objections. See infra note 23.
3) The state interest are outweighed by the burden imposed on plaintiffs' associational rights
Since plaintiffs have established that the Section 2911(b) in combination with Section 2937 impose a severe burden on their associational rights, the state must establish that the regulation is 'narrowly drawn to advance a state interest of compelling importance.'" Burdick, 504 U.S. at 434 (citing Norman, 502 U.S. at 289).
Defendants maintain that the Section 2937 deters candidates from submitting
Page 507
fraudulent and meritless petitions. It is well settled that Pennsylvania has a strong interest " to protect the integrity of its political processes from frivolous or fraudulent candidacies." Bullock, 405 U.S. at 145. (citing Jenness, 403 U.S. at 442).[37] According to the defendants, the financial burdens imposed by Section 2937 motivate candidates to " ensure their circulators are gathering valid signatures," and incentivizes candidates to strike invalid signatures from their nomination papers. Defs.' Mot. for Summary J., doc. no. 59, at 16. There can be little doubt that the costs associated with Section 2937 discourage the submission of fraudulent nomination papers and petitions. However, Section 2937 " is extraordinarily ill-fitted to that goal," because the statute has a tendency to exclude legitimate candidates as well. Bullock, 405 U.S. at 146.
In the defendants' view, the statute is narrowly tailored because " candidates who use due diligence in collecting signatures and file nomination papers that in objective good faith comply with the requirements of the Election Code" can avoid the costs associated by Section 2937. While this is true in the superficial sense, no amount of good faith will fend off a nomination paper challenge, and motions for costs are now a routine part of the process. In fact, the Court of Appeals, in its decision on the standing issue, acknowledged that recent history justifies the minor parties very real fear of objections and litigation costs. Aichele. 757 F.3d at 364; See also Susan B. Anthony List, 134 S.Ct. at 2345 (" past enforcement against the same conduct is good evidence that the threat of enforcement is not 'chimerical.'" (citing Steffel v. Thompson, 415 U.S. 452, 459, 94 S.Ct. 1209, 39 L.Ed.2d 505(1974)). As a result, Section 2937 imposes severe financial burdens on minor party candidates no matter how strong their support. Since no candidate can be expected to shoulder these extraordinary costs, Section 2937 undoubtedly excludes non-frivolous minor party candidates.
Finally, defendants maintain that the threat of sanctions deters meritless objections. There is absolutely no evidence supporting this conclusion. There is no real threat that a court would impose sanctions against an unsuccessful objector. No party has ever been fined for challenging the nomination papers of a minor party candidate for statewide office. In any event, the rate at which challenges are filed suggests that the threat of sanctions has no deterrent effect.
Defendants have failed to justify the financial burdens which Section 2937 and Section 2911 (b) impose on plaintiffs. The statutes are not narrowly tailored to advance Pennsylvania's compelling interest in keeping frivolous candidates off the general election ballot because the threat of sanctions undoubtedly excludes non-frivolous minor party candidates. The statutes are unconstitutional as applied to plaintiffs.[38]
Page 508
Therefore, I will grant plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment as to Counts I and II.
b) Count III -- Section 2937 is facially valid.
While Counts I and II advance an as-applied challenge to Section 2911(b) and Section 2937, Count III is a facial attack on Section 2937 and calls for the complete invalidation of the statute. " A facial attack tests a law's constitutionality based on its text alone and does not consider the facts or circumstances of a particular case." United States v. Marcavage, 609 F.3d 264, 273 (3d Cir. 2010) (citing City of Lakewood v. Plain Dealer Publ'g Co., 486 U.S. 750, 770 n. 11, 108 S.Ct. 2138, 100 L.Ed.2d 771 (1988)). Plaintiffs bear a very heavy burden to prove the statute is facially invalid. See United States v. Salerno, 481 U.S. 739, 745, 107 S.Ct. 2095, 95 L.Ed.2d 697 (1987) (" A facial challenge to a legislative Act is, of course, the most difficult challenge to mount successfully, since the challenger must establish that no set of circumstances exists under which the Act would be valid." ). Plaintiffs allege that Section 2937 is facially invalid because it is vague and overbroad. See City of Chicago v. Morales, 527 U.S. 41, 52, 119 S.Ct. 1849, 144 L.Ed.2d 67 (1999) (recognizing that laws can be attacked on their face under these two theories).
