Trump campaign appeals election case to Nevada Supreme Court
President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign has taken its contest of Nevada’s 2020 presidential election results to the state Supreme Court, filing an appeal after a Carson City District Court judge rejected the claims last week.
Campaign attorneys representing Trump’s proposed slate of presidential electors filed a notice of appeal in the District Court shortly after Judge James Russell denied their request to essentially overturn the state’s presidential result. The Nevada Supreme Court added the appeal to its docket on Monday.
Trump campaign does not appear to have filed any new documents in the case as of Monday afternoon. There was no hearing date set.
The electors for President-elect Joe Biden, who were confirmed as Nevada’s representatives in the Electoral College on Nov. 24, are the named defendants. The Electoral College is scheduled to meet next week to formally select the next president.
Biden’s electors swiftly filed a motion asking the Supreme Court to reaffirm the lower court’s decision by Tuesday, this year’s “safe harbor deadline” — the date by which a state can lock in its Electoral College representatives with Congress if it has resolved all election contests.
“Immediate resolution of the appeal is needed to bring certainty and stability to the people of Nevada — and the entire nation— in advance of pending deadlines related to the casting and counting of votes by presidential electors,” attorneys for Biden’s electors wrote.
“Because it is clear that the district court’s decision resolved this election dispute, this court should not indulge any attempt by Contestants to further prolong these proceedings,” they continued.
The Democrats also called the appeal “frivolous,” saying the Supreme Court would have to disagree with Russell’s “well-considered and well-supported legal conclusions that were based on those factual findings.”
In his 37-page decision, Russell found the Trump campaign’s claims of voter fraud and election mismanagement to be lacking factual evidence.
The Nevada Republican Party released a statement Monday afternoon, saying it will also ask the court to expedite its consideration of the appeal and “will continue to fight for election integrity.”
Contact Rory Appleton at rappleton@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0276. Follow @RoryDoesPhonics on Twitter.