Today, Rebekah Jones asked the 1st District Court of Appeal to stay Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper’s ruling that disqualified her from running in the Democratic primary for our congressional seat.
Jones’ attorney, Benedict Kuehne, argued in his written motion that not putting the ruling hold denies Jones and the voters “their constitutional right to exercise their election prerogative to vote for the candidate of their choice.”
Kuehne wrote, “An immediate stay and direction to allow the voting for both primary candidates for Congressional District 1 to continue unabated is essential to prevent these harms, preserve the status quo right to vote and seek public office and ensure that Ms. Jones can have meaningful relief if this court reverses the final judgment (by Cooper).”
The attorney also questioned whether the plaintiffs had legal standing to challenge Jones’ party membership as a qualification for the ballot. Kuehne wrote that the Florida Democratic Party, which is not involved in the Jones case, should be “the determiner if a party candidate is not qualified.”
“The trial court’s judgment injures Ms. Jones’ constitutionally protected campaign activities, such as endorsement, fundraising, and get-out-the-vote efforts,” the motion said. “Even before the final judgment, the mere pendency of the lawsuit cast a cloud over Ms. Jones’ candidacy. Until this (1st District) court decides the appeal, this harm will continue unabated.”