A law is impermissibly overbroad if a " 'substantial number' of its applications are unconstitutional, 'judged in relation to the statute's plainly legitimate sweep.'" Washington State Grange v. Washington State Republican Party, 552 U.S. 442, 449 n.6, 128 S.Ct. 1184, 170 L.Ed.2d 151 (2008) (citing New York v. Ferber, 458 U.S. 747, 769-771, 102 S.Ct. 3348, 73 L.Ed.2d 1113 (1982)). The overbreadth must be both real and substantial. Broadrick v. Oklahoma, 413 U.S. 601, 615, 93 S.Ct. 2908, 37 L.Ed.2d 830 (1973). The doctrine is premised on " a judicial prediction or assumption that the statute's very existence may cause others not before the court to refrain from constitutionally protected speech or expression." Id. at 612. " It is clear, however, that the mere fact that one can conceive of some impermissible applications of a statute is not sufficient to render it susceptible to an overbreadth challenge." Members of City Council of City of Los Angeles v. Taxpayers for Vincent, 466 U.S. 789, 800, 104 S.Ct. 2118, 80 L.Ed.2d 772 (1984). The overbreadth doctrine is " strong medicine" and must be employed with hesitation, and as a last resort. Los Angeles Police Dep't v. United Reporting Pub. Corp., 528 U.S. 32, 39, 120 S.Ct. 483, 489, 145 L.Ed.2d 451 (1999) (citing Ferber, 458 U.S. at 769). The doctrine does not apply " where the parties fail to describe the instances of arguable overbreadth of the contested law." Washington State Grange, 552 U.S. at 449 n. 6.
In considering the validity of Section 2937, I am mindful that this is an action for declaratory judgment. " [T]he Declaratory Judgment Act 'expands the scope of available remedies' and permits persons 'to seek a declaration of the constitutionality of the disputed government action.'" Deveraux v. City of Chicago, 14 F.3d 328, 330 (7th Cir. 1994) (citing Duke Power Co. v. Carolina Environmental Study Group, Inc., 438 U.S. 59, 71 n. 15, 98 S.Ct. 2620, 57 L.Ed.2d 595 (1978). However, granting declaratory relief in this context can contravene the rule of avoiding needless adjudication of constitutional questions. El Dia, Inc. v. Hernandez Colon, 963 F.2d 488, 494 (1st Cir. 1992) (citing
Page 509
Kelly v. Illinois Bell Tel. Co., 325 F.2d 148, 151 (7th Cir. 1963)). " In this vein, ... declaratory judgments concerning the constitutionality of government conduct will almost always be inappropriate when the constitutional issues are freighted with uncertainty and the underlying grievance can be remedied for the time being without gratuitous exploration of uncharted constitutional terrain." Id. (citing Gross v. Fox, 496 F.2d 1153, 1154-55 (3d Cir. 1974)).[39]
I begin by noting the statute has a plainly legitimate sweep. Pennsylvania may require candidates for public office to submit nomination petitions and papers containing a prescribed number of signatures. Rogers, 468 F.3d at 197. It follows that the Commonwealth may also establish a method to verify that the signatures on the nomination petitions and papers are valid.
In re Farnese, 609 Pa. 543, 17 A.3d 357, 372 (2011) (" Indeed, the existence of specific filing requirements envisions that there will be challenges." ). The fact that Pennsylvania, unlike any other state, has chosen to venue this process in the judiciary does not, in and of itself, raise constitutional concerns. The possibility that costs may be shifted at the discretion of the court is unsurprising within the context of modern American litigation.
Section 2937 applies to major party, minor party and independent candidates alike, but there is no evidence that Section 2937 is having any impact on the speech of the major parties or their candidates. Due to the number of signatures required, validating signatures on a nomination petition to run in a statewide primary does not appear onerous. Additionally, costs have never been assessed against a major party candidate for statewide office. The fact that Section 2937 does not burden the speech of the major parties is demonstrated by the highly competitive 2014 Democratic Primary for Governor in which four candidates competed for the nomination.
