Judge denies injunction in lawsuit filed by spurned Democratic U of M regent candidate

A judge has denied a request for a temporary restraining order in a lawsuit filed by a Palestinian American activist against the Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) alleging a lack of election integrity in the party’s nominating process.

Huwaida Arraf, a civil rights attorney who was one of three candidates running for two Democratic nominations for University of Michigan regent, filed the suit Thursday in Ingham County Circuit Court, along with Madeleine Tocco and Jennifer Kirby, described in a press release as “new young members of the MDP.” The lawsuit also named MDP Chair Lavora Barnes and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.

Following a hearing Friday, Ingham County Circuit Court James Jamo denied Arraf’s motion for a restraining order and dismissed Benson from the case.

“The judge found that he didn’t have jurisdiction generally,” Arraf told the Michigan Advance. “This wasn’t necessarily against Benson. We don’t have any issue with the secretary of state, but we named her as a necessary party because if we got relief from the Michigan Democratic Party, the secretary of state would have to take notice and take action in terms of not moving forward with the printing of the two names that they have now.”



https://michiganadvance.com/2024/09/06/judge-denies-injunction-in-lawsuit-filed-by-spurned-democratic-u-of-m-regent-candidate/