Last Updated on December 14, 2022
Arizona Judge Peter Thompson, who is overseeing Arizona GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake’s election lawsuit ordered Lake, Secretary of State and Arizona Governor-elect Katie Hobbs, Maricopa County Board of Supervisors officials, and a number of others to appear at an emergency court hearing on Tuesday. The hearing laid out a schedule for how both parties can proceed while the 70-page election lawsuit plays out and set oral arguments for Monday.
The hearing was scheduled for 11 am Pacific Standard Time, though technical difficulties delayed the virtual hearing until nearly noon. Arizona State Senator Wendy Rogers then tweeted out the meeting details, allowing anyone to enter.
“I was just told this is the most popular meeting in America right now,” Lake tweeted shortly before the scheduled start time. “I can’t even get INTO the court hearing meeting, nor can my attorneys.”
I was just told this is the most popular meeting in America right now.
I can't even get INTO the court hearing meeting, nor can my attorneys.
MS Teams Meeting notification window says: "Meeting Lobby is Full Right now please try again in a few minutes." https://t.co/mSpS3ab0lU
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) December 13, 2022
Lake appeared in virtual court alongside her representatives, although Hobbs and the other Maricopa County officials did not appear and sent representatives in their stead. In addition to Lake and Hobbs, Maricopa Count Stephen Richer, Board of Supervisor members Bill Gates, Clint Hickman, Jack Sellers, Thomas Galvin, and Steve Gallardo, and Director of Elections Scott Jarrett were also called to appear, according to the Arizona Sun Times.
Both parties will have until Thursday, December 15 to file any motions to dismiss. Andy Gaona, who is representing Hobbs, declared the intentions on behalf of the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office to dismiss this case by Thursday.
For now, oral arguments are set for Monday, while evidence hearings have also been scheduled for December 21 and 22.
Kari Lake was optimistic after the hearing concluded. “Today’s hearing regarding my lawsuit was telling. The Judge noted the volume of evidence my team compiled. The defendants’ team seemed desperate to sweep it under the rug,” Lake wrote in a statement. “I am thankful to Judge Peter Thompson and his team for the work they do and we are confident that given the opportunity, we will expose this election for the sham it was.”
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) December 13, 2022
Lake’s 70-page election lawsuit contests the results of the 2022 General Election, alleging that printer issues in Maricopa County disenfranchised upwards of thousands of voters. The complaint also alleges that hundreds of thousands of mail-in-ballots were deposited into drop boxes or returned through the United States Postal Service (USPS) and delivered to a third-party vendor, Runbeck Election Services, on election day.
“This lawsuit puts an end to any doubt that our elections, especially in Maricopa County, are rigged and massive reforms are needed if the public is ever to trust the results again.” Lake said in a statement upon filing the lawsuit. “Our sacred vote was trampled on. Every Arizonan should be furious, regardless of Party. Despite the desperate lies by the Fake News, my team has filed one of the strongest Election Lawsuits in history.”