Since Section 2937 does not restrict the speech of the major parties, the statute is not unconstitutional in a " substantial number of its applications." Washington State Grange, 552 U.S. at 449 n.6 (citing Ferber, 458 U.S. at 769-771). While it is certainly possible that the statute could be impermissibly applied to a major party candidate or an independent candidate not represented in this litigation, a mere possibility is not enough to find the statute overbroad. See City Council of City of Los Angeles, 466 U.S. at 800. " [W]hatever overbreadth may exist should be cured through case-by-case analysis of the fact situations to which its sanctions, assertedly, may not be applied." Broadrick, 413 U.S. at 615-16; see also Belitskus, 343 F.3d at 648 n. 10 (a suit challenging filing fees for nomination petitions and papers " must, by definition, be brought as an as-applied challenge and decided on its facts." )
Furthermore, plaintiffs do not identify any circumstances in which the statute would be overbroad. See Washington State Grange, 552 U.S. at 449 n. 6. Instead, plaintiffs maintain they " have submitted evidence that Section 2937 is causing citizens to refrain from circulating, submitting and defending nomination petitions, and to abandon their efforts to associate for political purposes...." Pls. Mot. for Summary J., doc. no. 60, at 23. However, this evidence only pertains to plaintiffs and their supporters. A declaration that Section 2937 is unconstitutional
Page 510
as applied to plaintiffs should remedy the chilling effect that the law is having on the First Amendment rights of the plaintiffs and their supporters. At this time, no broader relief is necessary to redress the harm caused by the statute.
Finally, Section 2937 is not unconstitutionally vague. A statute is void for vagueness if it " fail[s] to provide the kind of notice that will enable ordinary people to understand what conduct it prohibits" or if it authorizes arbitrary enforcement. City of Chicago, 527 U.S. at 56, (citing Kolender v. Lawson, 461 U.S. 352, 357, 103 S.Ct. 1855, 75 L.Ed.2d 903 (1983)). The statute must " clearly mark the boundary between permissible and impermissible speech." Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1, 40-41, 96 S.Ct. 612, 46 L.Ed.2d 659 (1976). While " the general test for vagueness applies with particular force in review of laws dealing with speech," Hynes v. Mayor & Council of Borough of Oradell, 425 U.S. 610, 620, 96 S.Ct. 1755, 48 L.Ed.2d 243 (1976), courts should show " greater tolerance of enactments with civil rather than criminal penalties because the consequences of imprecision are qualitatively less severe." Village of Hoffman Estates v. Flipside, Hoffman Estates, Inc., 455 U.S. 489, 498-99, 102 S.Ct. 1186, 71 L.Ed.2d 362 (1982) (citing Barenblatt v. United States, 360 U.S. 109, 137, 79 S.Ct. 1081, 3 L.Ed.2d 1115 (1959)); see also Buckley, 424 U.S. at 40-41 (" Close examination of the specificity of the statutory limitation is required where, as here, the legislation imposes criminal penalties in an area permeated by First Amendment interests." ). I will read Section 2937 with the same construction given by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. See City of Chicago, 527 U.S. at 61 (citing Smiley v. Kansas, 196 U.S. 447, 455, 25 S.Ct. 289, 49 L.Ed. 546 (1905)).
An award of costs pursuant to Section 2937 may be appropriate where " fraud, bad faith, or gross misconduct is proven, ... [but] a party's conduct need not proceed to such an extreme before an award of costs may be dictated by justice." In re Farnese, 17 A.3d at 372. Plaintiffs aver that the In re Farnese Court's interpretation of the statute fails to distinguish between prohibited and permissible conduct.[40] I disagree. Shifting costs during the course of litigation is commonly available in state and federal courts. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 54(d)(1); Pa. R. Civ. P. 1023.1. Where not authorized by rule or statute, a court may tax cost pursuant to its " inherent powers to control the conduct of those who appear before them," Hygienics Direct Co. v. Medline Indus., Inc., 33 Fed.Appx. 621, 626 (3d Cir. 2002) (citing Chambers v. NASCO, Inc., 501 U.S. 32, 111 S.Ct. 2123, 115 L.Ed.2d 27 (1991)), and is typically committed to the trial court's sound discretion. See In re Paoli R.R. Yard PCB Litig., 221 F.3d 449, 458 (3d Cir. 2000). By allowing the Commonwealth Court to determine when an award of costs is just, Section 2937 reflects this well-established American jurisprudence and can hardly be called vague.
