Latest Updates
April 1, 2025 Robert formally announces he is a candidate for the PSC Election to be held on June 17, 2025. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a3gh61mddUa7Yn2b4eZlXm3jgdZeUqrQaQBvb-Y-uo8/edit?tab=t.0
June 26,2024 Did the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals play Politics with Georgia Elections? https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WB5esspBmtlVwg-OSAFDKoA2igIXu8slwMAPbWUfqfo/edit?usp=sharing
June 25, 2024 The US Supreme Courts declines to hear the appeal to review the November 2023 decision by the 11th Circuit
April 18, 2024 The Govenor quietly signs HB-1312 which extends the terms of office for expired, expiring, and unexpired commissioners for 2 years. The District 3 seat is targeted for just a 1 year term, for whenever an election is eventually held. https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1710587
April 16, 2024 Without explanation, the 11th Circuit Appellate Court removed the hold that had been placed, on it's November 2023 final order. Due to the final order having a hold placed on it, the 2024 PSC election was cancelled.
April 12 2024 Robert is quoted in an Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper story where he advocates that the Govenor Veto HB-1312, on the grounds that is unnecessary since the Govenor already has the authority to appoint when there is a vacancy.
March 29, 2024: The State Legislature passes a bill to extend the office of all current Commissioners. House Bill-1312 extends the dates for the unelected, expired and unexpiring terms of Commissioners https://www.commoncause.org/georgia/press-release/dangerous-commissions-bill-undermines-will-of-ga-voters/
March 24, 2024: The PSC election process is appealled to the US Supreme Court. https://www.wabe.org/plaintiffs-appeal-georgia-public-service-commission-election-case-to-u-s-supreme-court/
March 5, 2024 Robert is quoted in an Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper story on cancelled elections.
March 4, 2024 Secretary of State Cancels PSC elections in 2024 following a similar cancellation in 2022. https://www.gpb.org/news/2024/03/07/georgia-public-service-commission-elections-postponed-again-by-court-case
December, 2023 The 11th Circuit Appellate Court places a hold on issuing a final order for Georgia PSC Elections. https://cglawfirm.com/2023/12/28/eleventh-circuit-to-take-a-second-look-at-whether-georgias-at-large-elections-of-public-service-commissioners-violates-the-voting-rights-act-of-1965/
November, 2023 The 11th Circuit Appellate Court rules that PSC elections should continue to be held using a statewide voting process. https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/202212593.pdf
Novemeber, 2022: The District 3 PSC Election is cancelled, and the unelected appointed Commissioner continues in role.
October, 2022 The 11th Circuit Appellate Court hears oral arguments for and against having PSC commissioners elected by only the voters in the district from which a candidate must qualify. You can listen to the 50 Minute arguments using this link: https://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings?page=42 (Case # 22-12593 Richard Rose, et al. v. Secretary, State of Georgia, Appellant.)
August 2022: The US Supreme Court reverses the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. https://www.wiley.law/newsletter-Election-Eve-Decisions-The-Supreme-Court-Clarifies-Reach-of-Purcell-Reversing-Eleventh-Circuit