October 16, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUDGE CONFIRMS INVALIDITY OF CAROLLO RECALL PETITION: Directs Parties to Prepare Proposed Order to Stop Recall Petitions from Being Counted
Today (October 16, 2020) at a Court status conference hearing, Circuit Judge Alan Fine announced his intention to grant Commissioner Carollo’s request for an injunction to stop the illegal and defective recall petitions from being counted by the Supervisor of Elections. Confirming his ruling announced at the earlier September 17, 2020 hearing that the petitions were submitted too late and are thus invalid, Judge Fine directed the lawyers to prepare an order for his consideration. The order is required to include findings that the electronic delivery of the petitions was illegal and came too late, even after the Recall Committee ignored the City of Miami Clerk’s offer to be open to receive the petitions on Saturday, February 29, 2020.
For technical reasons to not interfere with November election, Judge Fine agreed to keep the recall petitions in court custody until at least December 1, 2020, after which he would direct the City Clerk to deliver the petitions to the Supervisor of Elections and further direct the Supervisor to take no further action on the recall petitions.
Judge Fine’s rulings, once issued in writing, end the unsuccessful recall effort. Commissioner Carollo, elected in November 2017, will complete his four-year term of office in November 2021.
For more information, contact:
Benedict P. Kuehne 786.543.8352 or [email protected]
Robert H. Fernandez
(305) 215-2264 [email protected]