Furthermore, the Farnese Court warned the Commonwealth Court not to award costs when it would chill First Amendment expression. 17 A.3d at 372 (" First, we note that the Election Code must 'be liberally construed to protect a candidate's right to run for office and the voters' right to elect the candidate of their choice.'" (citing In re Nomination Petition of Driscoll, 577 Pa. 501, 847 A.2d 44, 49 (2004)). Just as state courts are competent
Page 511
to adjudicate constitutional disputes, I am confident that the Commonwealth Court will be mindful of the First Amendment issues implicated by Section 2937, and will refrain from taxing costs in a manner which will chill protected political speech in Pennsylvania. Since Section 2937 is neither overbroad nor impermissibly vague, I will grant defendants' motion for summary judgment as to Count III.
IV Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, I will grant plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment as to Counts I and II. I will grant defendants' motion for summary judgment as to Count III. The motions are otherwise denied.
An appropriate order follows.
AND NOW this 23rd day of July 2015, upon granting plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment in part and granting defendants' motion for summary judgment in part, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. Judgment is entered in favor of the plaintiffs on Counts I and II.
2. Judgment is entered in favor of defendants on Count III.
3. 25 P.S. § 2911(b) and 25 P.S. § 2937 are hereby DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL AS APPLIED to plaintiffs.
4. The clerk is directed to mark this case CLOSED.
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Ronda Rousey fights Cat Zingano on February 28th, she also signs a deal with David Britton Buffalo. Myles Jury fights Donald Cerrone on the UFC 182 card as the co-main event. Benson Henderson fights watch video >>
With a co-headlining fight on the horizon versus Cat Zingano at UFC 184, UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey joined AXS TV's INSIDE MMA for an interview with correspondent Ron Kruck. Durin watch video >>
Short clip of Ronda Rousey training boxing for her upcoming fight at UFC 184 against Cat Zingano. From Ronda's Instagram. http://instagram.com/rondarousey watch video >>
Short clips of Ronda Rousey training boxing, from her UFC 184 training camp for her fight with Cat Zingano. Follow her on Instagram: http://instagram.com/rondarousey watch video >>
Ronda Rousey doing some Judo throws training for her UFC 184 fight with Cat Zingano. Short clips from her Instagram: http://instagram.com/rondarousey/ watch video >>
On episode 4 of UFC Embedded, headlining featherweight Dennis Siver reflects on his career journey before heading to open workouts alongside lightweight friends and foes Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone and B watch video >>
Ronda Rousey practicing boxing everywhere from the gym to hotel rooms for her UFC 184 fight against Cat Zingano. watch video >>

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'Jeah!' Ryan Lochte Films Reality Show
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Cooper Controls Counts Its Accolades
Cooper Controls invests heavily in product development and has been recognized with numerous industry awards for its leadership and for the superior design, performance and reliability of its products. The company has published a list of awards its control brands and products have received here.
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New "Safe Sleep Policy" Legalizes Homeless Camping in Portland, Oregon
Tents pitched along a Portland streetPortland's homeless population has been on a steady increase the past several years, eventually forcing the city to declare a homeless emergency at the end of 2015. This gave the city power to waive land-use restrictions so they could convert existing buildings into emergency shelter space and start...[read more]
Malibu, California Bans Harmful Pesticides After City Council Finds Catastrophic Impact on Wildlife
While pesticides are known for effectively and quickly removing unwanted pests, they can also contain substances that are harmful to both wildlife and the environment. Sparked by the death of a young mountain lion in Los Angeles due to ingesting rat poison, people began to advocate against the use of pesticides. After great debate and...[read more]
It's time to put an end to bikeway "band-aids"
We are finally moving in the right direction for bicycle urbanism in the United States. At last, more and more cities are realizing that what has been best practice in street design for years elsewhere, is the logical thing to do in this country as well. Separated lanes used to be seemingly out of reach – the long-term goal of the...[read more]
How Can Louisiana Build Back Smarter?
Louisiana flooding / Los Angeles TimesThe flooding that hit Louisiana last week affected hundreds of thousands of people over 1,000 square miles. The intense storm claimed 13 lives, and some 30,000 needed to be rescued. Over 60,000 homes have been destroyed, and 100,000 have registered for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)...[read more]
Lanes and Sharrows and Buffers…Oh My! Four Types of Bike Lanes Explained
Chances are, you've noticed new street markings popping up on roads in and around your community: arrows with a bicyclist below, striped lanes with a bicyclist in the middle, or even plastic poles next to bike lanes. If you're like most people, these markings raise more questions than they answer. Are they pointing me to where I can ride...[read more]
Can Sustainability and Safety Keep Pace With Progress?
