Guam Inexplicably Delays Appeal
Locked in an appeal fight with CIR and Lead Counsel Gibson Dunn, the Government of Guam recently inexplicably declined an offer from the Ninth Circuit to expedite consideration of its appeal. CIR is challenging Guam’s plan to hold a race-exclusive plebiscite in violation of the 14th and 15th Amendments. After the Federal District Court of Guam ruled in favor of CIR’s client Dave Davis, Guam appealed to the Ninth Circuit.
The Ninth Circuit offered to expedite the appeal by holding argument in one of four cities along the west coast of the United States. Guam declined the offer, meaning the case will have to be heard in Honolulu at a later date. Guam has repeatedly argued that the plebiscite is necessary to redress historical wrongs committed against native inhabitants of Guam yet until the Appeal Court rules on the discriminatory voting limitation, the plebiscite cannot go forward.