[EL] looking for a pro bono attorney in Illinois

[Richard Winger]

The Illinois primary this year (for all office, not just president) was March 20.  Independent candidates may only petition between March 24 and June 25.

After the primary was over, and after the independent petitioning had begun for independent candidates, the legislature passed, and the Governor signed, a bill saying that anyone who had voted in a primary is ineligible to be an independent candidates.

Note that this is not a "sore loser" law; it only relates to voting, not running for office.  The bill took effect immediately.  I believe it violates due process to make such a bill go into effect immediately and to be enforced immediately.  Two candidates had voted in a partisan primary and they had already started circulating a petition, and after-the-fact, they can't continue.

I am aware of 13 precedents that say when the rules are made more restrictive during the petitioning period, the new restrictions can't be enforced until the following year or the following election.  I have been contacted by two independent candidates, one in northern Illinois and one near Carbondale in the southern end of the state, who want to continue petitioning, but they voted in a primary.  Would anyone on this list be interested in representing either one of these candidates pro bono or for a low fee?

Richard Winger

415-922-9779

PO Box 470296, San Francisco Ca 94147
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