Texas has the nation's fastest-growing population. Last year, 466 people moved to Texas every single day. Many of the move-ins are coming to Dallas, and the never-ending construction in our city reflects our efforts to accommodate this burgeoning population.[read more]
Federal Government Considers Changes in Street Design, Could Makes Roads Safer and more Sustainable
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sets standards for how streets, roadways and highways are designed. The agency is considering comments for possible changes to 13 criteria established in 1985 used to review road designs. Hopefully the FHWA will revise these criteria to make roads safer but also make them more sustainable and...[read more]
Sustainable Streets, PlaNYC2030 Initiative and Bicycle Safety
The world knows New York as a place for foot traffic, and that's undoubtedly true. But pedestrians and cyclists used to get a much tougher break in The Big Apple. During the last ten years, there have been unprecedented efforts to make Manhattan and greater New York City a safer place for people who choose to travel in the most environmentally sustainable ways — by foot, by bike, and in clean mass transit.[read more]
Let's Not Kid Ourselves: Curbing Carbon and Stopping Smog Are Not the Same Thing
A hope has prevailed across most media commentators and environmental groups that curbs on carbon emissions will also fix the dirty air in these nations' metropolises. But that's naïve. It doesn't take into account how the past of pollution control inside the United States and other long-industrialized nations has conditioned us to tackling one enormous environmental problem while ignoring the other.[read more]
How to Make Your Home and Garden More Eco-Friendly
For many decades, humans acted in a way that went against all the laws of nature and we are now paying the price. We can all play our part in improving our surroundings. This starts with the way we act in our own homes. These are some ways you can make your home and garden more environmentally friendly.[read more]
India Can't Afford to Lose Any More Lives Due to Road Crashes
Globally, 1.3 million people die each year in road traffic crashes. India, with only 2 percent of the global motor vehicle population, accounts for more than 10 percent of those fatalities.[read more]
In São Paulo, School Children Work to Build a Neighborhood of Mobility for All
The project began during the World Cup (2014), with students mapping out locations they thought tourists would like, and creating and distributing brochures in three languages. They were able to get 50 supporters on Catarse (a crowdfunding site) providing R$ 3,670 (USD $1,178) in just 23 days, which financed the production of 2,000 brochures and 200 banners. In 2015, Caio was joined by another educator, Renata, to coordinate activities with the students.[read more]


text: Home Recipes Course Desserts Fudge Recipes Marshmallow Fudge Share: Marshmallow Fudge Looking for recipes for marshmallow fudge? Taste of Home has the best marshmallow fudge recipes from real cooks like you, featuring reviews, ratings, how-to videos and tips. Recipe Spotlight Nana's Rocky Road Fudge We make Rocky Road-style fudge every Christmas and it's a tradition, but why wait until the holidays for a recipe this good? —Ashley Berry, Montgomery Village, Maryland Get Recipe More Marshmallow Fudge Sort: Most Relevant Highest Rated Previous Page 1 2 3 ... 7 Next Page Chocolate Caramel Candy Chocolate Caramel Candy This dazzling treat tastes like a Snickers bar but has homemade flavor beyond compare. When I entered it in a recipe contest at our harvest festival, it won five ribbons, including grand prize and the judges' special award. —Jane Meek, Pahrump, Nevada View Recipe Quick and Easy Peanut Butter Fudge Quick and Easy Peanut Butter Fudge This is a quick and easy fudge recipe. The marshmallows give it a smooth consistency. I often have this treat on hand to serve my guests or to satisfy my own "sweet tooth"! View Recipe Pumpkin Fudge Pumpkin Fudge Every Thanksgiving I look forward to the taste of pumpkin. This fudge lets me do that and every one loves it.