Today, the Supreme Court affirmed the ruling of a three-judge panel that the Supreme Court justice retention statute is unconstitutional.  With the Supreme Court deadlocked 3 votes for and 3 votes against, the lower court ruling is allowed to stand, though without precedential value.

Justice Edmunds, whose re-election bid is the only race subject to the retention statute, recused himself from the appeal.  The primary election put in place by the State Board of Elections after the ruling of the three-judge panel in February striking down the retention statute will move forward on June 7.

Because of the tie, we do not have a definitive ruling as to whether the retention statute is constitutional.

Get out there and vote next month.

–Matt Leerberg