Voters in the District’s April 1 Democratic primary won’t get to make a choice for attorney general, a DC Superior Court judge ruled today, effectivily killing defense lawyer Paul Zukerberg’s chances at becoming the city’s first elected AG this year.
Zukerberg had sued the city over a law that pushed the attorney general election back to 2018, then filed as a candidate himself. He had a last-ditch hearing Thursday on his motion to remain on 2014’s ballots, even as the DC Board of Elections faced a deadline today to print them.
Zukerberg’s attorney, Gary Thompson, told Judge Laura A. Cordero that he would be “irreparably harmed” as a candidate and citizen if the election was not held in 2014 under an amendment to the city’s charter adopted four years ago.
Cordero seemed skeptical at yesterday’s hearing, and confirmed it in her ruling today.
“Plaintiff has not ‘clearly demonstrated,’ much less made a ‘strong showing’ that he will be in danger of suffering irreparable harm if the Attorney General election is not held in 2014,” she wrote.
Thompson said yesterday he might appeal an unfavorable decision, but with the Board of Elections sending ballots to the printer this afternoon, Zukerberg’s last, best chance is now a bill that the Council will review Monday that would put the AG race on the general election ballot in November. But having already kicked the election to 2018, the Council is unlikely to put it back on this year’s calendar.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
No Attorney General Election for DC in April
Judge rules against the lawyer who was trying to keep the race on the ballot and run for the job himself.
Voters in the District’s April 1 Democratic primary won’t get to make a choice for attorney general, a DC Superior Court judge ruled today, effectivily killing defense lawyer Paul Zukerberg’s chances at becoming the city’s first elected AG this year.
Zukerberg had sued the city over a law that pushed the attorney general election back to 2018, then filed as a candidate himself. He had a last-ditch hearing Thursday on his motion to remain on 2014’s ballots, even as the DC Board of Elections faced a deadline today to print them.
Zukerberg’s attorney, Gary Thompson, told Judge Laura A. Cordero that he would be “irreparably harmed” as a candidate and citizen if the election was not held in 2014 under an amendment to the city’s charter adopted four years ago.
Cordero seemed skeptical at yesterday’s hearing, and confirmed it in her ruling today.
“Plaintiff has not ‘clearly demonstrated,’ much less made a ‘strong showing’ that he will be in danger of suffering irreparable harm if the Attorney General election is not held in 2014,” she wrote.
Thompson said yesterday he might appeal an unfavorable decision, but with the Board of Elections sending ballots to the printer this afternoon, Zukerberg’s last, best chance is now a bill that the Council will review Monday that would put the AG race on the general election ballot in November. But having already kicked the election to 2018, the Council is unlikely to put it back on this year’s calendar.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
Most Popular in News & Politics
What It Felt Like for a Virginia Marching Band to Win Metallica’s Contest
What’s IN and OUT in DC Restaurant Trends for 2024
Introducing 8 of DC’s Most Stylish
Best of Washington 2023: Things to Eat, Drink, Do, and Know Right Now
Washingtonian Magazine
May 2024: Great Getaways
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
13 Major Concerts and Music Festivals in the DC Area This Spring
Mary Timony on Her Emotional New Album, “Untame the Tiger”
The Beatles in DC: A New Exhibit in Maryland Looks Back on Early Beatlemania
Northern Virginia High School Wins Metallica’s Marching Band Competition
More from News & Politics
Rockville Police Are Searching for Culprits of a $4,500 Pickleball Paddle Heist
Dozens of Vintage Planes Will Fly Over the National Mall This Saturday
PHOTOS: “Rupaul’s Drag Race” Queens Work It at the National Mall
Meet the NIH Detectives Cracking Medicine’s Toughest Cases
5 of DC’s Most Interesting Ideas for Revitalizing Chinatown
A “Corpse Flower” Is Currently in Bloom at the Botanic Garden
How Emma’s Torch Is Changing the Lives of Its Refugee Workers
Former Fiola GM Convicted of Murder Is Now in a Netflix Docuseries