—Marlene Fudge, Rushville, Indiana View Recipe Advertise with us ADVERTISEMENT Apricot White Fudge Apricot White Fudge "This fudge has become a family favorite because of the luscious blending of flavors," notes Debbie Purdue of Freeland, Michigan. "I try to make it for gifts at Christmastime." Use a candy thermometer or the cold-water test to make sure the mixture reaches soft-ball stage; then chill until set. View Recipe Toffee Chip Fudge Toffee Chip Fudge My grandchildren savor the job of taste-testing my baking experiments. I combined two recipes to come up with this yummy fudge dotted with crisp toffee bits. The kids gave it a "thumbs-up" before requesting a batch to take home. View Recipe Macadamia Nut Fudge Macadamia Nut Fudge Family and friends look forward to this creamy fudge every holiday season. The macadamia nuts make it extra special. —Kristine Sokowski, Tremont, Illinois View Recipe Orange Fantasy Fudge Orange Fantasy Fudge Orange and chocolate team up in this full-flavored fudge. My daughter, Melissa, created the recipe one day when experimenting in the kitchen. View Recipe Creamy Peanut Butter Fudge Creamy Peanut Butter Fudge Christmas wouldn't be the same without this creamy treat. This is always a family favorite.—Diana L. Osborn, Wichita, Kansas View Recipe Peanut Butter Swirled Fudge Peanut Butter Swirled Fudge Make homemade gifts in no time with a batch of this nutty fudge. It's a hit with everyone, from the mail carrier to our neighbors. View Recipe Date Pecan Fudge Date Pecan Fudge As a new bride, my Texas-born mother made this recipe to remind her of home. Now, when I make the mellow date-filled candy, happy family times come to mind. View Recipe Spiced Butterscotch Fudge Spiced Butterscotch Fudge This butterscotch fudge is a nice change from the more typical chocolate varieties. When I have a craving for a little sweet, this fits the bill. View Recipe Previous Page 1 2 3 ... 7 Next Page Advertise with us ADVERTISEMENT Advertise with us ADVERTISEMENT


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Govardhan Puja 2016 Wishes, SMS, Messages, WhatsApp Status, Quotes, Greetings for Happy Vishwakarma Day: Just a day before, we celebrated Diwali by firing crackers and eating a lot of sweets, and now it is Govardhan Puja / Bali Pratipada today. It is observed on the note when Lord Krishna lifted Goverdhan Hill to protect the villagers (Vrindavana people) and domestic animals from the wrath of Indra. (read: Prem Ratan Dhan Payo review.)
Devotees cook different kinds of dishes i.e. rice, dal, halwa, pakora, puri etc. as Lord Krishna loved to eat these stuff. At the first hand, they offer bhog to the Lord, then distribute it among the families and near ones as prashad. Therefore, the festival is also known as Annakuta Festival.
Happy Govardhan Puja 2016 Wishes, SMS, Messages, WhatsApp Status, Quotes, Greetings for Happy Vishwakarma Day
On this occasion, every Hindu make a small heap of dung at their houses. And in the evening, they worship it in the memory of Lord Krishna, and pray for his blessings to save them from bad powers just as Lord Kahna did for the villagers.
To make this Goverdhan Puja grand and memorable, I would love to present you few greetings or wishes which you could choose without hesitating and wish your near & dear ones a very mesmerizing Happy Goverdhan 2016!
Govardhan Puja 2016 Wishes, SMS, Messages, WhatsApp Status, Quotes, Greetings
Chandan ki khusbu,
Resham ka haar,
Bhadav ki shugandh,
Barish ki fhuhaar,
Dil ki ummide,
Apno ka pyar
Mangalmay ho aapko
Goverdhan Pooja ka tyohar.
- Love master Krishna today
Its the uncommon Goverdhan Puja day
He will make everything you could ever hope for work out
Also, fortunes should come discovering you.
Happy Govardhan Puja.
- Murli Manohar, Brij ke Dhrohar. Wo Nandlala Gopala, Bansi Ki Dhun Par Sabke Dukh Harne Wala. Sab Milkar Machaye Dhoom Ki Krishna Ane Wala Hai.
Happy Goverdhan Pooja!!
Diwali has filled this day with light
Goverdhan Puja is going to begin
Might you be honored all year through
That is my honest to goodness, wish from the heart.
- The world is lit with diyas and confidence
Goverdhan Puja is done all through
Might this day of interminable gifts
Make everything you could ever want work out as expected
Happy Goverdhan Puja.
Sing the gestures of recognition of Krishna
For its a day of lights and cheer
Missing you on Goverdhan Puja day
Wanting to be right here.
Upbeat Goverdhan Pooja.
Stay tuned for pooja muhurat, time, vidhi, photos, pictures, images, wallpapers, pics and much more. Don't forget to share.


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The Roos Parish website seeks to provide useful information and news for residents of Roos, Tunstall, Hilston and Owstwick and others. Navigate through the various headings across the top of this page to discover more.
We welcome your feedback and suggestions, please complete the Contact Us form.
Note that ERYC consultation continues on alterations and possible reductions in Council funded transport services.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council by telephoning:-
01482 395906/395707 or 01482 393939 (out of hours)
Roos Wind Farm (operated by RES - Renewable Energy Systems)
Tedder Hill Wind Farm (operated by INFINIS)
Burton Pidsea Wind Farm (operated by Energiekontor)
The RES Roos Wind Farm Fund is now open for new applications. Application forms and guidelines for 2017 can be downloaded from www.ervas.org.uk. Deadline for completed submissions - 5pm on Friday 31st March 2017.
For further information please contact Claire Thomas firstname.lastname@example.com
Each fund is different and has its own individual terms of reference. Community groups and other potential applicants should evaluate which fund is most suitable and likely to fund their proposed projects.
The administrators for each fund will be pleased to give advice.
Click on each panel alongside for further information and how to make an application.
Your our rights and responsibilities. Click here
Click here
Click here
Call for applications. Sample form.
Local Community Transport Survey
Community Bus No3 from Burton Pidsea and Roos to Hedon
The Rooster has been re-launched.
Roos Parish Plan 'Refreshed' 2012
Tabulated Comments


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Antica Farmacista champagne bubble bath comes in a beautiful bottle to make a luxurious gift. Prosecco is Italian "champagne" (sparkling wine) but has more fruit and floral scent than French sparkling wine. BAGNOSCHIUMA is Italian for "bubble bath" with honey, aloe vera, green tea and jojoba oil to calm you. Antica Farmacista Champagne bubble bath has a rich lather, bubbles that last the duration of your bath and quality ingredients that leave your skin silky smooth.
Enjoy luxurious scents? Try Antica Farmacista diffusers, click here.


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Milk Drink
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|Property type
|Minimum Stay
|2 nights
Perfectly placed for hassle-free stays on Lake Lugano, this modern retreat (ID 1515) in the Lugano suburb of Paradiso boasts breathtaking views and is ideal for couples and groups of 4.
Easily reached by lift, the third floor apartment provides all the comfort and style of home, with a beautifully presented interior that is both elegant and modern. The solid wood flooring to the principal rooms provides a lovely inviting ambience, whilst the far reaching lake views make it a captivating retreat in all seasons.
The spacious open plan living room is ideal for relaxing and entertaining, with the stylish L-shaped sofa set below a large picture window and next to a stylish dining area for 4-6. All the must-have mod cons of home are to hand for guest's enjoyment, including a flat screen SAT TV, DVD player and music stereo and paid WIFI.
Next to the living room, a separate kitchen is ideally-suited for carefree meals in; with a microwave, oven, induction hob, toaster, coffee machine, kettle and dishwasher provided. The high gloss cabinets and fun turquoise tiles also provide an inviting vibrant appeal too.
Perfect for couples staying, a serene and spacious double master bedroom with wardrobe and direct access out to a sunny terrace can be enjoyed. A contemporary bathroom fitted with shower enclosure, wash basin and w.c. completes the internal layout of this inviting city pad. Extra guests can easily be accommodated to the comfortable double sofa bed, which is provided in the spacious living room.
Set within the lake view appeal of this modern 4 storey residence, guests will find a shared garden and a luxury swimming pool to relax in and enjoy (shared by 50 apartments in total).
The highly-desirable suburb of Paradiso provides the perfect scenic spot from which to enjoy the very best of Lake Lugano. The residence's elevated setting is ideal for self-catering stays; with the close proximity to the city delights and local modern amenities to make the most of during your stay.
Lombardy - Lake Lugano area:
The Italian Lakes are a little slice of paradise. Elegant ribbons of blue water stretch out ahead, folded into the sun-baked foothills, with a spectacular back drop of the snow-capped Alps.
Warming, inspiring and graced with natural beauty, the lakes are still a place to draw breath and wonder. Lake Lugano, oriented north-south, ringed by characterful old villages often wedged onto narrow beaches between rugged cliffs and water.
Those classic lake images of flower strewn balconies, Baroque gardens and splendid waterside villas can be found here in abundance. Dotted around and between the lakes are some of Italy's finest art cities, such as Milan, Verona & Bergamo.
The highly-desirable suburb of Paradiso provides the perfect scenic spot from which to enjoy the very best of Lake Lugano. The residence's elevated setting is ideal for self-catering stays; with the close proximity to the city delights and local modern amenities to make the most of during your stay.
The beautiful lakeside city of Lugano is home to a plethora of cosmopolitan highlights, including fashionable shopping boulevards, charming cafes, elegant restaurants, food markets and modern casinos, bars and nightclubs. The city is also home to some truly timeless tourist sites, including the picturesque lakeside Parco Civico, the Museo d'Arte and the breathtaking nearby hiking trails of Monte Bre, the Olive Trail and Monte San Salvatore.
Lugano city is perfectly placed for reaching Lago di Muzzano (9 minutes drive) and the hiking trails, ski slopes, snow sport activities and family-friendly appeal of Monte Tamaro (18 minutes drive away). For enjoyable days out sightseeing, the equally beautiful Lake Maggiore (35 minutes drive) and Lake Como (45 minutes drive) are also within easy reach.
Alongside its offering of city frolics, hiking routes, ski resorts and snow and adventure sports, the surrounding area also offers museums, boat trips, beaches, tennis, golf, horse riding and water sport opportunities. For those flying in, Lugano airport is also located just a 10 minute drive away from Paradiso – for a truly hassle-free holiday!
Additional Sport & Adventure Activities include:
Bike Rentals, Boat Rentals/Charters, Canoeing/Kayaking, Funicular Railway, Hiking/Trails, Orienteering, Paddle Boarding, Park, Public Transportation, Public Villas & Gardens, Quad Biking, Rock Climbing, Rowing Boats and Wakeboarding.
*Plus compulsory or optional charges based on actual occupancy or consumption. The payment has to be made in the currency offered by the property manager, before use of conversion tool. Payments in other currencies have to be negotiated beforehand with the property manager. The currency conversion tool is provided for your convenience only and is non-binding.


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|AnimeGalleries [dot] Net
|AnimeWallpapers [dot] Com
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Last edited by Marifana joshu-sha; 01-23-2011 at 05:42 PM.
Talent is right in that picture. Rest in Peace Rick Wright.
Looking great! It's a little small so it's hard to really see the pictures, but still able to :3
I think that once there's shading on the faces, they'll be fabulous >w<
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Stephens Co. School System Approves Meal Prices
Some meal prices will be going up next year in the Stephens County school system. The Stephens County Board of Education approved meal prices for the 2016-2017 school year at their meeting last Tuesday. Stephens County School Superintendent Bryan Dorsey said that these meal price changes will not affect everyone in the school system. "This does not impact elementary or […]Read more


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The last time I was invited to have a chat with the cops was at a DragonForce show, where my "leaning-plus-smoking" combo had pegged me as "suspicious." Really, I think the po-po were just trying to get the goods on the concert happening inside -- wandering in and out was an atypical array of nerd rats, studded-leather metal fans and American Apparel-ed, irony-seeking college kids.
Uniting these disparate nations was the epic, cartoonish, high-speed power metal of DragonForce (or "D Force" if you're one of the aforementioned irony-seeking college kids). There are so many intense factors at play with DragonForce that I can't really think about them without feeling like I was just pumped full of meth or adolescent hormones -- it just doesn't process. Their live show is the most extreme and technically awesome I've witnessed -- Herman Li, the ocean of hair that serves as lead guitar, solo shreds like a motherfucker, behind his head, on the moon, etc., all with the biggest metal grin. Singer ZP Theart feels the inspirational, fantasy lyrics.
DragonForce are raking in the DragonDollars in classic niche-market style -- they're a massive, massive worldwide phenomenon, but are barely known outside of metal circles, which is crazy. These guys must immediately become the house band for the UN. They're not only an international group of players, their lyrics are a testament to the righteousness of humanity. My favorite line from "Fury of the Storm" says it all. "With the power of the universe we stand strong together / Through the force of power, it will soon reach the hour / For victory we ride, Fury of the storm."
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